Vocabulary Terminology Flashcards

What is 'polysemy' in vocabulary studies?

Answer: A single word form that carries multiple related meanings

Polysemy refers to a single word having multiple related meanings, such as 'bank' meaning a financial institution or the side of a river.

A 'semantic map' or 'word web' is used in vocabulary instruction primarily to:

Answer: Visually organize related words and concepts around a target word

Semantic maps visually connect a target word to related concepts, synonyms, examples, and associations to deepen understanding.

The term 'morpheme' refers to:

Answer: The smallest unit of meaning in a language

A morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit that carries meaning; for example, 'unhappy' contains two morphemes: 'un-' and 'happy.'

What is the difference between 'receptive' and 'productive' vocabulary knowledge?

Answer: Receptive vocabulary is words learners understand; productive vocabulary is words they actively use

Receptive vocabulary consists of words learners recognize and understand, while productive vocabulary includes words they can use correctly in output.

What does the term 'word family' encompass?

Answer: A headword and all its inflected and derived forms

A word family includes a base word and all its related forms, such as 'create,' 'creation,' 'creative,' 'creatively,' and 'creativity.'

Which technique involves presenting new vocabulary through visual images, real objects, or physical demonstrations?

Answer: Realia and visual aids

Using realia (real objects) and visual aids is a direct, non-translation method for conveying the meaning of new vocabulary items.

What is 'lexical inferencing'?

Answer: The process of deducing an unknown word's meaning using available cues

Lexical inferencing is the cognitive process by which learners use contextual, morphological, or world-knowledge cues to work out the meaning of unfamiliar words.