Vocabulary Mastery
Transcript of Vocabulary Mastery
CHAPTER II
FRAME OF THEORIES
2.1. The definition of Vocabulary mastery
Vocabulary is one of the language aspects which should be learnt.
Learning vocabulary is important because we are able to speak, write, and listen
nicely we have to know vocabulary first. A person said to ‘know ‘ a word if they
can recognize its meaning when they see it (Cameron, 2001: 75). It means that in
learning vocabulary we have to know the meaning of it and also understand and
can use it in sentence context.
According to Red John (2000: 16) vocabulary is knowledge involves
knowing the meanings of words and therefore the purpose of a vocabulary test in
to find out whether the learners can match each word with a synonym, a
dictionary – tape definition, or an equivalent word in their own language.
In learning vocabulary automatically we have to know the meaning of
words it self and can use it in sentences. Wilkins (1972: 130) states that
vocabulary learning is learning to discriminate progressing the meaning of words
in the target language from the meanings of their nearest ‘equivalent’ in the
mother tongue. It is also learning to make the most appropriate lexical choices for
particular linguistic and situational context.
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2.1.1. Kinds of Vocabulary
Surely, there are some words in a sentence and those collections of words
include to the vocabulary because vocabulary is a list or collections of words
arranged in alphabetical order and explained. Those words could be Noun which
is usually used as subject or object, Verb or it is usually used as predicate in a
sentence, Adverbs etc.
The sentence may be further divided according to the functions of each word
has in the subject – predicate relationship – each of these functions is classified as
a different part of speech. They are :
1. Noun
It is one of most important part of speech. It is arrangement with the
verb helps to form the sentence core which is essential to every
complete sentence. It could be the name of person, place, thing or idea.
Example :
a. It is a magazine
b. There is an umbrella
2. Verb
It is the word which expresses an action or a help to make a statement.
Example :
a. Mr. Herman is teaching mathematic.
b. The students are playing football
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3. Adjective
It is the word used to qualify noun or pronoun.
Example :
a. Mr. Herman is clever
b. This magazine is expensive
5. Adverb
It is a word used for qualifying the meaning of verb, adjective, or
another adverb.
Example :
a. Mrs. Nurul is teaching in the classroom.
b. I go to campus at nine o’clock
6. Conjunction
It is a word used to relate one word to another one, or one sentence to
another one.
Example :
a. I have to called him before I go.
b. Irma and I are student at untirta.
7. Pronoun
It is the word which can take the place of a noun.
Example :
a. They are my lecture.
b. He goes to office.
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8. Interjection
It is a word put into a sentence to express a sudden feeling of mind or
emotion.
Example :
a. Hurrah! I am the winner.
b. Oh my god, I can’t believe it’s real.
(Frank, 1972: 1)
2.1.2. Material of vocabulary
In learning vocabulary, there are some materials that relate with
vocabulary like word family, word classes, synonyms, antonyms that can help
learners in comprehending vocabulary deeper.
1. Word Family
Word family is a word is constructed by adding prefix and suffix in base
word or root. In word family, we discuss about affixes. There are two affixes.
They are prefix and suffix. Here is the explanation and example both of them.
1.1 Prefix
Prefix is a syllable added at the beginning of words to change their
meaning. The words of prefixes are un-, in-, dis-, mis-, re-, pre-, etc. the prefix un-
and in-, are the most common negative prefix which both mean not. Prefix mis-,
means wrong, pre-, means before, re-, means again, etc. the example words of
prefixes are :
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Words Added prefix Meaning
Popular Unpopular not popular
Active Inactive not active
Consistent Inconsistent not consistent
Writing Prewriting before writing
Build Rebuild build again
For example in sentence :
He is not popular artist (without Prefix)
He is unpopular artist. (adding by Prefix Un-)
From the example, we can see both of them have similar meaning, but the
difference only in the “popular” word. In the first sentence, the popular word does
not use prefix but it used to be + Not to express negative meaning. While in the
second sentence, the popular word is added by prefix un-to express negative
meaning too, the word become unpopular.
1.2 Suffix
Suffix is syllable added at the end of words to change their meaning or
their part of speech. The words of suffix are -ment, -ion, -ness, -less, -er/-or, -ist,
etc. the suffix –ment, -er /-or, and –ist are changed verb form becomes noun. The
example is act (Verb) added suffix or becomes actor (Noun), etc. while the
suffixness is used to change adjective form becomes noun. The example is weak
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(Adj) added suffix ness becomes weakness (Noun). While the suffix less means
without. The example words of suffix are :
Word Added suffix
Art artist
Direct director
Use useless
Kind kindness
Agree agreement
For example in sentence :
They plays football in the yard. (As a Verb)
They are a good football player. (As a Noun)
From the example, we can see both of them have differences in the word
classes. In the first sentence, the word of play without added by suffix and the
word class is verb. It describes about what the noun does. While in the second
sentence, the word play is added by suffix –er. So, the word class changes from
verb (play) become noun (player). It indicates noun in the sentence.
2. Synonyms and Antonyms
Learning Vocabulary, it means that we learn about meaning. Many words
in English sometimes have more that one meaning. So there are many words
although different but has similar meaning called synonyms. Beside similar,
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sometimes we must know the opposite meaning of the word called antonym. To
appropriate in using synonyms we must consider with the context.
2.1 Synonyms
Synonyms are words that share a similar meaning. For example, old,
ancient, antique, elderly are all synonyms in that they share the common meaning
of not young /new. However, there the similarity ends. Synonyms are similar, but
seldom the same. Even between words that seem interchangeable, such as taxi and
cab or aubergine and eggplant, one will be preferred over the other in certain
context and by particular speakers.
For example :
Words Synonyms
Look See
Use Wear
Good Excellent
For example in sentence :
Andi uses bicycle to go to school.
He is wear blue t-shirt.
From the example, we can see that the uses of use, and wear, in the sentence
have same meaning or synonyms but it s used in different context. Use can be
used to describe for everything in general, while for wear is used to describe for
something that will be used in the body.
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2.2 Antonym
Antonyms are words with the opposite meaning. For example like old and
new. It is called antonym, because the antonym of old is new. Like synonyms, the
relation between such opposite is not always black and white (to use two
antonyms) and the very notion of oppositeness is troublesome. The opposite of an
old woman is a young woman, but opposite of an old record is a new record not a
young record. So, it can be assumed that both synonyms and antonyms have
useful defining function and it depends on the context.
For example :
Words Antonyms
Man woman
Old New
Young New
The example in sentence :
1. Mr. Yayan karyana is a young man
2. He is an old man.
The example in sentence :
1. My uncle has two old car
2. My uncle has two new car
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From the examples, we can compare between first example and second
example. Although both of the sentences use old word but the antonym is
different. For the first example, the antonym of old is young because it describes
age. While for the second example, the opposite meaning of old is new because it
describe the condition of car. So, the writer can assumes that when we will use
both antonym and synonym, it must be appropriate with the context in a sentence
or text.
2.1.3 Teaching vocabulary
In learning, learners must be master in vocabulary. To improve students’
vocabulary, teacher taught the vocabulary in the classroom. According to Emerald
(1981: 149), there are some steps in teaching and developing vocabulary to
students :
1. Present the word clearly written in a paper or write it on the
blackboard.
2. Pronounce the world for the child, making sure that he or she looks at
the words as it is pronounced.
3. Have the child pronounce the word, a gain making sure that the child
looks at the word when it is pronounced.
4. Explain the meaning of the word and present the word in written
sentence context :
a. Read the sentence to the students.
b. Have the students read the sentence aloud.
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c. Have the students identify the word, underlined the word and give
its meaning.
5. Have the students make a sentence using the word.
6. Have the students look at the sentence and read it aloud
7. Present the word in isolation again, let the students pronounce it and
give its meaning.
2.1.4 Tool for developing vocabulary
Dictionary is one of tool for developing vocabulary. It gives the
information of the meaning of words alphabetically. It can be used as a last resort
when guessing from context’s strategies fail. But, it can also be used productively,
both for generating text and as resources for vocabulary acquisition. Its usefulness
depends on learners being able to access the information they contain both
speedily and accurately. There are some key skills in using dictionary effectively :
1. Recognizing feature of dictionary layout, such as use of alphabetical
order, hard words, grammar and pronunciation information, definition,
etc.
2. Discriminating between the different meanings of words.
3. Cross-checking (when using the bilingual dictionary) that the
translation equivalent that is offered is the best choice for the meaning
that is required.
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4. Using synonyms, antonyms and other information to narrow the choice
of best words for the meaning intended.
5. Inferring the spelling of an unfamiliar word from only having heard it,
in order to check its meaning in the dictionary.
2.1.5 Mastery of students’ vocabulary
In learning vocabulary, people will experience development each year
appropriate with their age. According to Richard (1989: 177) for native speakers
of language, they continue to expand their vocabulary in adulthood. In social role
and mode of discourse taking place in adulthood, in vocabulary there is continued
development beyond the childhood years with adults constantly adding new words
to their vocabulary through reading, occupation, and other activities. The primary
period for conceptual development, however, is early childhood.
Measurement of vocabulary knowledge is difficult and it is only
approximately. According to Watts (1994) suggest that the average child enters
elementary school with a recognition vocabulary of 2.000 words, that at age 7 this
has reached some 7.000 words, so at age 14, the child should be able to recognize
14.000 words. According to Mackey (1965: 173) the vocabulary of adults has
been variously estimated at between 10.000 words for non-academic adult to over
150.000 for a professional scientist. College students are estimated to understand
some 60.000 to 100.000 words. Berry estimates that for spoken English the
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average person speaking on a telephone makes use of a vocabulary of only some
2.000 words (Mackey, 1965).
Meanwhile, for Indonesian learners who learn English as one of foreign
language that is taught in school, they have limited words or vocabulary that they
now or understand of the language. So, they experience low development in
expanding the vocabularies.
2.2. Concept of reading
Reading is one of the important skills in English. We can get up date
information that happens worth knowledge by reading. Reading books, magazine,
newspaper, and literary works in English can help learners to increase their
mastery in vocabulary.
According to Harris and Sipay (1997: 7) state that reading is mainly
concerned with learning to recognize the printed symbols, which present speech,
and to respond intellectually and emotionally as he would if the material were
spoken rather than printed. According Widdowson (1985: 5) reading is the
process of getting linguistics information via print.
From the expert’s opinion above, the writer can assumes that reading is a
process to get information, knowledge, from a literary that is written by someone
and printed out via print and it is a process to recognized the printed symbols to
the reader.
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2.2.1 The concept of Reading
Reading is one of the information skills in English, we can get actual
news, up-date information that happens and worth knowledge by reading. Reading
books, newspaper, magazine, and literary works in English can help learners to
increase their mastery in vocabulary.
According to Wddowson (in Alderson and Urquhart, 1985: 5) reading is
the process of getting linguistics information via print. Harirs and Sipay (1997: 7)
state that reading is mainly concerned with learning to recognized the printed
symbols, which present speech, and to respond intellectually and emotionally as
he would if the material were spoken rather than printed.
From the expert above, the writer can assumes that reading is process to
get information, knowledge from literary that is written by someone and is
printed out via print and it is a process to recognized the printed symbols to the
reader.
2.2.2 Technique of Reading
In reading a literature, reader used technique to make easer for them in
getting information. There are two techniques in reading, they are scanning and
skimming.
1. Scanning
Scanning is technique used to look for specific information. Scanning is not fast
reading but rather a process or technique of reading. In reading at a normal speed,
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readers concentrate on horizontal distance between pauses, but when they scan
they also use the vertical extent. In scanning, the reader lets his eyes low down the
page, maybe following a set pattern, may be reading around word that catches his
eyes. The exact technique Scanning depends on the purpose. Scanning is used to
locate specific information, for example in encyclopedia or an index. It also can
be used to review an article just read in order to mentally fix the important
information, to discover the general organization or framework of the article, or to
preview an article.
2. Skimming
Skimming is used to quickly identify the main idea of the text. Skimming is done
at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading. People often skim when
they have lots material to read in a limited amount of time.
There are many strategies that can be used when skimming. Some people
used strategy by reading the first and last paragraphs using heading, summarizes
and other organizer as they move down the page or screen. You also might read
the title, subtitle, subheading and illustration.
2.3 The Definition of Horoscope
Horoscope as etymology in the middle English from Latin language.
Horoscopus it is from Greek 14th century a go hora – skopos is a diagram of the
relative positions of planets and signs of the zodiac at a specific time (as at one’s
birth) for use by astrologers in inferring individual character and personality traits
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and in for telling events of a person’s life. Horoscope the representation made of
the aspect of the heavens at the moment of person’s birth, by which the astrologer
professed to foretell the events of the person’s life; especially the sign of zodiac
rising above the horizon at such a moment. (Webster’s Revised Unbridge
Dictionary 1993 http://www.com/dictionary/horoscope/24-01-08.at 03.57 pm).
Horoscopes in English language newspaper and magazines are often a
good place to find idioms about moods and states, since the horoscope usually
tries to tell you how you are going to feel during the coming day, week, and
month.
A Horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the sun,
moon, and planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an
event, such as the moment of a person’s birth. (wikipedia.Org/wiki/horoscope
astrology)
As a teacher will try find essential to develop systematic strategies for the
methodological and progressive development of those skill which are necessary to
achieve in reading. “ with development of standard grade, teachers are now
consciously developing strategies to help pupils, they are aided in this by
materials which have been issued trough the support system. The principles is
now widespread of enabling pupils to understand, teacher often present the pupils
with articles or text for stimulating in them greater interest in reading and improve
them in vocabulary. The Variety of subject, and many of them, consequently, lack
knowledge about or interest in Greek and Rome antiquity. But they all had an
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interest in concepts like ‘fate’ and ‘destiny’, because these imply questions which
effect the students’ own lives. Seem this background, a course in Greek and Rome
astrology is still around and constantly brought to our attention through horoscope
in the newspaper, TV-show. (Stephen Heilen.
2005:22.http://www.jstor.Org/pss/3585558).
According to Ward R., and Grasha A. Using astrology to teach in research
methods to introductory psychology students, a classroom demonstration designed
to test an astrological hypothesis can help teach introductory psychology students
about research design and data interpretation.
So from the definition above Horoscope is prediction of someone such as
money, love and lucky based on individual’s birth itself. It’s mean horoscope used
to analyzed the character of individual’s born at that time, providing information
about the current state of their future. And the function of horoscope itself in
process teaching learning are :
1. To make interest the students in learning English, especially vocabulary.
2. To motivate the students in learning English, especially vocabulary.
3. To enrich the students vocabulary in learning vocabulary.
2.4. The definition of C’nS Magazine
Now day, English is as an international language. Many people want to
master it. Because by knowing and understanding it, we will be capable to
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communicate either in our country or foreign. But learning the language is not
easy . sometimes we get the difficulties in learning it, for example when we find
the new words, especially at the beginners level of non native speaker.
In this case, we need the media in learning, so that the learning process
occurred maximal. As Sadiman (2003: 6) states that media is all of the things
which could be used to convey the message from the sender to the receiver, so it
can stimulate the thinking, feeling, talent, and also the students’ attention in order
that the learning process occurred.
One media which used in teaching learning process is magazine that are a
great source of ideas and materials for teaching and keep your students interested
and talking for ours on a whole range of subjects. C’nS (Cool and Smart)
Magazine it is one media would be interested and feel easier directly In learning
vocabulary, especially for teenager or students.
C’nS magazine is the first English magazine in Indonesia. It’s magazine
for English learners in Indonesia between 15-22 years of age who want to
improve their English competence in a fun and entertaining way. Its objective is to
publish educational materials in the form of books, magazines, and journals both
for the use of participants of Yayasan LIA’s English language programs and for
the general public. (www.cnsmag.com 08-july-08.at 14.35 pm).
Magazine is publication containing articles and stories. They are written
by various writers. A magazine is issued at intervals, for example weekly or
monthly.
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2.5 The procedures teaching English vocabulary through horoscope
According to Jo Bertrand. http;//www.asian-efl-journal.com/dec-03-
sub.sta.php. at. 13.30. 06. January 2009
The procedure of teaching English vocabulary through horoscope are :
1. Ask learner to skim the text.
2. Learners read the text again and are asked to attempt a rough summary
of its gist.
3. Ask learners to find all the examples of the lexical feature that is being
targeted.
4. Learners then work out the meanings of the phrases either from their
components, or from their context, or both. At this point, they could be
allowed to consult dictionaries.
5. Alternatively, provide definitions, synonyms or L1 translations of the
targeted words, and ask them to find the words in the text that match.
6. Ask learners to study the targeted items and analyze them in terms of
their formal features.
7. Provide the learners with the same texts, but with the targeted items
blanked out.
8. Ask learners to write their own texts, to include some of the items they
have been studying.
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According to Kenneth Beare.
http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyadvanced /ig/zodiac-personality.-Ho/ at 13.24.
06 January 09. Studying horoscope or zodiac sign and the personality traits that
are associated with these signs is great way to quickly improve your vocabulary
related to personality. In your English class you can use them to find out about
your students personalities while having fun with the future
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