Abstract

Lexical availability focuses on studying the lexicon of specific communities of speakers based on the analysis of the frequency of words. In this context, the present research evaluated the effect of the gender variable on lexical availability in English as a foreign language in a sample of 46 fifth-grade students (24 women and 22 men) of a subsidized school. This research aimed to quantitatively analyze the effect of the gender factor on lexical availability in English in the centers of interest: colors, family members, sports, animals, and food and drink. This analysis was conducted using the following indicators: number of words (N), the average number of words (XR), the number of different words (NPD), and cohesion index (IC). The results obtained in the associativity test showed that, although both groups have a varied available lexicon in English, the gender variable would not impact a quantitative level since there are no significant differences in the lexical availability test.