GATEWAYS TO WIDEN VOCABULARYLecture 2: Study and Thinking Skills

OBJECTIVESGain skill in associating words quicklyComprehend word meanings rapidlyKnow the structure of wordsApply knowledge of context clues and idiomsEnrich ones vocabulary through different kinds of word formationsBuild more power through analysis and use of foreign words

A word is a label for an internal reality which helps create a new perception. The richer ones vocabulary, the greater his or her reading power becomes.-Freebody and Klausmeir, 1981

Facts about Vocabulary AcquisitionIts acquisition is very crucial to academic development.The knowledge of a word not only implies a definition but also how that word fits into the world.It is known to play a key role in a persons proficiency in both his and her first and second language.

It has also been proven to correlate highly with global assessment of writing quality and with general language proficiency scores.Studies have revealed that students are required to understand 95% of the words they read for text comprehension.If one does not understand most of the words he or she reads, he or she cannot possibly comprehend as a whole.Vocabulary acquisition is not something that can ever be mastered overnight.

Building Your Word PowerA limited vocabulary is a setback to efficient reading. One who wants to get most from the printed page must therefore have a relatively wide vocabulary. Vocabulary is the most unstable component of a language.

Rapid Word AssociationSchool- mother, current, desk, majesty, crayon, teacherVacations-magnify, camp, belong, holidays, beach, poorTable-determine, dining, gentle, wood, oblong, furnitureLibrary- temperature, shelves, cause, hardly, lending, researchStreet- manhole, crossing, traffic, hasty, madness, deck

Rapid Word AssociationCity- books, hopeful, mayor, street, hospital, hotelsReporter- technique, sham, assignment, news, journalist, spinElectricity- electorate, demerit, switch, twine, current, powerFarmer- riding, crop, hammer, harvest, shower, fertilizingWeather- clock, barometer, twine, hurricane, forecast, showers

Word AssociationsWhen you come across a word, a number of ideas may come into your mind. You are able to think of other words. The process of forming links as you think of the word is called word association. The more links there are between words, the more you understand them.

Word Associations [next]SimilarityContrastSoundClassificationPart-wholeDerivationPredicationCompletionCharacteristic or property

[back]This means words have the same meaning or a meaning that is the same.(road-street, path, highway)(talk-chat, speech, address, oration)(unmarried-spinster, bachelorette, old maid)

[back]This means words are opposite in meaning.(volatile-calm)(indigent-wealthy)(wide-narrow)

[back]This means words have exactly the same sound or are similar in pronunciation.(site-cite, sight, scythe)

[back]Words belonging to the same genus may also be called grouping because the relationship between the words is one of similarity of certain characteristics.(animal-[four legged beast] lion, tiger, elephant)(stringed musical instruments- guitar, violin, base)

[back]Here, a part of something may stand for the whole, or vice versa.In figurative language this would be called SYNECDOCHE.The sail was like a dot in the open sea.

[back]This refers to words that grow out of other words. This means that from one root word, many words can be formed by adding affixes, or even by adding other root words to form compounds.(friend-befriend, friendly, friendliness)

[back]This is the relationship between a noun and its verb, a doer and its action and the action and its receiver.

(bird-fly, eat, drink)

[back]This is the relationship between the words in a compound word.(black-blackboard)(back-background)

[back]This is the relationship between a word and its modifier.(teacher-strict, intelligent)

Structural AnalysisStructural analysis is a process of decoding unfamiliar words by visually examining the words to discover component parts which may lead to pronunciation and meaning. One who uses structural analysis must be able to recognize the root word or base word; inflectional endings, and affixes

RootwordA word from which other words are formed by adding a beginning part or an ending partThe underlined part of each of the words is the root:rewritereadingkindnesshopeful

Prefixes

PREFIXESMEANINGEXAMPLESa-, ab-Not, without, awayAbduct, away, agnosticad-Motion towardAdmit, adjoinante-Prior to, beforeAntecedent, anteroomcom- (col-, cor-, co-, con-)With, togetherCombine, compact, collide, coexist, correlate, connive

PREFIXESMEANINGEXAMPLESde-Away from, of, down, undoDecline, defrostpoly-ManyPolyandry, polychromatichomo-Same, equal, likeHomogenize, homocentricmono-One, alone, singleMonogamy, monosyllablenon-notNonresident, nonchalant

Suffixes

SUFFIXESMEANINGEXAMPLES-ableAble to, capable of being, having qualities ofDurable, drinkable, lovable, comfortable-acyQuality, condition, positionAccuracy, celibacy-ate (noun suffix)Office, function, group of officialsPotentate, directorate, consulate-ate (verb suffix)To become, to form or produce, to provide withEvaporate, ulcerate, vaccinate

SUFFIXESMEANINGEXAMPLES-ation, -itionState, action, qualityCombustion, location, integration-ismAct, practice of, condition of being, characteristic ofTerrorism, barbarism, pauperism-itiousHaving the nature of, characterized byNutritious, seditious, repetitious-fyTo make, cause to be or becomeLiquefy, glorify, emulsify

Context CluesClues are words used in a sentence which help in understanding the specific meaning of a new unfamiliar word.The special meaning of a word depends on the other words in the sentence or the surrounding group of sentences (context).

. Context refers to the parts of a piece of writing or speech that precede or follow a word and contribute to its full meaning. For instance, when a student is asked to get meaning from context, he is encouraged to rely on his natural intelligence and not use the dictionary or consult a resource person.

Definition ClueThis is an outright explanation of the meaning of a word by introducing and describing it within the same context.The cornea is the transparent outer coating of the eyeball.

SynonymThe meaning of the unknown word is understood because the idea is repeated in familiar words.In his complete uniform and with his shining sword, the man appeared bellicose or warlike.

SimileThe word as and like are used to show an idea of comparison, hence, suggesting the meaning of the word to be learned.The boys eyes glistened like the bright stars in the sky.

ExampleAn example helps illuminate the meaning of a word.The artist engages in aesthetic activities such as writing poems about the beauty of nature and painting scenic spots.

AppositionAn appositive is a descriptive word, phrase, or clause placed beside the unknown word and is often enclosed or set off by commas.An ecologist, a scientist who specializes in the relationship between living things and their environment, is likely to have authoritative opinion on the problem of pollution versus mans survival.

AntonymAn antonym is a word which has an opposite meaning. The word but is often used to show contrast.Lynne is calm but her mothers anxiety over trivial things sometimes makes her tense.

InferenceTo infer is to reach an opinion based on the given facts. It involves making a conclusion as a result of reasoning.When he passed the sentry, Jose gave his forged ID card and held his breath. The guard on duty was busy talking to a friend and gave it a perfunctory glance, so Jose breathed easily again.

AnalysisMany words are made of word parts which give direct clues to meaning. The word parts (i. e., root, affixes, compounds and syllables) are separated and analyzed.The new recipe of the cook was unpleasant to the taste. In fact, it was inedible.

Pair off. Construct at least five phrases by joining any of the words below. Use each word once.

APPLETHEACATSDAYSFACEBELLTHESAVEDEYEAREITSWEARINGANDNUMBEREDLONGOFRAININGBYDOGS

IdiomsAn idiom is an expression peculiar to a language.Idiomatic expressions are usually forcible, terse, and vivid.These expressions have meanings which are not readily understandable from their grammatical constructions and from the meaning of their separate elements.

IdiomsCrocodile tears - pretended sorrowBlackmail - money extorted by threat or intimidationArgus-eyed-jealously watchfulChicken-hearted (fellow) - a timid, cowardly fellowAbsent-minded - to be inattentive of what is going onFair weather friend - one who desserts you in times of difficulties

IdiomsRainy day a time of adversitySideline work done apart from ones main workBread and butter means of livingAn iron hand a tyrannical handHerculean task work requiring very great effortSmall fry insignificant person

Loan WordsLoanwords are words adopted by the speakers of one language from a different language (the source language). A loanword can also be called a borrowing. The abstract noun borrowing refers to the process of speakers adopting words from a source language into their native language."Loan" and "borrowing" are of course metaphors, because there is no literal lending process.

Loan WordsBorrowing is a consequence of cultural contact between two language communities. Borrowing of words can go in both directions between the two languages in contact, but often there is an asymmetry, such that more words go from one side to the other. In this case the source language community has some advantage of power, prestige and/or wealth that makes the objects and ideas it brings desirable and useful to the borrowing language community.

Loan WordsAd interim (L. in the meantime)Apartheid (Af. apartness)Carte blanche (F. complete discretion)Coup d etat (F. stroke of the state)Esprit de corps (F. pride in belonging)Faux pas (F. false step)Persona non grata (L. person not acceptable)Status quo (L. the state in which something is)

Loan Wordsbon voyage (literally: good journey!): farewell femme fatale (literally: fatal woman): an irresistibly sexy woman, a woman-sirennom de plume (French for "pen name"): (writer's) pseudonym, pen name alma mater (Latin for "bountiful mother"): one's former school, college, or university; the official song (hymn) of a college or university modus operandi (Latin for "mode of working"): a characteristic method, a procedure typically followed by someone (esp. a criminal)