The Role of Vocabulary Size in Linguistic Competence: A Theoretical Analysis

Abstract

The present study focuses on the importance of vocabulary size in the development of language proficiency in English language learners through a critical and theoretical analysis of the literature and studies relevant to the topic. Vocabulary size is a basic part of lexical knowledge and it is the number of words that a learner knows, either in comprehension or in use. Vocabulary is important in language learning but the relation between vocabulary size and language proficiency cannot be understood in terms of number of words known. This is because of the complex nature of language proficiency and the links with other aspects of linguistic knowledge. This study deals with the notion of vocabulary size and its relationship with lexical knowledge and language proficiency, especially the difference between vocabulary size and the depth of vocabulary knowledge. It also looks at a possible role of vocabulary size in supporting different aspects of linguistic competence like grammatical knowledge, comprehension and language use in different contexts. The analysis is intended to clarify whether vocabulary size is a sufficient indicator of linguistic competence, or simply an important component of a constellation of related factors. Theoretically, the research concludes that while a large vocabulary can certainly contribute to the improvement of linguistic competence, vocabulary size alone is not a comprehensive concept of linguistic competence but rather the depth of vocabulary knowledge and the grammatical, semantic and pragmatic aspects are important in shaping holistic linguistic competence.

Keywords: Vocabulary, Size, Depth, Language, Proficiency, Competence.