EFL Learners' Receptive Knowledge of Congruent and Non-Congruent Delexical Verb-Noun Collocations

Abstract

Vocabulary acquisition remains a fundamental yet complex area in language learning, particularly for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Among the various challenges, delexical verbs stand out due to their abstract nature and diverse usage. Understanding these verbs is crucial for achieving fluency and comprehension in English. The aim of this study was to investigate challenging aspects of vocabulary acquisition, focusing specifically on delexical verbs. It assessed the receptive knowledge of university learners regarding both congruent and non-congruent delexical verb-noun combinations. To achieve this, a multiple-choice test comprising 10 items on delexical verbs was administered to evaluate the learners' understanding of these combinations. The sample consisted of 15 EFL learners in their fourth year at a public university in Yemen. The findings revealed that learners exhibited a higher level of receptive knowledge in congruent delexical verbs compared to non-congruent ones, which can be attributed to their limited exposure to these verbs in real-life contexts. Consequently, the study emphasizes the necessity of explicitly teaching delexical verb combinations to second language (L2) learners. It advocates for the integration of vocabulary teaching into English Language Teaching (ELT) materials to enhance learners' proficiency and understanding of delexical verbs. This research underscores the importance of targeted vocabulary instruction in improving the overall language competence of EFL learners.