An Analysis of Persian Language Textbooks (Reading) from the First to the Third Grade based on the Theory of Semantic Networks

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Computational Linguistics, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology

2 Department of Linguistics, Islamic Azad University, Fars Science and Research Branch, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Semantic network displays a large number of words in a related network. The existence of semantic networks in a text represents the coherence of a text and consequently results in a better reading and learning of a text. The purpose of this research is the analysis of semantic networks, concrete and abstract fields and sense relations in Persian textbooks of first to third grade of elementary school. The present study is a descriptive-analytic research of qualitative type. In this study, semantic networks, concrete and abstract field and conceptual relationships in the texts of Persian books in the first three years of elementary school were studied. The findings indicated that the words in the texts often included at least one semantic network to be drawn, either with or without a title. The conceptual relationships between the words were: collocation, synonymy, opposition, hyponymy, metonymy and member collection. Among these relationships, collocation was the most and member collection was the least frequent relationships. The frequency of concrete field was also halved from the first to the third book, and abstract field had almost the same frequency.

Keywords


Ake­rkar, R., (2003), “Design of English to Marathi Translation System using Example Based Machine Translation”, proceeding of international Conference on natural Language processing, Hamilton, Newzealand, 46-54.
Balota, D. A. & R. F. Lorch (1986). "Depth of Automatic Spreading Activation: Mediated Priming Effects in Pronunciation but not in Lexical Decision". Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 12(3). pp. 336-345. doi:10.1037/02787393. 12.3.336
Belacchi C, Benelli B. (2005) Ambergris is not a precious fossil: the development of definitional skills. Deve Psychol. 5-10.
Collins, A. M. & E. F. Loftus (1975). "A Spreading Activation Theory of Semantic Processing". Psychological Review. 82(6). pp. 407-428. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.82.6.407. 
Crow, J. T., & Quigley, J. R., (1985). “A Semantic Field Approach to Passive Vocabulary Acquisition for Reading Comprehension”. Tesol Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 3. 497-513.
Erten, I.H., & M. Tekin (2008). “Effect on vocabulary acquisition of presenting new words in semantic sets versus semantically unrelated sets”. System. 36. pp. 407-422.
Evans, V., & Green, M. (2005). Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh university press.
Gavriilidou Z. (2008). The development of word definitions in Greek preschoolers[Internet]. Democritus University of Thrace. Available at: URL:http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/icgl/proceedings/9-Gavriilidou-Kedited-88.pdf :5-8.
Ghasemnejad, Z., Rahimi, Z. (2014), “Systematic Semantic of the word (Velayat) and drawing of semantic grids related to Velayat in Imam Reza lessons”, Saghalayn Researches, 1(4), pp.629-654. [In Persian].
Ghiasian, M. (2015), “A critical analysis of Persian elementary textbooks”, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 9(36), pp. 121-144. [In Persian].
Hudli, A., (1989) NVL-A knowledge representation language based on semantic networks.
Institute of research and planning in higher education, (2019), Persian elementary textbook of first grade. [In Persian].
Institute of research and planning in higher education, (2019), Persian elementary textbook of Second grade. [In Persian].
Institute of research and planning in higher education, (2019), Persian elementary textbook of third grade. [In Persian].
Johnson CJ, Anglin JM. (1995). Qualitative developments in the content and form of children's definitions. J Speech Hear Res.38(3):612.
Karami, M., Shahsani, Sh., Keshavarzi, F., Naseri Jahromi, R., (2015), “An analysis of sixth grade Persian Book based on components of critical discourse analysis”, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 10(37), pp. 41-58. [In Persian].
Kempson, R., M., (1997) Semantic Theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Keramati, E., Kazemi, A., Hosseini, K., (2016), “The cultural context and conflicts in Persian elementary textbooks”. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 11(43), pp. 47-72. [In Persian].
Khamehgar, M., (2010), “Semantic network of Quran topics”, Quranic research, 16(63), pp. 236-270. [In Persian].
Kleparski, G. A. (2007). “The Tradition of Field Theory and the Study of Lexical Semantic Change”. Studia Anglica Resoviensia. 47 (4). 188-205.
Lehre, A., (1985). “The Influence of Semantic Fields on Semantic Change”. Historical Semantics, Vol. 2. 283-295.
Lin, C. (1997), “Semantic Network for Vocabulary Teaching”, Journal of Taiwan Normal University: Humanities & Social Science, Vol 42 (New version), 43-54.
Lyons, J. (1977) Semantics, Vols 1&2: Cambridge: Cambridge University press.
Mohammadi ziarat, A., Zahedi, K., (2011), “Semantic network of a modern Persian preposition (az) in a cognitive semantic framework”. Journal of Advances in cognitive sciences, 1(13), pp. 67-80. [In Persian].
Mokhtari, Sh., Rezaiee, H., (2013), “Cognitive analysis of semantic network of the preposition (ba) in Persian language”, Linguistics and Khorasan dialects, 5(2), pp. 73-94. [In Persian].
Niazian, M., Khazae, K., (2017), “An analysis of the content of Persian poetries in elementary school based on language and affection”, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 12(47), pp. 125-144. [In Persian].
Nourian, M., Nematzadeh, Sh., Hosseinloo, A., (2014), “The target keywords distribution and continuity in the writing and reading textbook of second grade”, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 9(53), pp. 113-128. [In Persian].
Nozari, S., (2015), “Applying of semantic network on poem retrieval”, Iranian Journal of Information Processing and Management, 32(1), pp. 125-146. [In Persian].
Pahlavannejad, M., Namvarforgi, M., (2009), “Semantic sphere; A new approach to the theory of sphere”, Journal of Language Research, 1(1), pp. 1-34. [In Persian].
Pahlavannejad, M., Sarsarabi, Sh., (2011), ”Quranic equivalence by use of relations in semantic network theory”, Islamic Studies, Quran Sciences and Hadith, 93(3), pp. 9-44. [In Persian].
Pahlavannejad, M., Namvarforgi, M., (2016), “Analysis of semantic fields of Persian language words and presenting new criteria in determining semantic fields”, Linguistics and Khorasan dialects, 63(4), pp. 51-70. [In Persian].
Parcham, A., Fanaiee, P., (2009), “The Semantic network for vice in Quran”, Analysis of Quran and Hadith, 6(2), pp. 149-170. [In Persian].
Rasekhmahand, M., Ranjbar Zarrabi, N., (2013), “The semantic networks of two preposition ’Dar & Sar’”, Comparative linguistic research, 3(15), pp.11-95. [In Persian].

 Rastgoo, k., (2018), “Semantic network of (A?la) in Quranic discourse based on prototype theory”, Language Related Research, 6(1), pp. 1-29. [In Persian].
Rezaiee, H., Rafiei, A., (2016), “A study of the semantic network of (-gah) suffix of location in Persian: A cognitive perspective”, Journal of Language Research, 8(18), pp. 107-123. [In Persian].
Safavi, K., (2008), An introduction to Semantics, Tehran: Sooreye Mehr publication. [In Persian].
Schmitt, N., & P. Meara (1997). "Researching Vocabulary through a Word Knowledge Framework: Word Associations and Verbal Suffixes". Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 19(1). pp. 17-36.
Seraj, F., Belgheis, R., Najafiyan, A., Yousefirad, F., (2019), “Readability of Persian textbooks in primary schools”, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 4(55), pp. 113-140. [In Persian].
Shameli, N., KohandelJahromi, M., Ghasemnejad, Z., (2011), “Systematic semantic and drawing the semantic grid of the word (Ghanoon) and its synonyms in holy Quran”, Hosnaa, 3(9), pp. 85-113. [In Persian].
Sowa, J., F., (1992), “Semantic Networks”, Encyclopedia of Artificial Intelligence, and 2nd Edition, edited by S.C. Shapiro, Newyork: Wiley.
Tavakolinia, M., Hasoomi, V., (2018), “Examining semantic networks of the letter (Men) in the Quran with the cognitive semantics approach”, Lesaan e Mobin, 9(7), pp. 21-43. [In Persian].
Yousefi Amoli, H., Akbari, Z., (2012), “Understanding the Quranic terms of patience with an emphasis on its use in Quran”, Ghayyem book, 2(6), pp. 51-74. [In Persian].