ETYMOLOGY IN VOCABULARY ACQUISITION:

A META-ANALYSIS
NGUYỄN MINH QUÂN

ABSTRACT
Etymology, the field of linguistics that studies the historical and original development of
language and meanings of words, has long been considered a valuable asset in the teaching and
learning of vocabulary among students and teachers. The application of etymology in
vocabulary acquisition facilitates the understanding, recognition, and self-confidence in
learning new word meanings. Etymological approach also enables learners to figure out the
formation of English words correctly. In recent years, EFL learners have utilized etymological
approach in acquiring new vocabulary and claimed its effectiveness in improving their lexical
resource. This study aims at examining the opinions and perspectives of EFL learners towards
their implementation of etymological learning in vocabulary acquisition from previous studies.
Additionally, as the aid of etymology in vocabulary learning for Vietnamese IELTS learners is
not a common practice, this study will also provide recommendations to Vietnamese IELTS
learners on the usage of etymological learning to maximize their lexical resource input. Based
on previous studies, it is concluded that etymological approach enhances IELTS learners’
motivation in remembering, understanding and analyzing lexical input through the
comprehension of basic word elements, original known usage, and changes of word sources
from one language to another.

Key words: etymology, vocabulary acquisition, IELTS learners