Naslov
No Word is an Island: Issues Related to IT Vocabulary Expansion and Acquisition

Autori
Kovačić, Andreja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, stručni

Knjiga
Current Developments in English for Academic, Specific and Occupational Purposes

Urednik/ci
Krzanowski, Mark

Izdavač
Garnet Publishing Ltd.

Grad
Reading

Godina
2008

Raspon stranica
241-266

ISBN
978-1-85964-439-3

Ključne riječi
lexical item ; productivity ; fuzziness ; semantic relationships ; polysemy ; paradigmatic and syntagmatic ; mapping ; mind maps ; multiple intelligences ; lexical awareness

Sažetak
The linguistically intensive context of English for Information Technology makes the constantly expanding lexicon difficult to cope with systematically on the part of students and teachers equally. In the paper reasons for such expansion of It vocabulary are presented, followed by features of the new jargon that may hinder its accurate usage, of particular importance to students of IT technology. Idiosyncrasies of IT jargon are described and phenomena accounting for the fuzziness of the IT lexicon – most notably polysemy – are identified. Mapping lexical relationships through contrastive analysis is proposed as a possible strategy for establishing meaning of a lexical item. Lexical (semantic) relationships on both the vertical (paradigmatic) and horizontal (syntagmatic) axis are introduced, visualised through graphic approach intended for raising students' lexical awareness. Finally, the wider, psycholingustic rationale behind mapping lexical relationships is exemplified, followed by possible pedagogic implications of the strategy proposed, including both potential drawbacks and benefits. Numerous examples of the phenomena described are provided in the paper, as well as the accompanying exercises to be found in the Appendix.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

POVEZANOST RADA