Vocabulary acquisition involves expanding the number of words understood in a language, divided into function and lexical words. Nature vs. nurture debate surrounds child vocabulary acquisition. Linguists agree it is 100% nurture. Vocabulary is divided into listening, speaking, writing, and reading types. Understanding a word before using it is important. Learning a second language requires parallel vocabulary acquisition. Knowing words is vital for social integration and self-expression.
Vocabulary acquisition is about how people expand the number of words they understand when learning a new language. This includes first and second language acquisition. Vocabulary refers to words and is divided into two types: function words that play a role in grammar and lexical words that provide information. Expanding mental lexicon is related to, but not part of grammar and syntax acquisition.
Acquiring a child’s vocabulary is part of the long debate about nature and nurture. Nature theory means that children are born with certain language tools, while nurturing claims that all tools are passed down by the people around the child as he grows up. Noam Chomsky believes that children are given basic syntax and structure tools before they are born, and he uses these tools to make sense of the words they learn from their environment.
Linguists agree that vocabulary acquisition is 100% nourishment. If nature provided children with a built-in vocabulary, then the child would speak its parents’ language or all children would be preprogrammed with the same proto-language. This is clearly not the case, so studies of vocabulary acquisition focus on how children learn words.
Vocabulary is divided into four basic types: listening vocabulary, speaking vocabulary, writing vocabulary, and reading vocabulary. Each type has its own conventions and words. A child typically first learns to listen to vocabulary, then to speak, to read, and finally to write. The number of words a child understands increases as he grows older and learns or experiences new things. More specialized vocabularies develop in adulthood through studies and hobbies.
It is important that a word is understood before it is used. This is important for both first and second language learners. This includes learning how to pronounce a word first encountered written and how to spell a word first encountered through hearing. Errors in both resulted in spelling pronunciation and pronunciation spelling.
Learning a second language attempts to build a vocabulary parallel to the first language. In the 19th century and in many parts of the world today, importance was placed on grammar and structure when learning a new language. The importance of vocabulary acquisition has only recently been recognised. Another obstacle in acquiring second language vocabulary is the first language. Not only does this cause confusion in structure, but it can also cause confusion in vocabulary.
Knowing the words in a first or second language is vital. In a first language, it allows for greater social integration and self-expression. It also gives a favorable interpretation of a person’s status. In a second language, the speaker will be able to communicate basic ideas through vocabulary even if the person does not know how to make a grammatically correct sentence.
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