This study introduces the creation of a new vocabulary concept called high-value alternatives (HVAs), which are low-frequency words that have a high-frequency counterpart word/phrase. It has been accepted for publication as a book chapter in the following encyclopedia:

 

Rogers, J., Daulton, F., Flagg, E., Florescu, C., Lamb, O. Morrish, J., Murray, A., & Ogura, F.  (in press). Teaching low-frequency vocabulary. In J. Liontas (Ed.), The TESOL encyclopedia of English language teaching (pp. 1-6). Wiley-Blackwell.

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Usage of HVAs carries the connotation of being highly educated. A manual examination of words in the 6,000-23,000 word family frequency range was conducted to identify HVAs. The results show that frequency does not determine usefulness in the sense that low-frequency means ‘advanced,’ and that a manual checking of thousands of vocabulary is the only way to identify such vocabulary. Learning such words may have high cost/benefit value for learners who lack higher education opportunities and experience linguistic prejudice in society, such as those with impoverished educational backgrounds who experience discrimination due to their usage of a non-standard dialect. Thus, this study’s resulting resource has the potential to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged individuals to help them develop their vocabulary fluency with high efficacy.

 

Currently, the list contains 2,942 words. However, only 1,697 of these are for native speakers to learn. The rest are for second-language learners.

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Please send an email to the following address if you would like to receive the list: jrogers [at mark] meijo-u.ac.jp

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