The History of Growing Global Interest in Collocation Studies, and Its Impact on Curricula: A Perspective on Its Absence in Indian Educational Frameworks

The study of collocations—habitual word pairings—has developed from a niche linguistic interest into a key aspect of modern language education. Grounded in the work of J.R. Firth and advanced through corpus linguistics, collocation research now significantly shapes teaching practices worldwide. This article explores the historical trajectory and theoretical foundations of collocation research, its widespread incorporation into language teaching methodologies in countries such as the UK, China, and Japan, and its substantial influence on learner proficiency in English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) contexts. This paper critically examines the effects of this curricular absence by drawing on theoretical perspectives and comparative curriculum studies. Systemic issues such as outdated syllabus and insufficient teacher training are examined as key barriers. The paper concludes with a few practical recommendations for integrating collocations into Indian school and university programs, emphasizing the need to align with international standards to produce proficient English users.