MEANINGS OF SELECTED CULTURAL WORDS IN SOME EFL COURSEBOOKS FOR ENGLISH MAJORS

Abstract

Cultural words constitute a significant part of the vocabulary presented in  seven EFL coursebooks and reflect various cultural and historical aspects of different nations. Accordingly, the meanings and cultural connotations of these words have attracted increasing attention from linguistic researchers. This study aims to investigate the semantic and cultural meanings of selected cultural words found in seven EFL coursebooks for English-majored students. To achieve this objective, the study employed a qualitative semantic analysis in which cultural words were collected from the selected coursebooks, classified into specific thematic groups, and analyzed based on their meanings and cultural connotations. The analysis was conducted to identify how cultural vocabulary reflects the historical backgrounds, values, and cultural characteristics of different countries. The findings indicate that some cultural words contain a relatively fixed cultural meaning strongly associated with a particular nation or cultural context. In contrast, several words demonstrate multiple meanings depending on communicative and cultural contexts, requiring learners to carefully interpret their meanings in specific situations. The study also reveals that certain cultural words cannot be directly translated into the target language because of their culture-specific meanings and symbolic associations. In such cases, preserving the original meaning and providing appropriate cultural explanations are considered necessary for effective understanding. Based on these findings, the study proposes several pedagogical implications for the teaching and learning of language and culture in EFL contexts.