EVALUATING THE ROLE OF LEXICOLOGY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE

Аннотация

Lexicology, the study of the structure, meaning, and development of words, is fundamental to understanding and mastering a language. This article evaluates the role of lexicology in English language learning by analyzing how lexical knowledge contributes to learners' linguistic competence, vocabulary expansion, and communicative ability. Through classroom observations, surveys, and lexical tests administered to EFL learners, the study identifies key challenges and pedagogical recommendations for integrating lexicological concepts into language instruction. Keywords: Lexicology, vocabulary acquisition, lexical competence, word formation, English language learning, semantic analysis, EFL instruction. ОЦЕНКА РОЛИ ЛЕКСИКОЛОГИИ В ИЗУЧЕНИИ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА И ЯЗЫКОВОЙ КОМПЕТЕНЦИИ Аннотация. Лексикология, изучение структуры, значения и развития слов, имеет основополагающее значение для понимания и освоения языка. В этой статье оценивается роль лексикологии в изучении английского языка путем анализа того, как лексические знания способствуют языковой компетенции учащихся, расширению словарного запаса и коммуникативным способностям. С помощью наблюдений в классе, опросов и лексических тестов, проводимых среди учащихся, изучающих английский как иностранный, исследование выявляет основные проблемы и педагогические рекомендации по интеграции лексикологических концепций в обучение языку. Ключевые слова: лексикология, приобретение словарного запаса, лексическая компетенция, словообразование, изучение английского языка, семантический анализ, обучение английскому языку как иностранному. INGLIZ TILINI VA LINGVISTIK KOMPETENTSIYANI O'RGANISHDA LEKSIKOLOGIYANING AHAMIYATI 1 26 3 International scientific journal ISSN: 2181-3906 «MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH» 2025 VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 4 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ Annotatsiya. So‘zlarning tuzilishi, ma’nosi va rivojlanishini o‘rganuvchi leksikologiya tilni tushunish va o‘zlashtirish uchun asosiy hisoblanadi. Ushbu maqolada leksikologiyaning ingliz tilini o‘rganishdagi roli baholanadi, leksik bilimlar o‘quvchilarning lingvistik kompetensiyasi, so‘z boyligi va kommunikativ qobiliyatiga qanday hissa qo‘shishini tahlil qiladi. Sinfdagi kuzatishlar, so'rovlar va ingliz tilini o'rganuvchilarga o'tkaziladigan leksik testlar orqali tadqiqot leksikologik tushunchalarni til o'qitishga integratsiya qilish bo'yicha asosiy muammolar va pedagogik tavsiyalarni aniqlaydi. Kalit so'zlar: Leksikologiya, so'z boyligini o'zlashtirish, leksik kompetentsiya, so'z yaratish, ingliz tilini o'rganish, semantik tahlil, EFL yo'riqnomasi. 1. Introduction Lexicology is a vital subfield of linguistics that examines the vocabulary of a language— its origin, structure, development, and usage. It provides insights into word formation, semantic shifts, phraseology, and lexical relations such as synonymy, antonymy, and polysemy. For English language learners, mastering these aspects is crucial for both receptive (reading, listening) and productive (speaking, writing) skills. Despite its importance, lexicology is often underemphasized in traditional English language curricula, where the focus is largely on grammar and basic vocabulary memorization. Yet, understanding lexical relationships and structures can greatly enhance learners' depth of vocabulary knowledge, ability to use words appropriately in context, and awareness of language nuances. This study aims to evaluate the role of lexicology in English language education by assessing learners' lexical competence and examining the impact of lexicological instruction on language acquisition. It also seeks to explore learners' attitudes toward lexical studies and the effectiveness of current teaching approaches. 2. Methods 2.1. Participants The study involved 40 undergraduate EFL students from two universities in Uzbekistan enrolled in linguistics and philology programs. All participants had at least an upper-intermediate (B2) level of English. 2.2. Instruments and Procedure 1 26 4 International scientific journal ISSN: 2181-3906 «MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH» 2025 VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 4 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ To evaluate the impact of lexicology on language learning, the study utilized the following tools:  Lexical Competence Test: A diagnostic test was designed to assess knowledge of word formation (prefixes, suffixes, compounds), lexical relations (synonyms, antonyms, hyponyms), and word meaning in context.  Classroom Intervention: A 4-week module on applied lexicology was conducted, covering derivational morphology, etymology, idioms, collocations, and semantic change.  Surveys and Interviews: After the intervention, students completed a questionnaire on their perceptions of lexicology and its relevance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 language instructors to gain qualitative insight into teaching practices and challenges. 2.3. Data Analysis Test results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data from open-ended responses and i