More than Words: A Systematic Review on the Contributions of Synonymy in Language Learning

Abstract

The use of synonyms in language learning offers numerous benefits, including vocabulary expansion, contextual understanding, and language variety. This systematic literature review gives birth to the contributions of synonymy in language acquisition based on a number of researches that have been published in a number of publications and are accessible in a number of online databases. It focuses explicitly on examining the different uses of synonymy and its effect on acquiring a language. The data which was plotted on the repertory grid were analyzed to identify the gaps in the research conducted.The findings of the study established five (5) significant roles synonymy holds in language acquisition: word substitution, sense, and context relation, register identification, repetition avoidance, and language embellishment. The results of this study provide English teachers with a deeper insight into the impact of synonymy on students' language acquisition.Consequently, this study allows teachers to reflect with more excellent knowledge of the main benefits involved in the use of synonyms in teaching/learning English. Besides, the knowledge of synonyms instills confidence in language learners. It allows them to communicate more precisely and flexibly, leading to increased fluency and proficiency in the language. Thus, to make the most of synonymy in language learning, learners should pay attention to the subtle differences between synonyms, learn their appropriate usage in different contexts, and practice incorporating them into their active vocabulary., and practice incorporating them into their active vocabulary.

Keywords: language learning, systematic literature review, synonymy

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/98-02

Publication date:August 31^st 2023