The Concept of Semantic Mapping Technique

2.2 The Concept of Semantic Mapping Technique

There are a lot of names of Semantic Mapping technique that refer to the same concept and have the same meaning. Some experts define it in some different ways. Basically, the experts’ definitions have the same point. Sinatra et. al. 1984; Hennings 1997 call Semantic Mapping as semantic map, webs, or networks. Langan 2011, Cryer 1996 name this concept as clustering, mind mapping or diagramming. Gillet Temple 1990:262 prefer to call this concept as webbing. Harmer 2004:89 uses the term spider gram or mind map. Strangman 2003 labeled this concept as graphic organizer. At last, Carrel et. al., 1988:250 prefer to name Semantic Mapping as text mapping. Based on the explanations above, it can be assumed that Semantic Mapping is similar with Semantic Map, Webs, Networks, Diagramming, Webbing, Spider Gram, Mind Map, Graphic Organizer, Clustering and Text Mapping. This research used the term Semantic Mapping technique proposed by some experts above. The definition of Semantic Mapping technique itself, according to Sinatra et. al. 1984:4 is a graphic arrangement showing how the major and minor ideas are related in a text. The map consists of nodes; it can be drawn in circles, rectangles, or squares. The nodes are containing keywords or phrases, with connecting links in the form of lines or arrows which drawn between the nodes. In addition, Hennings 1997:279 explains that Semantic Mapping is a network of interrelated words or phrases which are connected to a central topic hub and to one another that highlights relationships with a body of information. Gillet Temple 1990; Harmer 2004 describe that Semantic Mapping is a way to help the students to recall prior knowledge by generating idea or model. Besides that, Langan 2011 define that Semantic Mapping is a technique that can be used to help readers who like to do their thinking activity in a visual way which allows the readers to sketch ideas loosely and see the relationships between sub points and components of ideas graphically. points and components of ideas graphically. Moreover, Semantic Mapping is an effective technique because it easily makes the readers to gather information and organized the thoughts, so it will help them to see how the ideas fit together McWorther, 2010:87. In addition, according to Barron 1979 as stated in Sam and in Sam and Rajan 2013:157 says that by designing Semantic Mapping, the students will motivate themselves in the process of reading comprehension. It likely happens because Semantic Mapping is an effective technique, by which students enhance their understanding of key words by graphically mapping them. Considering the definitions, it can be concluded that Semantic Mapping is a visual diagram used to record and organize information of the text in order to make students easily identify the components of issues in the text and help them to link ideas graphically. Their ideas and thoughts can be noted in a simply way using nodes circles or squares and connecting links to show how main idea and subordinate ideas are related to one another.

2.3. The Types of Semantic Mapping Technique