Using a Corpus-Based Approach to Select Medical Vocabulary for an ESP Course: The Case for High-Frequency Vocabulary

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the use of multiple corpora and word lists made from corpora to select ESP vocabulary and on the integration of that lexis into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course. The first part of the chapter discusses the compilation of a corpus of medical textbooks in English which are commonly used in many Latin American countries, such as Venezuela, in undergraduate medical courses. A second corpus, this time of general English, was used as a comparison to the medical textbook corpus. Both corpora were analyzed for vocabulary load using Nation’s (2012) BNC/COCA lists, Coxhead’s AWL (2000) and Coxhead and Hirsh’s (2007) Science List. The study found that the first 3000 words constitute a vital set of vocabulary for ESP medical students at the beginning of their studies and that the vocabulary load of the medical textbooks is far greater than the loads of university texts (see Nation 2006). Bringing these corpus-based findings into ESP courses is an important task. The second part of the chapter discussed integrating these findings into an ESP course for medical students, using Nation’s (2013) framework of planning, strategy training, testing, and teaching vocabulary.

Appendices

Appendices

1.1 Top 100 GENM word types

the of and in to is a with or are for be as by may that an have can from not on at this most but these should has other which also been it more such associated than risk usually after if common often when because chapter high cause some

increased table cases severe levels who all include used during use no however although only including they there both their years low many present into type specific less occurs primary well those loss causes small agents studies due its response important days early within women effects individuals about without increase

1.2 Top 100 MEDG word types

patients disease treatment therapy infection cells cell clinical patient blood diagnosis acute syndrome normal symptoms chronic renal occur pain infections one drug pulmonary result cancer lesions failure function liver dose disorders serum bone skin heart protein drugs two tissue pressure factors age first rate results deficiency seen host diseases acid

time lung see virus cardiac tumor factor gene care muscle hosts oral inflammatory manifestations secondary tumors respiratory hepatitis abnormalities receptor hypertension plasma positive mutations life human fluid elevated immune treated health body children anemia surgery infected vascular disorder addition doses volume ventricular injury adults brain peripheral medical diabetes genetic calcium

1.3 Top 100 MED word types

systemic hepatic neurologic myocardial edema aortic asymptomatic ischemia cutaneous autosomal neuropathy proximal endocarditis pancreatic antigens stenosis pathogenesis lymphocytes acidosis ischemic idiopathic glucocorticoids airway hypotension pancreatitis prophylaxis vasculitis mucosal cytokines hemoglobin heparin physiologic mitral regimens tachycardia estrogen alveolar epithelial macrophages lupus lipid recessive pleural endothelial randomized dyspnea mucosa hypoglycemia pathobiology kinase

dementia thrombocytopenia corticosteroids metastases esophageal resection glomerular bilirubin bacteremia hemolytic parenteral extracellular neutrophils creatinine angiotensin histologic serologic pneumoniae nodules sarcoidosis hypercalcemia cortisol hemorrhagic cardiomyopathy sputum aldosterone endoscopic autonomic hypersensitivity cobalamin lymphadenopathy assays ataxia transcription anatomic folate pharmacologic hemolysis echocardiography intravascular subcutaneous immunocompromised immunoglobulin phenotype myeloma androgen colitis effusion hypothalamic malabsorption