How to Build Your Vocabulary

8/12/2019 How to Build Your Vocabulary

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WAYS TOBUILD YOUR

VOCABULARYIN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

10

Image © Chris-Håvard Berge | Flickr



While without grammar little can be conveyed,

without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed. - David Wilkins, British linguist“ ”



There is a long held assumption that grammar is more important than

vocabulary when learning a new language.



But linguistic research has demonstrated thatvocabulary is actually more fundamental

than grammar.(Barcroft, 2004; Lewis, 2002; Wilkins, 1972)



Author Keith Folse knew the perfect Japanesestructure to ask: “Excuse me, where is the ____ ?”





Author Keith Folse knew the perfect Japanesestructure to ask: “Excuse me, where is the ____ ?”

What he didn’t know was the word for flour.

Image © David Pacey | Flickr

After consulting a Japanese friend for thetranslation, what he actually ended up

with was the word for flower.

Image © Swaminathan | Flickr



Sometimes, one word can makeall the difference.



So, how can youbuild your vocabulary

in a foreign language?

What resources do youneed?

What’s the best way tomemorize it?

We have a fewsuggestions!

Image © Jennifer Steen Booher | Flickr



Use Language-Learning Software 1



Language-learningsoftware can be a

very effectivevocabulary builder,

especially for

beginners!

Image © Jeff Geerling | Flickr

I © hi | Fli k



Image © phip_s | Flickr

Put down the index cards.Most software programs come

with hundreds of commonwords and phrases, so youcan spend less time makingflashcards and spend more

time actually learning.



If you’re in search of a

program, sign up for afree trial of TransparentLanguage Online, whichpresents thousands ofvocabulary words in a

suite of interactiveactivities that will helpyou learn themquicker and retain them longer.

http://www.transparent.com/personal/transparent-language-online.html




If you’re in search of a

program, sign up for afree trial of TransparentLanguage Online, whichpresents thousands ofvocabulary words in a

suite of interactiveactivities that will helpyou learn themquicker and retain them longer.

(Pitch over, we swear!)





Study Cognates & False Cognates 2



Chances are, you already know dozens (if nothundreds or more!) of words in your newlanguage, but you just don’t realize it.




HOW?




HOW?

They’re called cognates.



Cognates are words with the same etymological origin, AKAthey sound the same (or very similar) in both languages.

Image © Doblonaut | Flickr





Take time to memorize the cognates in the

language you’re learning. A Google search for“[language]-English cognates” should lead you

in the right direction.



Beware, though! You should also search forand memorize false cognates, or wordsthat sound the same but actually have

very different meanings.



Beware, though! You should also search forand memorize false cognates, or wordsthat sound the same but actually have

very different meanings.

In Spanish, for example, embarazada does not mean embarrassed… itmeans pregnant! Now that mix up

could be embarrassing!

Image © clappstar | flickr



Study Synonym Pairs 3



Cognates are extremely easy to memorize. But if

you’re beyond the beginner level, you probablyknow most of them. What’s next?



Cognates are extremely easy to memorize. But if

you’re beyond the beginner level, you probablyknow most of them. What’s next?

Synonyms and antonyms!





Learning synonyms may seem likeduplicated effort. If you know the word for

“funny,” you should be all set, right?

Image © Don LaVange | Flickr

But what if someone tellsyou: That was…

hilariousamusing

entertainingsilly

hysterical?



When you learn a new word, use a thesaurus todiscover its synonyms. This practice will increaseyour understanding of the word and add variety

to your vocabulary.

Image © mrd00dman | Flickr



Study Prefixes & Suffixes 4



Another trick to significantly expand yourvocabulary is to study common prefixes and

suffixes in the target language.



For example, if you know the Spanish prefix “con” (with) andthe verb “vivir” (to live), deciphering the new verb “convivir” (to

live together) becomes a lot easier.

Image © Brent and Amanda I | Flickr





Read, Read, & Read Some More 5



The more you read, the more vocabulary you’llbe exposed to. Read actively, not passively, to

absorb as many new words as possible.

Image © Shutterhacks | Flickr







R d i t f t i l f h t t i d



Read a variety of materials, from short stories andnovels to newspapers and blogs, to acquire vocabularyat varying levels of difficulty and a wide range of topics.

Image © Ol.v!er[H2vPk] | Flickr



Separate your leisurely reading from youractive, vocabulary-building reading.

Image © Chad Kainz | Flickr



Separate your leisurely reading from youractive, vocabulary-building reading.

When reading to boost your vocab,limit yourself. Stick to just a few pages ofa novel, one news story, one magazine

article, etc. and really take your time.

Image © Chad Kainz | Flickr





Keeping a journal in your target language is the

perfect way to find words you didn’t even knowthat you didn’t know. (What a mouthful!)

Image © Walt Stoneburner | Flickr

Image © Refracted Moments | Flickr



Take a few minutes towrite about your day.Want to mention

something you did orexperienced, but don’tknow how? That’sprobably a word you’llwant to know in thefuture, so look it up!







If you struggle less with finding new vocabularyand more with just remembering it, try your

hand at a little etymology!

Image © Trish Hartmann | Flickr



It may help to associate a new vocabulary wordwith its origins.

Image © William Warby | Flickr

For example, the English word“hippopotamus” is derived fromthe Greek words “ippos” (horse)and “potamas” (river).



It may help to associate a new vocabulary wordwith its origins.

Image © William Warby | Flickr

For example, the English word“hippopotamus” is derived fromthe Greek words “ippos” (horse)and “potamas” (river).

Associating “hippopotamus”

with “river horse” gives you astrong visual, and may helpyou recall the word moreeasily.



Looking up the origins or literal meaningsof words and expressions will paint a

mental picture that you can look back

on, rather than just relying on rotememorization.



Follow Native Speakerson Twitter8





Looking for slang, idioms, informalexpressions, abbreviations, and all of that

juicy stuff you’ll never find in a

dictionary?

Check Twitter!



Follow politicians, athletes, musicians, actors, oreveryday native speakers of your target language

andsee what they’re saying.

Look up unfamiliar words, or expressions that don’tquite make sense.

Image © Adam Fagen | Flickr



For example, the

Portuguese

expression “Escrevoo que eu tô te

falando.” literallymeans “Write down

what I’m telling

you.”

That’s a littlestrange, right? If youlook it up, you’ll find

that it’s actuallyused to say “Markmy words.”



Watching and interacting withnative speakers on an informal

platform like Twitter will give yourvocabulary a much-needed boost

in the colloquial department.



Learn a “Word of the Day” 9



Use a word-a-day calendar oronline Word of the Day service to

learn one new word each day!

Transparent Language offers Word of the Day

http://www.transparent.com/word-of-the-day/




Transparent Language offers Word of the Dayservices in 25 different languages, so you can

discover a unique word each day!





Listen to Music10



Similar to how exploring word origins helps youbuild vocabulary by providing strong mental

images, listening to music gives you somethingmemorable to associate with a new word.





Search YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, last.fm, etc.for music you enjoy in your target language

and look up the lyrics.

Image © eldeeem | Flickr



Pick one song at a time, and look up all ofthe unfamiliar vocabulary in the lyrics. With

enough listens, those new words and phraseswill be engrained in your mind, just likeyour favorite songs in your native language.



Vocabulary building should be a goal for language learners of all levels.

The greater your vocabulary in a language,

the better you will understand others andexpress yourself.

Use these tips to get started, and never

stop acquiring new vocabulary!



Read to build your vocabulary?

Connect with Transparent Language & sign up fora free trial of Transparent Language Online.

www.transparent.com


http://www.transparent.com/

http://www.transparent.com/

http://www.twitter.com/tlilanguages

http://www.facebook.com/Transparent.Language


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How to Build Your Vocabulary