Abstract
This study investigates the effects of context on word meaning among ND2 Office Technology
and Management (OTM) students at Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, during the
2022/2023 academic session. The primary objective was to assess how context influences
students’ understanding of both technical and academic terminologies, identify contextual
barriers, and suggest ways to improve their comprehension. Grounded in the linguistic theory
of context, the study explores linguistic, situational, and social contexts that impact word
meaning. A qualitative research design was employed, using classroom observation as the
primary data collection method. Systematic simple random sampling was applied to select 54
participants out of a population of 108 students. The findings revealed that OTM students often
struggle with interpreting technical terms in workplace contexts, while they demonstrate a
stronger grasp of academic terms. However, some abstract academic vocabulary still posed
challenges. The study concludes that context significantly shapes word comprehension, with
familiarity and exposure to terms being key factors. Recommendations include incorporating
real-world scenarios in the curriculum, enhancing vocabulary instruction, providing
contextual awareness workshops, collaborating with industry professionals, and
contextualizing assessments to improve students' comprehension of both technical and
academic terms.
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