Studies On The Teaching Of English Vocabulary Socio-cultural Meaning

It is universally agreed that language is a part of culture and plays a very important role in it. Language is the base of culture. Without language, culture would not be possible. On the other hand, language is influenced and shaped by culture; it reflects culture. Vocabulary, as a cardinal element of language, is the fundamental pillar that supports the huge system of a language. From social use of language, cultural distinctions are most prominent and widespread at lexical levels. Words have socio-cultural meaning as well as denotative or conceptual meaning. Vocabulary teaching should involve cultural knowledge introducing. Understanding socio-cultural meaning in addition to denotative meaning of words in vocabulary teaching will strengthen students' linguistic competence and their communicative competence.The present thesis first introduces the relationship between language and culture, and then discusses the influence of culture on lexical meanings, which endows words with socio-cultural meaning. I put forward the necessity to combine the teaching of culture with the teaching of vocabulary. Finally, topic-based and activity-based approaches are illustrated with concrete examples in vocabulary teaching in order to improve students' competence in using words to communicate successfully and it is thought viable that vocabulary should be dealt with independently in teaching and learning a language.