Evaluation of the semantic field theory and componential analysis as theoretical approaches of potential value to vocabulary acquisition : with special reference to the learner's collocational competence

Abstract EN

This research is divided into two parts.

The first part investigates the different tasks of the two major fields of Linguistics (Theoretical and Applied).

The theoretical Linguistics aims at identifying the general principles of structure and function of language whereas Applied Linguistics endeavors to apply the ideas and methods of linguistics to practical problems of particular concern to language teaching.

Componential analysis forms the second part of this research.

It is the systematic way to describe the similarities and dissimilarities between words by breaking down the meaning of word or words into deferent feature called Semantic Component.

For the purpose of analysis, the researcher discusses mainly the idea of whether theoretical linguistics is of potential value in teaching vocabulary or not.

To achieve this aim, an approach to English vocabulary language teaching which draws on several aspects of theoretical semantics has been adopted to show that language includes not only a list of words, but rather of many associated networks of lexical relations between words.

To end the researcher, it is arrived at that the Semantic Field Theory is a useful approach for acquiring the lexical items of language.