Needs analysis of Spanish lexicography: the students’ perspective

Abstract

The motivation of this research is the lexical complexity involving a few words of Spanish due to their countless sociocultural content values. Our goal is to study, through the testimony of our students what are their needs regarding lexical materials. Although in the Spanish publishing market there are plenty of lexicographical materials, we observed that between students there is a tendency to seek alternatives to traditional lexical resources. We want to find the causes and propose, as far as possible, solutions to this phenomenon. The words subject of study in this paper are the Spanish adjectives: "cursi, cutre, hortera and paleto". All these words contain factors that hinder teaching and learning and these factors are, first, aspects of cultural backgroundand, secondly, the lexical variation that they offer and the dynamism of language that causes in some cases the acquisition of additional nuances, usages, etc.. In this paper, we use a quantitative methodology. Firstly, a questionnaire was developed to measure the students' experience. This quiz will have to serve at the same time to make students reflect on the conditions necessary for deeper understanding of the lexicon. Secondly, after analyzing the survey results, we aim to address the needs and the process of assimilation of the students when learning the vocabulary. In this way, we can offer future students cards provided with clear descriptions and specifications, varied examples and images in order that students can acquire the vocabulary and use it correctly in different communicative situations.