Turkish EFL learners' awareness and use of English morphology in guessing the meanings of unknown words from context : a case study
Author(s)
Advisor
Walters, JoDeeDate
2008Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
This study investigated Turkish university preparatory school EFL learners’
awareness and use of English affixes as a knowledge source in guessing the
meanings of unknown words in written contexts. In addition, this study also
examined Turkish learners’ use of prefixes and suffixes separately.
The study was conducted with the participation of 10 pre-intermediate
students at the English Language Preparatory School of Gaziosmanpaşa University.
The data was gathered through think aloud procedures. The participants were asked
to read a reading passage and try to infer the meanings of 13 target words that
included prefixes, suffixes, or both. The participants were tape-recorded during the
think aloud procedures.
The tape recordings were transcribed in order to provide the data. The data
analysis involved reading and rereading of the tape scripts. Then, knowledge sources were identified and classified, and the participants’ successful and unsuccessful used
of English morphology was examined.
This study implies that English affixes are effective knowledge sources in
determining the meanings of unknown words. Thus, EFL teachers should teach
students strategies about how to use English prefixes and suffixes in inferring the
meanings of unknown words in context.