Vocabulary Selection and Modification in English Textbook Production

The purpose of this study is to test the applicability and practicality of the Guidelines for the Use and Selection of Vocabulary for English Textbooks issued by KICE (Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation). The Guidelines, issued to authors and publishers of middle school and high school English textbooks, lay down the guidelines fir the selection and use of vocabulary. The study examined the types of vocabulary that had to be readjusted while trying to observe the guidelines and how the content had to be altered as a result. A tenth grade English textbook was analyzed for this purpose. Types of words that were replaced the most were borrowed words, compound words, and derivative words. Sentences either had to be altered structurally or content-wise, and the results were not always for the better. It is recommended that a more flexible guideline be in place so that authors may work with more freedom in the creation of textbooks and offer students with opportunities to acquire a variety of vocabulary in a more natural context.