ROLE OF EXTENSIVE READING IN VOCABULARY GROWTH

Abstract

Extensive reading plays a crucial role in accelerating vocabulary growth by providing learners with sustained exposure to language in authentic, meaningful contexts. When learners read large amounts of comprehensible and engaging texts, they repeatedly encounter lexical items in varied syntactic and semantic environments, which strengthens both recognition and retention. This continuous exposure supports incidental vocabulary acquisition, allowing learners to infer word meanings naturally through context rather than through explicit instruction alone. Extensive reading also facilitates the development of lexical depth, as learners gradually internalize collocations, connotations, and multiple word senses. Moreover, wide reading enhances reading fluency, enabling learners to process text more efficiently and allocate greater cognitive resources to noticing and acquiring new vocabulary. Overall, extensive reading fosters long-term vocabulary expansion by integrating natural language exposure, contextual learning, and autonomous engagement with text, making it a highly effective approach within second language acquisition.