THE LEXICAL APPROACH

The lexical approach

1.      Definition of the lexical approach

Lexical meaning is the basic meaning of a word according to the dictionary. Basic meaning is attached to the base of a word. Lexical meaning can also be referred to the original meaning of a word that has not been affixation (the process of adding affixes) or merging with another word. However, most people prefer to define as meaning lexical meaning dictionary. That is, the meaning of the word as stated in the dictionary. consider the following example:

(A) home

(B) settle

The first example (a) is a basic word that has not changed. Based on KBBI dictionary meaning of the word "house" is a building for shelter. As for the second example (b) is a derivative word. The second example (b) have a different meaning than the meaning of the first (a) although the word is essentially the same, namely the house. The addition of a prefix or a prefix to the word "home" make meaning "home" changes are not just a building but a place to stay have a building for shelter.

2.      Collocation

A "collocation" is like a phrase that consists of at least 2 ato more words. The combination of words sound "homey" / "not weird / ugly" in the original speakers (native English speakers), where they use it all the time. However, other combinations can also be used, although it will actually sound unnatural ato even so weird.

Natural English	Unnatural English
the fast train	the quick train
fast food	quick food
a quick shower	a fast shower
a quick meal	a fast meal

In the discourse of English collocation has a fairly prominent role. And for us who are not native speakers, collocation mastery can only be obtained with a lot of reading and listening. Standard English lessons that we receive in school is almost never mentioned and explained about this collocation. Take a simple example, such as a compound word fast car (car speed). Native speakers never call with a quick car, but we know each permaknaannya fast and quick. Similarly, the term fast food (fast food), never spoken with quick food. Instead 'instantaneous view' in English called quick glance and never say a fast glance.

Here will be presented a number of examples of collocation is often a 'stumbling block' for us in the discourse in English.

• You make a mistake. We do not say you do a mistake. (Even in the Indonesian language we tend to say 'You made ​​a mistake').

• She will do the dishes. It means 'he'll do the dishes' and do not say she will wash the dishes.

• This car has a powerful engine. We're not saying this car has a strong engine (in Indonesian language we tend to say 'powerful engine')

Various kinds of "Collocations".

There are several kinds of phrases that are composed of a combination of a verb (verbs), nouns (noun), adjectives (adjective) :

Noun + Verb: lions roar (lions NOT shout) .

Verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly) .

Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)

Purpose :

It is based on the idea that an important part of language acquisition is the ability to comprehend and produce lexical phrases an unanalyzed whole or “chunks” and that these chunk become the raw data by which leaners perceive patterns, of language traditionally thought of as grammar.

Conclusion :

•      The status of lexis in language teaching has been considerably enhanced by developments in lexical and linguistic theory, by work in corpus analysis and by recognition of the role of multiword units language learning and communication.

•      It remains to be convincingly demonstrated how a lexically based theory of language and language teaching, suggesting that it is still an idea in search of an approach a methodology.