Use of Vocabulary In Proverbs and Quatations

Abstract

his study has made an attempt to find out the vocabulary used in proverbs and quotations. This study is based on the secondary sources of data. The population of the study comprised 50 proverbs and same number of quotations mainly selected from English as a Second Language (ESL) related internet web sites, English books, and magazines. . The data were, collected randomly. The objectives of the study were to compare vocabulary in terms of major word classes and minor word classes; to point out their distribution as well as frequency and range used in proverbs and quotations.The researcher found that items of major word classes occurred more than those of minor word classes. Among major word classes, nouns used in quotations occupied the first positions and the adverbs used in proverbs took the last position. Among minor word classes, auxiliaries used in quotations secured the first position and numeralsused in proverbs the last position. Interjections were not found in both proverbs and quotations. The researcher found that nouns used in quotations occupied the first position with 18.34% (i. e. 271 out of 1478) distribution and adverbs used in proverbs occurred in the last position with 0.47 % (i.e. 7 out of 1478). The range (i. e. 264 ) and average (i. e. 67.18%) showed that proverbs are shorter than quotations due to their lower distribution of words..The thesis consists of four chapters. Each chapter has necessary sub chapters. Chapter one includes introduction, general background , mass media and their roles in the present day world, print and electronic media, use of proverbs and quotations,vocabulary and grammar, use of vocabulary, literature review, objective of the study,significance of the study and definition of the terms. Chapter two deals with them ethodology applied to conduct the research. This chapter consists of sources of data,sampling procedure, tools of data collection and limitation of the study.Chapter three consists of the analysis and interpretation of the data. The data collected through observation are analyzed and interpreted in this chapter by using statistical tools like percent, degree,tables and figures. The fourth chapter deals with the findings and recommendations of the study.