The  Vocabulary Profile in Maritime English Textbooks:  A Comprehensive Content Analysis: English

Muhammad Darwin; Andang Saehu; Hanna Sundari

doi:10.35316/joey.2026.v5i1.37-47

Authors

Muhammad Darwin Universitas Terbuka
Andang Saehu Universitas Terbuka
Hanna Sundari Universitas Terbuka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35316/joey.2026.v5i1.37-47

Keywords:

Maritime English, Vocabulary Profile, Standard Marine Communication Phrases, Technical Vocabulary, Content Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the vocabulary profile of the Maritime English (ME) textbook Effective Communication at Sea: Mastering SMCP for Maritime Safety and Efficiency (Batu, 2024). Employing a mixed-methods corpus content analysis, a 35,000-token corpus was processed through AntConc to determine lexical frequency across K1, K2, and K3 (off-list/technical) levels, alongside a qualitative semantic audit of polysemic terms and SMCP alignment. Results reveal a distinctive lexical distribution of 72.5% K1, 8.0% K2, and 19.5% K3 tokens, indicating a high technical density optimized for vocational training. Grammatical analysis shows a heavy dominance of nouns (60%) and verbs (30%), reflecting the action-oriented nature of maritime commands. The study confirmed the presence of critical polysemic shifts in high-frequency words (e.g., bridge, draft, head), where meanings deviate drastically from general English. Finally, qualitative evaluation confirms that the textbook achieves high functional integration of IMO-mandated Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) across both internal and external communication categories. These findings establish a data-driven "70-10-20" vocabulary profile model for the design and audit of vocational maritime instructional materials

Author Biographies

Muhammad Darwin, Universitas Terbuka

Muhammad Darwin is a professional English teacher holding a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and currently teaching at the senior high school level in Batam, Indonesia. His professional interests include international exam preparation, practical communication skills, and inclusive classroom practices to enhance students’ global fluency and confidence.

Andang Saehu, Universitas Terbuka

Andang Saehu is an English Language Lecturer

Hanna Sundari, Universitas Terbuka

Hanna Sundari is an English Language Lecturer

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