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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. VOCABULARY
1. The Understandings of Vocabulary
One thing that distinguishs between man and animal is a verbal language or speaking. Humans communicate with others through verbal
language, either to give or to receive the informations but the animals do not. If the humans want to communicate with others, they must have enough
words. Words are instrument for saying what a person want to say in our
thought, feeling, ideas, desires, dislikes, hopes, and fears. As the instrument, the number of words we have can help us fulfill our needs.
There are many definitions of vocabulary which are defined by experts. However, it is impossible to discuss all of them, so the writer only
chooses several of them. According to Penny Ur,
“Vocabulary is one of the most important aspects in language teaching, beside grammar and pronunciation. As a stock
of words used by a person, it can be defined, roughly as the words we teach in the foreign language”.
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Means that vocabulary can not be separated from the teaching of English.
Meanwhile, Finnochiaro states that “Vocabulary is a set of words
known to person or either entity, or that are part of specific language. The vocabulary of person is defined either as as the set of all the words that are
understood by the person or the set of all words likely to be used by that
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Penny Ur; A Course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996, p. 60
person when constructing new sentences. The r ichness of person’s is
populary through though to be reflection or intellegence or level education.
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Furthermore, In Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, vocabulary
defines as follow: a.
All words that a person knows or uses. b.
All words in a particular language. c.
The word that people use when they are talking about a particular subject.
d. A list of words with their meanings, especially in a book for
learning a foreign language.
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In addition, Grambs David defines that vocabulary as a list of words usually defined and alphabetical as in dictionary or specialized glossary;
complete word stock of language: Some corpus of word used in a sub language or by a group, class or individual; scope of diction; command of
words or range of expressions.
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From the explanations above, the writer infers that vocabulary is a list or set of words that are used by person, class, profession, etc, in the
communication in every aspect such as in trade, education, and business to maintain all informations and make up language.
It can be said that vocabulary is the important aspect of improving communication skills. A learner of a foreign language will speak fluently if
heshe masters it. Vocabulary also helps a learner write easily, and understand what he reads or hears if heshe has enough vocabulary and has a
capability of using it correctly. Without good mastering in vocabularies, communication will end up in unpleasant situation and learner feels
reluctant to continue the communication.
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Marry Finnochiaro, English as a second Language: from theory to practice, fourth edition, New York: Prentice Hall Regents, 1989, p. 40
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A. S. Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2000, p. 1506
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Grambs David, Words about Words, New York: Mc. Graw Hill Book Company, 1984, p. 133
2. The Types of Vocabulary
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