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Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 The Importance of Vocabulary

记单词是语言的最重要的组件之一。语言当局同意对方的位置，在语言的词汇。美国著名作家和教育家L.罗恩Hubbar曾经指出：“最重要的因素，影响语言的理解和应用的词汇。词汇首先依赖于人类的思维活动和思想交流。”英国语言学家DA威尔金斯（1972）也说：“没有语法，很少可以传达;没有词汇，没有什么可以传达（引自莱萨德Clouston1996的）。”
Vocabulary is one of the most important components of language. The language authorities all agree with each other on the position of vocabulary in language. Famous American writer and educator L. Ron Hubbar had ever pointed out:"The most important element influencing language comprehension and application is vocabulary. The thinking activities of human and the exchange of ideas rely firstly on vocabulary. “British linguist D. A. Wilkins (1972) also said:"Without grammar, very little can beconveyed; without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed (cited from Lessard-Clouston1996)." Famous British expert in language teaching Jeremy Harmer (1990) indicated;"Ifwe compare structure as the sketch of a language, vocabulary will be the thing thatprovides important organs as well as blood and flesh." Therefore, it is not hard toconclude from the quotations of these professionals that vocabulary is indispensable forlanguage. Meanwhile, from the perspective of symbol theory, language is a symbolsystem, in which phonology is the mark of symbol, grammar is the rule for the symbols'permutation and combination and the lexical units (including words and idioms) are thesymbols that constitute the whole symbol system. So, vocabulary is the main body oflanguage from this point.
Vocabulary plays a significant role in second or foreign language learning. Somelinguists have discovered through surveys that if foreign language learners have avocabulary of 5000，their accuracy rate in reading comprehension will reach 56%; if thevocabulary reaches 6400, the accuracy rate in reading comprehension will reach 63%.Oppositely, if foreign language learners' vocabulary is under 5000，they will fell hard inlistening, speaking, reading and writing. Meanwhile, the New National EnglishCurriculum Criteria ("New Curriculum") issued in 2003 in China made big changes inthe demand for English vocabulary. Firstly, there are some vocabulary adjustments; theoriginal Senior vocabulary is supposed to leam in Junior period and the original SeniorTwo or Three vocabulary is arranged in Senior One, which leads to the increase ofnewly added words in New English Textbooks. Secondly, there is a grow ofrequirements for mastering and applying vocabulary: It was demanded in the old curriculum that students master about 1200 everyday words, learn about 800 new wordsand understand a certain amount of idiom or phrases. However, the New Curriculum hasa clear demand for the number of vocabulary that should be mastered by students ofevery level. For example, it is ruled in level 8 (students are supposed to reach level 8 inSenior Three); Students should master 3000 new words and 400?500 idiom or phrases;understand and express different flmctions，intentions and attitudes by applying thelearned words; describe complicated matters，behaviors and features by applying thelearned words. And the total vocabulary demand for average Senior Middle Schoolstudents has increased from 1800?2000 words to about 3300 words and 400?500idioms or phrases. The excellent students are supposed to have a vocabulary of4500?5000. Thirdly, the repetition rate of words in New Textbooks is low which maylead to diffic本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。