A Case Study of Arabic Vocabulary Acquisition by an Adult L1 Speaker.
Location
FA-152
Department
Linguistics
Abstract
This presentation focuses on the acquisition of one hundred Arabic words that are new to an Arabic first language (L1) speaker. These lexical items exhibit diverse meanings and multiple uses, based on the geographical context of the region, city, or country. This presentation is part of a final project for a graduate course on lexical acquisition and is thus informed by research on vocabulary development in both first and second language learners (Nation 1990, 2020; Clark 1995; Golinkoff et al. 2000; Webb & Nation 2017; Gu 2020; and Schmitt & Schmitt 2020; inter alia). This research aims to delve into the depth and diversity of the Arabic language in expression, examining how geographical factors influence its vocabulary. Carefully selected words were analyzed, exploring the evolution of their meanings and their varied uses across different geographical regions. For example, “Asbasb,” which means a very hot day, is a rarely-used word in most places that speak Arabic, but it is used in some countries like Yemen. However, it is found in Arabic poetry. This project contributes to enriching the cultural understanding of the Arabic language, shedding light on linguistic and cultural diversity in various Arabic-speaking regions.
Faculty Sponsor
Richard W. Hallett
A Case Study of Arabic Vocabulary Acquisition by an Adult L1 Speaker.
FA-152
This presentation focuses on the acquisition of one hundred Arabic words that are new to an Arabic first language (L1) speaker. These lexical items exhibit diverse meanings and multiple uses, based on the geographical context of the region, city, or country. This presentation is part of a final project for a graduate course on lexical acquisition and is thus informed by research on vocabulary development in both first and second language learners (Nation 1990, 2020; Clark 1995; Golinkoff et al. 2000; Webb & Nation 2017; Gu 2020; and Schmitt & Schmitt 2020; inter alia). This research aims to delve into the depth and diversity of the Arabic language in expression, examining how geographical factors influence its vocabulary. Carefully selected words were analyzed, exploring the evolution of their meanings and their varied uses across different geographical regions. For example, “Asbasb,” which means a very hot day, is a rarely-used word in most places that speak Arabic, but it is used in some countries like Yemen. However, it is found in Arabic poetry. This project contributes to enriching the cultural understanding of the Arabic language, shedding light on linguistic and cultural diversity in various Arabic-speaking regions.