Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy

Faculty of adult education

English language teacher

Essay in English lexicology

English words formation

Riga, 2017
 Every language consists of the words. Vocabulary of a language or its lexis is the most
basic level and its most important instrument for communication. People cannot speak any
language, if they do not know words, words correct pronunciation and its meaning. Words
formed in structure make a language. Wilkins (1972) wrote that . . . while without grammar
very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed (pp. 111112). It is the
reason why teachers should develop students skill of forming words.
When people start learning new language, first thing they learn are words. At different
levels of studies, they develop the skill of word usage. Each word in English language consists of
a form. It has a root, prefix, and suffix. For example from a word comfort, by adding prefix and
suffix, two different words are made comfortable and uncomfortable. (un- prefix with
negative meaning, comfort- root, able suffix). Word comfort has a concrete
pronunciation /km.ft/. And it is also has a meaning: a pleasant feeling of being relaxed and
free from pain. It also has synonyms harmonious, peacefull, pleasant. (Cambridge online
dictionary; http://dictionary.cambridge.org/) When the meaning and the forma of the word are
known, it is possible to use it in different ways to gain concrete purposes of communication.
It is known that English language vocabulary grows and changes with a time. This is the
reason why there are unstopable researches on its organization and structure.
There are different attempts to discover general principles on which English language
vocabulary is organized. These attempts focused on three main areas (Howard Jackson; Words,
Meaning and Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology; pp.2-20)
1. Every individual has his own vocabulary and associations
2. Semantic and lexical fields
3. Word families
According to the first area, all words are involved in a network of associations. For
example, the word teacher has associations with words teaching, taught (forms of the word);
lecturer, tutor (has the same meaning); gardner, labourer (has suffix ex); Between these words
there is either similar meaning, either they are purely formal. They can be linked and used by a
student. As many associations can be made, as many words can be learned. Lots of memorising
techniques have such principle in the basis. For example, there are Mind maps, which are great
approach to link and make associations between words. (Pic.1)
 Picture 1.
According to the second area, words are divided in semantic or lexical fields. For
example, words connected with education, colours, numerals. It means that word interrelate and
define each other in specific ways. These words have relationship by meaning. (Pic. 2)

Picture 2.
According to the third group there are word families. Word families are established in
seven levels of relationship. At the first level each word form is regarded as a different form.
(Pic.3)
 Picture 3.
The second level groups words have common base, but different inflectional suffixes -
plural and possessive for nouns; present and past tense; present and past participle for verbs,
comperatives and superlatives for adjectives:
nouns- dog, dogs, dogs, dogs
verbs- make, makes, making
adjectives- happy, happier, happiest (Laurie Bauer, English word formation)
At the third level the words formed by adding the most frequent and regular derivational
suffixes. (for example: comfort- comfortable-uncomfortable ). At level four frequent,
orthographically regular affixes are added (for example: comfort- comfortably) At fifth level
come forms derived by frequent but infrequent affixes (for example circle-semicircle). At sixth
level has forms derived by frequent but irregular affixes ( piano-pianist, biology- biologist).
And at the level 7 words are formed using classical (Latin and Greek) roots and affixes. ( for
example: bibliography, astronaut). Different word can fit different levels of formation. (Howard
Jackson; Words, Meaning and Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology; pp.2-
20)
As a result from one simple word many different words can be done. Teaching process
leader is a tutor. The aim of word learning is not memorizing all English language vocabulary,
which is impossible, but making process of recognizing and producing words easier for students.
Researches show that educated native speaker uses only 20 thousand family words. Students,
who only start learning English, need to know about 500 words. (I. S. P. Nation; Victoria
University of Wellington; 2001) It means that knowledge of word formation, will give more
chances to fulfil students vocabulary in everyday life. (Pic.4)

Picture 4.

English word formation is a process of making words using different approaches such
as: usage of inflectional, derivational suffixes and affixes, making word families and
associations, as well as grouping words by their lexical or semantic field. New word memorising
and usage can be reached if there is knowledge of its form, pronunciation, meaning and link with
other words.
 Literature

1. Bauer L. (2002) English word formation; UK.Cambridge University Press.

(https://books.google.lv/books?
hl=ru&lr=&id=R_AJmQNdigC&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=the+english+word+&ots=ctRf-
8LAqb&sig=tKssKDQPjfwhaEmja38nUpM195Y&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=the
%20english%20word&f=false)
2. Frost R. (2016) Presenting vocabulary. British Council. UK.
(https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/presenting-vocabulary)
3. I. S. P. Nation (2001) Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. UK. Victoria University
of Wellington
(https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/85b7/339fe8b53bfdc383686506d9614b0dbf637b.pdf
)
4. Jackson H., Ze Amvela E. (2005) Words, Meaning and Vocabulary: An Introduction to
Modern English Lexicology. UK: Ateanaeum Press. https://books.google.lv/books?
hl=ru&lr=&id=6AffBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=lexicology&ots=gT1o3rkb3l&sig=
mcYFuNKcZNkpviVsXHGSsvcYUng&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=lexicology&f=false