A. Some Theories of Vocabulary
1. The Defenition of Vocabulary
Vocabulary is the most important thing to us in mastering a language. To master four basic skill of English,they are reading, writing, speaking and listening we should have enough vocabulary in order we can communicate each other. “Word are the starting point, without words children can not talk about people, places, or thing, about action, relation, or states[1]”. Before we discuss the explanation of vocabulary, it is nesessary first to know what vocabulary is.
According to the Heritage illustrated dictionary, “vocabulary is a collection of words usually arranged in alphabetically for reference and defined or explained[2]”. In another dictionary, “vocabulary is list of word with their meaning, especially at the back of a book used for teaching a foreign language[3]”. Morgan also describes in his book that “vocabulary is the number of word a person knows which is considered to be one vocabulary and that each person has not just one but rather several vocabularies[4]”.It is also the words we teach in the foreign language.
2. The Significance Of The Vocabulary
As a matter of fact, vocabulary is an important element of language teaching. For language learners, the vocabulary is required when they learn to speak, to read, to write and when they listen to the new information around them.
Prayogo Says: “Vocabulary or word knowledge and ability to apply it are found to be significant related in reading comprehension, intelligence thinking abilities, and even academic achievements.”[5] It is considered that vocabulary is the vital aspect in mastering a language. It is impossible to learn language, if we have limited of vocabulary. In line with this Al Kufaishi says:
“Vocabulary is one of the major confronting EFL (English For Language) laerners. By mastering vocabulary they can communicate their ideas. As clear as they would like to, and they can graps the transmitted ideas. They can read the columns of a newspaper or popular megazine or event understand newscasts on the radio or television, their listening comprehension, writing and reading abilities are hampered by their listening of vocabulary[6]”.
Based on Khufaishi argument the writer sees that, without word we can not say anything. Only by words we can express our ideas and want accurately people will net able to express their ideas as well as possible if they do not have enough vocabulary. But the more word that know the more powerful they can think and the more forcefully they can present their ideas. Therefore, vocabulary plays an important role in language acquisition is not only described by Al-Khufaishi, but Sartinah Harjono also states it in her book. She states that,
“Among all basic aspect of foreign language which should be mastered by student in teaching learning process vocabulary is considered as the most important one without mastering vocabulary it is impossible to use the foreign language. The fact shows that although the student could read the bet with the pronunciations and grammatical correctly, they could not understand the materials read, and they were not able to express the main idea of the text or the reading[7]”.
Based on the argument above, vocabulary plays an important role in language acquisition. Vocabulary acquisition is considered by many aspects. The singgle most important aspect or foreign language learning not only do the majority of student studying foreign language but also often considered a priority by teacher as well. Therefore, language learners and teacher should be creative, explorative, in their vocabulary learning and teaching.
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[1] Clark, Towards A Reduction of Grammar Teaching A Lexical Analysis, (Teflin Journal, vol.X, No. 1, Augustus 99), P.09
[2] The Heritage Illustrated Dictionary of English Language, Volume II (Boston: Hougton Mifflin Company,1979), P. 1434
[3] Maerin H, Manser, Oxford Learners Pocket Dictionary, New Edition, (New York: Oxford University Press,1991), P. 461
[4] Cliffort T. Morgan, Introduction to Psychology, (New York: Megraw Book Company, Inc, 1961), P. 284
[5] Johannes A Prayogo, “Model of Vocabulary Teaching Strategies, ELE Volume 3, Number 1, July 1997,P. 29
[6] Al-Khufaishi et al, Vocabulary Building is Necessary Not Luxury,” English Teaching Forum, Volume XXVI, No.2 April 1988, P.42
[7] Sartinah Harjono, Psikologi Belajar Mengajar Bahasa Asing, ((Jakarta: Depdikbud, 1988), P. 71
