A CORPUS-BASED STUDY OF VOCABULARY USE IN PAKISTANI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ENGLISH ESSAYS

Abstract

This study investigates the vocabulary use of Pakistani high school students in English essay writing using a corpus-based approach. The purpose of the study is to identify common vocabulary patterns, frequency of word use, and the level of academic vocabulary used by students. A small learner corpus was compiled, consisting of essays written by high school students from Pakistani schools. The essays were converted into digital text and analyzed with corpus analysis software such as AntConc. The analysis focused on word frequency, lexical diversity, and the use of academic vocabulary based on the Academic Word List. The findings reveal that students frequently rely on common everyday vocabulary and show limited use of academic words. Repetition of certain words and limited lexical variation were also observed. The results highlight the need to improve students’ academic vocabulary and writing skills. This study contributes to research in Corpus Linguistics and provides useful insights for teachers and researchers working in English language learning in Pakistan.