Real heres an etymology lesson for you. I tagged you others as I see you are eager obtain knowledge. Etymology is derived from the Greek root etym meaning history, origin, true or real and log meaning study, science, word, theory. It is an indispensable discipline used as a foundation for other fields of study. Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, 1921 Edition defines etymology as: “The origin or derivation of a word as shown by its analysis into elements, by pointing out the root or primitive upon which it is formed, or by referring it to an earlier form in its parent language; also, an account setting forth such origin or derivation, often with facts bearing upon the word’s relationships; the formal history of a word.” The origin and historical development of a linguistic form shown by determining its: -Basic Elements -Earliest Known Use -Changes In Form and Meaning -Tracing Its Transmission From One Language to Another - Identifying Its Cognates In Other Languages - Reconstructing Its Ancestral Form Where Possible - Explaining The Changes Words Have Undergone - The Variations Of Form And Spelling - From Its First Appearance In The Language To The Present Time - All Its Different Meanings And Shades Of Meaning The etymology of a word is placed in brackets []. For instance, the etymology of dollar appears in dictionaries in the following format: [M.D. daler; G. taler, thaler, a dollar, shortened form of Jochimstaler, Jochimsthaler, so called from Joachimsthal, Joachim’s dale, in Bohemia, where the silver from which it was coined was first obtained.] Etymology can be used in increasing vocabulary. Having knowledge of parts of a word will aid the reader in determining the meaning of unfamiliar words. Prefixes are placed in front of root words and change the meaning of the root. Suffixes are positioned at the end of root words and change their parts of speech. Root words are the main part of a word. Words in the Same Family Section teaches students root words whose spelling changes depending on the language in which they are derived. For instance, Sta, Sti and Sist mean stand and generate hundreds of words. Sta (station, staff, staple); Sti (constitution, institution, substitution); Sist (consist, insist, resist). Another set of root words in the same family, Fac, Fect, Fic and Fy, mean make or do and produces hundreds of words. Fac (factor, manufacture, preface); Fect (defect, infect, perfect); Fic (fiction, sufficient, proficient); Fy (modify, ratify, verify). Root words in different Family of Words with the Same Meaning Section is designed to expand students’ vocabulary by tens of thousands of words. For example, the root words, oc, op, vid, vis, wis, wit, scop, spec, spic and id, all mean see or look and generate thousands of words – ocular, optometrist, video, vision, wisdom, witness, telescope, spectator, conspicuous and ideal. The Base Word Method Section is structured to expand the Base Word Lesson by teaching students of vocabulary to identify the root word in the base word as well as the meaning of the root word. Further, the root word in the base word is placed among other root words which have the same meaning. For instance, affect is the base word for the following words: affection, affective, affector, affected, affectionate, affectionately, affectible, etc. Fic, Fac and Fy are the other root words that mean make or do. Students of vocabulary would be able to increase their vocabulary and have strong command of words if taught this expanded version of the Base Word Method. PREFIX - ROOT - SUFFIX COMBINATIONS The Prefix – Root – Suffix Patterns will aid the reader in recognizing the meaning of a host of unfamiliar, particularly long words. You probably can recall coming across long and unfamiliar words and not being able to unlock their meanings. How do you apply the Prefix – Root – Suffix Patterns to increase vocabulary? Let us examine how it is done. Tip! Mastering the prefix and suffix rules section of this book is a prerequisite to this section. Examine the component parts of the word. Think about what you do know about the word. 1. Determine what the prefix(es) is / are. 2. Determine what the suffix(es) is / are. 3. Notice the number of prefixes. 4. Notice the number of suffixes. 5. Notice the Prefix – Root – Suffix Pattern of the word. HOW TO USE THE NUMBER LINE Step 1: The root word is placed under the 0. Example: Nation 0 Natio (n) Step 2: The suffix closest to the root word (0) is placed under the number 1 to the right of the root word. Example: National 0 1 Natio (n) al Step 3: The second suffix is placed under the number 2. Example: Nationalize 0 1 2 Natio (n) al ize Step 4: The third suffix is placed under the number three (3). Example: Nationalization 0 1 2 3 Natio (n) al iz(e) ation Step 5: The first prefix is placed under the number 1 to the left of the 0. Example: Denationalization 1 0 1 2 3 De natio(n) al iz(e) ation Step 6: The second prefix is placed under the number 2 to left of the 0. Example: Unconstitutional 1 2 0 1 2 un con sti(tu) tion al Combination 1: Root + Suffix Examples: Fixture, Station, Question, Current Root Suffix 2 1 0 1 2 3 Fix ture Sta tion Quest ion Cur rent Combination 2: Root + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Stationary, Flexibility Root Suffix Suffix 2 1 0 1 2 3 Sta tion ary Flex ibil ity Combination 3: Root + Suffix + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Nationalization, Vertically, Standardization Root Suffix Suffix Suffix 2 1 0 1 2 3 Natio(n) al iz(e) ation Vert ic al ly Stand ard iz(e) ation Combination 4: Prefix + Root Examples: Construct, Invent, Endure, Enterprise Prefix Root 2 1 0 1 2 3 Con struct In vent En dure Enter prise Combination 5: Prefix + Prefix + Root Examples: Reconstruct, Discontinue Prefix Prefix Root 2 1 0 1 2 3 Re con struct Dis con tin(ue) Combination 6: Prefix + Root + Suffix Examples: Constructtion, Tradition, Application Prefix Root Suffix 2 1 0 1 2 3 Con struct tion Tra di tion Ap pli(c) ation Combination 7: Prefix + Root + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Conditional Prefix Root Suffix Suffix 1 0 1 2 Con di tion al Combination 8: Prefix + Root + Suffix + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Denationalize, Jurisprudence, Instrumentalism Prefix Root Suffix Suffix Suffix 1 0 1 2 3 De nat ion al ize Juris prud ent al ly In stru ment al ism Combination 9: Prefix + Prefix + Root + Suffix Example: Unacceptable, Unremarkable Prefix Prefix Root Suffix 2 1 0 1 Un ac cept able Un re mark able Combination 10: Prefix + Prefix + Root + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Unconstitutional Prefix Prefix Root Suffix Suffix 1 0 1 2 3 Un con sti(tu) tion al Combination 11: Prefix + Prefix + Root + Suffix + Suffix + Suffix Examples: Disproportionableness Prefix Prefix Root Suffix Suffix Suffix 2 1 0 1 2 3 Dis pro por(t) ion able ness Etymology can be used in improving dictionary study skills. A good unabridged dictionary provides the language of origin of a word, the various spellings of a word in Greek, Latin, Dutch, Old English, Middle English, Modern English, etc., the original / true meaning of a word, and some history of the word. Dollar [M.D. daler; G. taler, thaler, a dollar, shortened form of Jochimstaler, Jochimsthaler, so called from Joachimsthal, Joachim’s dale, in Bohemia, where the silver from which it was coined was first obtained.] 1936 Easter [A.S. easter, eastron, pl., paschal feast , Easter; akin to G. ostern; fr. AS. Eastre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in AS. Eastermonao. From the root of E. east. See EAST.] 1921 Month [ME. Month, moneth, AS. Monao; akin to mona the moon, and to D. maand month, G. monat, OHG. manod, Icel. manuor, manaor, Goth. Menops. See MOON.] 1921 Slave [ad. OF. esclave (also mod. F.), = med L. sclavus, sclavus, sclava, identical with the racial name Sclavus (see SLAV).] 1955 ;[F. esclave; cf. D. slaaf, Dan. Slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, G. sklave, MHG. also slave; all fr. LL. Slavi or Sclavi, prob. Fr. a Byzantine appellation of some Slavic people. Cf. Slovene, Slav] 1921 September [ L., fr. septem seven, as being the seventh month of the Roman calendar, which began with March: cf. F. septembre] 1921 Etymology aids in spelling skills. Latin elements, Greek elements, French elements, “The Language of Origin,” The National Scripp Spelling Bee, and the Movie Akeelah and the Bee. Latin words in –a with a plural in –ae: Greek words in –on with a plural in –a: Greek words in –ma with a plural in –mata: Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural alga algae anacoluthon anacolutha fibroma fibromata alumna alumnae syndeton asyndeta gumma gummata ameba amebae criterion criteria sarcoma sarcomata differentia differentiae phenomenon phenomena stemma stemmata formula formulae larva larvae vagina viginae vertebra vertebrae vita vittae fibula fibulae Etymology can be an aid in learning multiple languages Etymology can be used in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) students Spanish English Spanish English Spanish English ncia nce oso ous abundancia abundance ambicioso ambitious abuser abuse arrogancia arrogance gracioso gracious acusar accuse experiencia experience delicioso delicious excusar excuse Etymology can be used in improving social relations. Tracing words through various languages will give readers insight into a common origin of cultural practices worldwide. The names of the seven days of the week – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday – are derived from Latin and are the names of Seven Ruling Planets. Trace words through multiple languages. Etymology of the Seven Day of the Week Latin Translation Modern English Solis dies Day of the Sun Sunday Lunae dies Day of the Moon Monday Martis dies Day of Mars Tuesday Mercurii dies Day of Mercury Wednesday Jovis dies Day of Jupiter Thursday Veneris dies Day of Venus Friday Saturni dies Day of Saturn Saturday Etymology reveals how the Connotative meanings of words become the General Public Accepted and Established New Meanings. Connotative meanings are placed in dictionaries and over a period of time the original meanings and applications of words are deemphasized and eventually loses their true essence in the general public. Thus, since general populace is not taught the foundation of words, it is socialized into accepting connotative meanings as being the true, real and original meanings. The students of Etymology in using the original meaning of words as their foundation will be able to determine if a word has been given new meaning. The etymology of the word slave reveals that the new meaning interjected into the social fabric of society is far from its original and true meaning. The entry level meanings for the word slave contradict its etymological meaning – the meaning displayed in the brackets [ ]. The original meaning of the word dollar is completely different from that used by the general public. The etymology of consider, disaster and desire reveal an astronomical origin. Applying the Skill Denotation Denotation is derived from the Latin word denotare meaning to mark completely. Denotation is the state of using an object or symbol to signify, indicate, mark or designate a word. The objects or symbols used as markers for words are the referents. That is to say that to denote is to tie a word to its objects or symbol. The word chair denotes a piece of furniture having a seat, legs, back and often arms. There are cases where objects or symbols replace an established signifier or marker, thereby, giving words a different denotation. Some scholars have defined denotation as the literal meaning. Some scholars define denotation as the literal meaning. Let us compare the etymological meaning of denotation to the definition used by some scholars. Literal is derived from the Latin littera meaning letter. The literal meaning of the word table is a piece of furniture with a top and four legs.The literal meaning of a word is the actual meaning. It signifies or designates an object. Connotation is developed when the idea of an object is transferred to create a new meaning, thereby, moving the word away from its referent. The literal meaning relates to the concrete and ties to a real thing or class of things. Literal is characterized by real and tangible experiences, actual things or events. So the literal meaning relates to the denotative meaning in that they both signify a real thing or class of things, tangible experiences and actual events. Therefore literal can be interchanged with denotation. Although literal can be used in place of denotation, dictionary meaning cannot be interchanged with denotation. As this author explained and demonstrated earlier, connotative meanings are placed among entry level meanings in the dictionary. The reader needs to be aware that all meanings in dictionaries are not denotative meanings. Therefore, it is misleading for some scholars to define denotation as the dictionary meaning. Some scholars have defined denotation as the dictionary meaning. Some scholars define denotation as the dictionary meaning. This definition is similar to the one that is used by those scholars who define denotation as the established meaning. Placing definitions in a dictionary creates the idea of permanency and institutionalization. The public uses dictionaries to find the meaning of words. The modern connotative meanings placed in dictionaries cultivate the peoples minds into a modern pattern of thinking. Some scholars have defined denotation as the established meaning. Some scholars define denotation as the established meaning. What does this definition mean? Denotation is derived from the Latin denotare. De means down and notare, to mark. Denotation is the process of designating a word to an object. Establish means to institute firmly. During the 9th century the established meaning for the word slave is a national identity of a people of Slavic descent from Eastern Europe. The present meaning of slave has supplanted this once well instituted meaning. This is what scholars mean by establish. In the 15th century (1400s) the word nice meant stupid. Today nice is used to express the idea of kindness and pleasant. Some scholars define denotation as the established meaning. That is, it is the meaning that is firmly instituted and well entrenched in society. There are so many words whose etymological meanings have been supplanted by other meanings and eventually have lost their influence in society over a period of centuries due to invasion, conquest and assimilation. The etymological meaning of the word slave is not known by the general public. What is fixed in the people’s minds are modern connotations. The public is unaware that the true meaning of the word slave denoted the nationality of a people in Eastern Europe. The public would be shocked to know that the etymology of consider is tied to astronomy. Today, the people use consider in a sense that does not reflect its astronomical roots. Now consider is used in the sense of think, ponder and observe as to consider someone for a job, position or an award. Etymologically, consider means to observe the stars carefully. Etymology can be applied in reading old documents. In reading old primary sources, the readers need to be aware of the meaning and application of words in the time period in which the documents were written.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 05:48:11 +0000
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