论词汇学的重要性

Why Should English Major Students Learn Lexicology?

How many words are there in the modern English language? There is no single sensible answer to this question. The reason lies in the continuous development of itself and society change. Still, a subject is needed to study and analyze English vocabulary. Thus, lexicological learning is essential to for us English major students to master the English language.

First, studying English lexicology help us to enlarge our vocabulary and improve our ability to analyze and use English words. By studying lexicology further, we have a better grasp of English word formation, which expands our vocabulary effectively and undoubtedly. Take one of the processes of word-formation, prefixation, for example. With understanding that the prefix mal- means ‘badly,’ ‘bad,’ we get the meaning of maltreat, malformed, malfunction, malnutrition and so forth immediately. Therefore, lexicology learning steps up our level of choosing the correct and expressive words.

Second, studying English lexicology enhances our understanding of other branches of linguistics. A case in point is the close relationship between lexicology and stylistics. The same subject matter can be expressed in different styles. For instance, we use pass away in a euphemistic situation when referring someone died, while we use join the great majority in a literary situation.

Last but not least, studying English lexicology promotes our apprehensions of different thinking styles. According to anthropologist Edward Hall, the U.S is a low

context country, in which communication is explicit, clear and unambiguous. On the contrary, China is a typically high context country, in which much important information is conveyed beyond and outside the words actually spoken. As a result, the different thinking styles between two countries lead to different choices and applications of vocabulary.

Lexicology is one of the most important parts of English language course to have an acquisition of the signification and application of words. The study of new words will help us choose the correct and expressive words on the one hand, and on the other hand, help us understand the different thinking styles which have a lot to do with our further study.