Lexical Approach

Question 1

LA Definition

Answer 1

1) Belief in the centrality of the lexicon to multiword lexical units (chunks) that are learned as single items
2) Building blocks of language learning
≠ Grammar / Functions / Notions
= Lexis (Words and word combinations)

Question 2

Author

Answer 2

1) Pawlet and Syder
2) Chomsky (Father of contemporary syntax)
- Minimalist linguistic theory
- Lexicon = Prime

Question 3

Lexical units

Answer 3

Holophrases / Prefabricated patterns / Gambits

Question 4

Chomsky’s influential theory

Answer 4

Capacity of speakers to create and interpret sentences that are unique and have never been produced or heard previously

Question 5

Lexical View

Answer 5

A minority of spoken sentences are entirely novel creations and that chunks form a high proportion of the fluent stretches of speech heard in everyday conversation.

Question 6

Chunks

Answer 6

Memorable patterns / Multiword units functioning

Question 7

Collocations

Answer 7

Regular occurrence together of words

1) Do my homework | Make my bed

Question 8

Binomials

Answer 8

o	Back and forth
o	Fish and chips
o	Knife and fork
o	Law and order
o	Salt and pepper

Question 9

Trinomials

Answer 9

o Left, right, and center
o Mind, body, and soul
o Rock, paper, or scissors
o Tall, dark and handsome
o This, that, and the other

Question 10

Idioms

Answer 10

o Back to the drawing board
o Beat around the bush
o Bite the bullet
o Blessing in disguise
o Call it a night

Question 11

Similes

Answer 11

o	As common as dirt
o	As happy as a clam
o	As light as a feather
o	As bright as a button
o	As tall as a giraffe

Question 12

Connectives

Answer 12

o	And
o	Moreover
o	Therefore
o	However
o	Unless

Question 13

Conversational gambits

Answer 13

o I’ve got news for you!
o Let’s face it
o The truth of the matter is
o Come on now
o Let’s be realistic

Question 14

Lexis

Answer 14

Central role in language learning

Question 15

Lexis | Production

Answer 15

Piecing together the ready-made units appropriate for a particular situation.

Question 16

Lexis | Comprehension

Answer 16

Knowing which of these patterns to predict in these situations.

Question 17

How might second language learners approach the daunting task of internalizing hundreds of thousands of chunks?

Answer 17

1) Massive amounts of “language input” (reading)
2) Explore the context of lexical use in distinct kinds of texts and language data.
3) Concentrate on items for which there is no direct translational equivalence

Question 18

Assumptions about learning theory in the lexical approach

Answer 18

1) Encountering new learning items on several occasions is necessary but not necessary for learning (intake)
2) Noticing lexical chunks is a necessary but not sufficient for learning
3) Noticing similarities, differences, restrictions, and examples contributes to learning (intake)
4) Acquisition is based on an accumulation of examples from which learners make provisional generalizations.
5) No linear syllabus can reflect the nonlinear nature of acquisition

Question 19

Materials of LA

Answer 19

1) Based on lexical rather than grammatical principles
2) Classifying collocations and chunks by using a functional schema
3) Complete packages = Texts | Tapes | Teacher’s manuals
4) Collections of vocabulary teaching activities
5) Printout versions of chunks collections packaged in text format
6) Computer concordancing programs and attached data sets

Question 20

Teacher Role ≠ Knower

Answer 20

1) Talk is the major source of learner input in demonstrating how lexical phrases are used for different functional purposes
2) Need to understand and manage classroom methodology based on stages = Task | Planning | Report
2) Creating an environment in which learners can operate effectively and helping learners manage their own learning.

Question 21

Learner Role = Discoverer

Answer 21

1) Make use of computers to analyze text data previously collected
2) Data analyst constructing his own linguistic generalizations based on examination of chunks

Question 22

Conclusion

Answer 22

1) Status of lexis in language teaching
- Developments in lexical and linguistic theory
- Work in chunks analysis
- Recognition of the role of multiword units in language learning
2) Lexical approach ≠ Approach / Method