Assessing the Depth
of Second Language Vocabulary Knowledge
Fransiscus Xaverius Mukarto
This paper discusses a self-report
assessment instrument designed to measure the depth of second language learners’
vocabulary knowledge, particularly the semantic mapping accuracy of English
verbs within the same semantic fields. The depth of learners’ vocabulary
knowledge is indicated by the degree of accuracy in indicating whether certain
semantic components are within or outside the meaning boundaries of the tested
verbs. The instrument may take the form of a sentence completion test or a
forward translation recognition test. The test consists of (a) a sentential
context in which the target verb is deleted, and (a) a matrix. The sentential
contexts play an important role in providing the semantic components for the
tested verbs to be judged by the learners. The matrix consists of seven columns
and a number of rows, depending on the number of tested verbs. One column is
for the numbers of tested verbs, another for the tested verbs and the other
five for indicating learners’ judgments on the acceptability of the tested verbs
in the sentential context. Learners’ judgments range from “strongly believe
that the verb is either acceptable or unacceptable in the sentential context”
to “having no idea of the acceptability of the verb”. The designed assessment
instrument can be used to track the development in the semantic disambiguation
or semantic mapping accuracy of the second language learners’ vocabulary.
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Mukarto, F. X. (2003, November). Assessing the depth of second language vocabulary knowledge.
Paper presented at the 38th RELC International Seminar,
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