Differences in Semantic Fields in The Lexicon of The Meccan Child, According to Gender

The present study seeks to identify semantic field differences in the vocabulary of Makkan children according to gender. The study targeted 240 boys and girls from the city of Makkah, KSA, in the second semester of 2020-2021, who were given a list of inquisitive questions prepared by the two researchers. The results of the study suggest that there are statistically significant differences between boys and girls in the semantic fields related to food and drinking, transportation, media, time and place, illness and treatment, play and sport. The same applies to the macro semantic fields. The differences are in favor of girls. However, the study also suggests that there is no statistically significant difference between the two in the semantic fields related to family and relatives, stories and tales, animals, birds and plants. Therefore, the findings of the study should be used to improve school curricula aimed at this age group, and to draw up specific dictionaries that meet their needs, based on the actual linguistic situation of those children and in line with Vision 2030 that calls for the promotion of a knowledge-based economy, including Arabic language.