The ministry of higher and secondary specialised education of uzbekistan the uzbek state world languages university the english teaching methodology department

3. Different approaches to recognition of lexical (vocabulary) complexity
There are different approaches to recognition of lexical (vocabulary) complexity:
- taking into account qualitative characteristics of words, that is formal, functional and semantic peculiarities of a particular word and complexity of its assimilation under the condition of contact between two languages. When people are speaking or writing, their choice of words is influ­enced by the situation they are in. A variety of the language in a commu­nicative situation is called a language style. It may be appropriate to use an informal style with close friends, a neutral style with business ac­quaintances and a formal style with an employer. Often in communication it is necessary to select specific vocabulary that helps convey the message in the best way. People switch the vocabulary they use when they talk to dif­ferent specialists or non-specialists, to adults or children, to indifferent or sensitive people. The selection of vocabulary for the purpose of achieving the best communicative result is called language register⁷.
- taking into account quantitative characteristics of words (metaphorical word usage and word polysemy which is represented by homophones with a variety of assigned meanings) which imply wide use of words as well as their length which is measured in the number of letters or syllables.
The basic principles of selection of the active (productive) minimum vocabulary:

• semantic approach;

  
  

• combinative approach;

  
  

• stylistic approach ;

  
  

• frequency approach;

  
  

• word-building value;

  
  

• words of polysemantic value;

  
  

• excluding synonyms;

  
  

• excluding international words.

  
  

The active (productive) minimum vocabulary is selected on the basis of topics and communicative situations, analysis of phonogram, dialogues, written speech.

The criteria of selection of the passive (receptive) minimum vocabulary:

• derivability;

  
  

• polysemantic character;

  
  

• frequency and wide use;

  
  

• topical associations;

  
  

• Semantic and word-building value.