A Corpus-based Comparative Study of Learn and Acquire

Bei Yang

doi:10.5539/elt.v9n1p209

Abstract

As an important yet intricate linguistic feature in English language, synonymy poses a great challenge for second language learners. Using the 100 million-word British National Corpus (BNC) as data and the software Sketch Engine (SkE) as an analyzing tool, this article compares the usage of learn and acquire used in natural discourse by conducting the analysis of concordance, collocation, word sketches and sketch difference. The results show that different functions of SkE can make different contributions to the discrimination of learn and acquire. Pedagogical implications are discussed when the results are introduced into the classroom.

Highlights

One day, a student asked me: “The verbs learn and acquire share the following similar meaning: to develop or gain knowledge and skill
Using the 100 million-word British National Corpus (BNC) as data and the software Sketch Engine (SkE) as an analyzing tool, this article compares the usage of learn and acquire used in natural discourse by conducting the analysis of concordance, collocation, word sketches and sketch difference
The results show that different functions of SkE can make different contributions to the discrimination of learn and acquire

Summary

Introduction

A student asked me: “The verbs learn and acquire share the following similar meaning: to develop or gain knowledge and skill. Why do we say acquire knowledge instead of learn knowledge, and why do we say learn to drive instead of acquire to drive?” I answered: “Learn and acquire are synonyms. They share similar meanings and usages, but they differ in collocational and colligational patterns.”. The student continued to ask: “What are the collocational and colligational patterns of learn and acquire respectively?” Being a second language learner myself, I found it hard to give her a satisfactory answer. Longman Synonym Dictionary lists the synonyms of learn and acquire respectively, but offers no further explanation as to the similarities and differences between the two verbs.

Methods

Results

Conclusion