Literally Butchering the English Language

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When it comes to vocabulary building, you need to remember that it’s not just how many words you know, but how many words you can use correctly. As was pointed out in a recent blog post, using words incorrectly will give people a bad impression of your knowledge, skill, and general intellect. Unfortunately, we’re all in the public spotlight nearly every day, and everything we do and say contributes to the impression we make on other people. There’s an old quote that “appearances are everything” – but that only holds true if you never open your mouth. Once you start speaking, you’d better make sure that your speech is as sophisticated as the well-tailored outfit you’re wearing.

One of the best ways to learn how to use words is to read. In particular, read material written by skilled writers. If you clicked through the link in the paragraph above, you’ll find a blog written by one of the many language specialists out there. By looking for and reading articles and sites like this, you’ll learn more about specific English vocabulary words, and you’ll also be exposed to some of the most deftly-written English phrases on the internet.

Another good way to make sure your skill with language develops along with your vocabulary is to practice using new words in sentences. When you first learn a word, you’ll undoubtedly be using a print or on-line dictionary to find its definition. If you’re using a good dictionary, you’ll also be provided with one or more examples of how the word is used in a sentence. You can use the internet search tools to find more examples. Study as many as you can to get the best idea of how the word is used correctly, then start writing out your own sample sentences. Once you’re confident you know how to use the word, begin finding ways to include it in your conversations or presentations.

Appearances may not be everything, but if you appear to be someone who doesn’t know the meaning of the words you use, then you’re not making the positive impression you want.

Vizzini: He didn’t fall?! Inconceivable!
Inigo: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
- “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman

This Is Your Brain On Words

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In a fascinating study published last month in the journal of the Public Library of Science, researchers found that they could track a person’s neural activity while they were speaking and “map” the shapes of the words as they appear on the displays. But what is even more fascinating is that these “maps” appear even when a person is simply thinking about the words. The scientists were able to reverse-map the output and reproduce the actual words the person was thinking. One of the eventual outcomes of this study and related research may be a system by which someone with a speech impediment is able to use a computer-assisted device to translate the words they’re thinking into audible words.

For some scientists, that’s only the beginning of brain-powered actions. A 2011 experiment (details published in the Journal of Neural Engineering) resulted in patients being able to manipulate the movement of a cursor on a computer screen merely by thinking of different vowel sounds. These patients had electrodes implanted in their brains to make this possible, and so far the direct manipulation of exterior objects requires this physical connection to the neural tissue. The word-mapping study cited above also required direct connection. Since most of us don’t have electrodes hooked to our brains, it may be quite a long time before we can accomplish such things through the power of our minds alone.

However, we can take the results of these studies and apply them to our current vocabulary study routines, no matter how “old-fashioned” they are. Because the brain is obviously extremely active in the use and reproduction of words, it’s logical to conclude that anything that increases the activity of the brain will help in the acquisition and practice of words. By both reading and speaking a word out loud, you’ll involve more areas of your brain and create a stronger image in your mind. And as these studies prove, you don’t even have to say the words out loud to practice them. You can do your vocabulary review in your mind and still get good results – something to keep in mind if you’re stuck in a boring-but-required meeting at work, perhaps?

Personal Growth Through Vocabulary Study

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A good vocabulary will give you the ability to maximize the opportunities you have to improve your situation at work, deal with people on a personal or professional basis, and get more out of the time you spend reading or studying. Many self-help gurus promote the importance of personal growth – we’re here to tell you that one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of success and improve yourself is to improve your vocabulary. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the vocabulary skills you have now are what you’re stuck with forever! Take ownership of your vocabulary and study to improve your way with words every day.

In this post we talked about the word myrmidon, and today (to go along with the focus on ownership and personal growth) we’re going to review several more words that begin with the letters MY.

myriad (MEER-ee-ad) adjective or noun
Definition: Uncountable number, a great many.
Example: Her parents gave her a myriad reasons why she shouldn’t take a year off to live in France, but she decided to go anyway.

myopic (my-AH-pik) adjective
Definition: Nearsighted, but also in the sense of “shortsighted” (not able to see the possible results from actions, or only able to see what you want to see).
Example: With their myopic focus on reducing debt in the short term, many national leaders are ignoring the need for infrastructure development in the future.

mynah (MY-nah) noun
Definition: An Asian starling that has the ability to mimic and repeat spoken words.
Example: The owner of a mynah or parrot will often have to repeat words over and over to teach their birds to “talk,” but sometimes the birds will pick up phrases on their own.

mystify (MIH-stih-fy) verb
Definition: To confuse; or to make unclear.
Example: A good stage magician will be able to mystify the audience while doing even the simplest trick.

There’s no mystery to it: a well-planned and faithfully-followed vocabulary study routine will give you the confidence to say, “MY English language skills are absolutely top-notch!”

How to Be a Vocabulary Star

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As we mentioned in the last post, there are many ways you can find new words to add to your vocabulary. Some people like “word of the day” calendars, or being sent a new word via e-mail every day. Other people prefer to follow a strict study routine and use a list of words that they’re given by an instructor every week. Many people learn words without even realizing it by playing word-based games like crossword puzzles or trivia games. If you remember that you’re surrounded by words that are just waiting for you in the pages of books, the subtitles of movies, and even the advertisements on roadside billboards, you’ll never run out of new and interesting words to learn. We cast our eyes to the heavens again for today’s post, and found more words for you that are related to the stars and planets.

martial (MAR-shuhl)
Like the other planets, Mars is named for a Roman god. Mars was a god of war (the Greeks called him Ares) and the blood-red appearance of the planet in our night skies made the name appropriate. From the name of the planet and the god, we get the adjective martial, which means “warlike” or “related to the military” (don’t confuse this word with marital, which means something else entirely!).

meteoric (mee-tee-OR-ick)
If you’ve ever seen a “shooting star” you’ll recognize the definition of this word in your memory of the flash of light across the sky, so quick that your eyes can barely follow. Meteoric means “very rapid.” A meteor is a piece of space rock (or debris) that burns up in the atmosphere, leaving a visible trail.

terrestrial (tuh-RES-tree-uhl)
Of all the planets in our solar system, only the Earth is not named for a god – when the planets were named, people didn’t realize that they were living on a planet themselves! The word “Earth” comes from the Old German word for “dirt” (erde). The word terrestrial has its roots in the Latin word for “earth” (terra). In general, when we use this word we mean “of the land” but also “based on Earth” – hence the word for an alien, extraterrestrial (extra- means “outside of”).

celestial (suh-LESS-tyal)
The opposite of terrestrial is celestial, meaning “of the sky, of the heavens” (from the Latin caelum, “heaven”). This word is used both in religion to refer to angels and gods and heaven in general, and in science to refer to stars and other objects in the sky.

Whether you get your inspiration from a higher plane or from your daily reading, keep adding new words to your vocabulary and you’ll soon be a star at communicating with your terrestrial neighbors.

Look Upwards, and Look Up Words

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People who regularly use the Ultimate Vocabulary system for vocabulary study never run out of new words to learn, and those who make a habit of reading from a wide range of resources get constant inspiration and interesting words from the texts they find in bookstores, on line, or at the library. We highly recommend both approaches together to get the maximum impact and input on your vocabulary-building, but if you’re momentarily at a loss for words, then you can always rely on a dictionary and random chance. In other words, grab a print dictionary, open it up to any page, point your finger at the page, and where your finger lands you’ll find a new word to learn, practice, and use. And perhaps it isn’t just random chance that helps you choose the word; perhaps your choice is influenced by the stars. After all, many people throughout human history have relied upon the movement of the stars to predict or explain things that happen to or around them.

Astrologers and physicians (who were often the same people) in the Middle Ages believed that the position of the stars and planets at the moment of a person’s birth would determine their character, disposition, health, and future. Because of this, certain adjectives were derived from the names of the planets and other celestial bodies to describe people, and we use those words today – though not generally with the same underlying meaning. Here are a few examples:

saturnine (SAT-ur-nine)
This adjective means “gloomy, morose, grumpy” (often referring to facial expression). Originally this meant someone born under the influence of Saturn, which for a long time was believed to be the planet the farthest away from the Sun’s heat. This sort of person was also described as cold-blooded or dour, again because of the lack of heat, as opposed to someone with a “sunny” disposition.

jovial (JOH-vee-uhl)
The Roman god Jove, also called Jupiter (or Zeus in the Greek pantheon), was the chief of all gods and therefore the primary source of benefits and blessings. A person born under the planet Jupiter would therefore be very blessed, and therefore very happy. The word jovial means “cheerful, good-humored, happy.”

lunatic (LOO-nuh-tick)
As long as people have watched the moon change phases each month, they have assigned meaning to this change, with theories and superstitions connected to each aspect from the moon’s disappearance to its full display. One theory that persists even to the present day is that when the moon is full, people and animals get a little out of control and do things they wouldn’t normally do. The word lunatic comes from the Latin words for the moon, luna.

mercurial (mur-KYUR-ee-uhl)
If you were born under the planet Mercury, you’re someone who changes attitudes and opinions quickly and unpredictably, or so they say; the definition of the word is “changeable, erratic.” The planet Mercury was named after the Roman god Mercury (Hermes to the Greek) who was the gods’ messenger and known for his swiftness. Mercury, of course, is the planet that orbits the Sun the fastest.

DON PEDRO. Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you;
for out of question, you were born in a merry hour.
BEATRICE. No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced,
and under that was I born.
- William Shakespeare, “Much Ado About Nothing” Act II Scene I

How to Enjoy Vocabulary Study

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Do you hop out of bed each morning thinking, “I can’t WAIT to start my vocabulary study program today!” If you’re not enthusiastic about learning new vocabulary, then you might not be putting the energy into your study routine that will get you all of the results that you want and deserve. We’ve got some great ideas for you to keep in mind so that you’ll go into your study time upbeat and ebullient, not depressed and listless.

Try new things. One of the quickest ways to lose interest in a project is to do the same thing every day, over and over. If you’ve gotten in a rut, try out some new approaches to vocabulary study. If you’re not in the habit of doing the daily crossword puzzle (in your local newspaper or on line) then you’re missing the opportunity to have new words handed to you, ones that you probably wouldn’t think of looking up on your own. For example, you might see this clue: “Bubbling over with enthusiasm (9 letters).” If you came up with the word ebullient, good for you! Crossword puzzles can stretch your brain by requiring you to think of words you already know, as well as by teaching you words you didn’t know.

Look below the surface. Simply memorizing a long list of words and definitions won’t give you the best vocabulary. Learning words on a superficial level will make them harder to remember later, and definitely harder to use effectively. One way to focus on words and make them easier to recall is by learning more about each word. If you look up the etymology of the word ebullient you’ll see that it shares a root with the word boil – both come from the Latin word for “to bubble” (bullire). Once you know that, it’s easy to remember the definition of the word, and you can also create a vivid mental image that will further tie the word and meaning together in your memory.

Share the work, and the fun. If you find that you’re not motivated to study on your own, see if one or more of your friends is also interested in improving their vocabulary. You’ll probably find it easier to study if you have a partner who can quiz you, challenge you, and above all help you stick to your study plan. In addition, you can look for word-loving friends who like to play games such as Scrabble or Boggle, or the old party game Fictionary (also called simply Dictionary), and get together for a word game night once or twice a month. There’s nothing like fun with friends to build your enthusiasm.

Build on what you know. Vocabulary improvement can be a daunting task. There are so many words out there, and so little time (or so it seems) to learn them. One way to speed up the process is to group words together. Instead of just learning the word ebullient, take a minute to look up its synonyms, and you’ll be able to learn the words exuberant, enthusiastic, and effervescent (which can mean approximately the same thing), and the words apathetic and unenthusiastic (which mean the opposite).

Cheer up! Vocabulary study is only as difficult as you want it to be.

Rhyming Words (Or Are They?)

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People learning English as a second language frequently have problems pronouncing words in English – not because they’re new to the language, really, but because English has so many different letter combinations that lead to the same sound. Worse, there are many letter combinations that are the same, but lead to different sounds. If you’re used to getting visual clues from words about how they’re pronounced, this will be very confusing and difficult to learn. Perhaps if you never needed to speak English, but only had to read and write it, this wouldn’t be so much of a problem, but with spoken English, proper pronunciation is very important. Not only will mispronouncing words lead to errors in communication, you’ll also give the people you’re speaking to a bad impression of your vocabulary skills, and even of your intelligence and overall professional capability.

One of the best ways to overcome these pronunciation issues is simply to research non-rhyming word pairs and practice saying them out loud. This will help you become familiar with the common ways letter combinations are used in different sounds, and as you learn more words, you’ll start to automatically flag any potential problems. We’ve located twenty pairs of words that look like they should rhyme, but don’t. How many of these can you accurately pronounce?

golf / wolf
youth / mouth
wallet / pallet
full / dull
lager / wager
beard / heard
bleak / steak
wind / mind
ninth / plinth
blood / food
load / broad
towed / vowed
mover / clover
timber / climber
worm / storm
shoes / does
eight / height
work / cork
verdict / indict
gone / alone

Read this post for some tips on how to perfect your pronunciation.

Word of the Day: Acquiescence

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How is your vocabulary study progressing? Have you discovered that – no matter how much you grumble about the need to put in some daily study time – the best results come from regular practice? We’re sure of your eventual acquiescence once you realize the benefits of a focused and steady routine, even if you’re still loudly protesting the time it takes.

First of all, don’t think that you need to spend hours each day on your English vocabulary improvement program. If you have a good software package like Ultimate Vocabulary that’s been scientifically designed to target the essentials of vocabulary building and help you build a personalized study plan, then you really only need ten or fifteen minutes of concentrated attention to make quick progress. If you’re studying on your own, you might need to spend a half an hour a day on your studies, but you can break that into two. If you pick out a word or two from your morning newspaper and by the time you leave for work you’ll be able to have all the elements you need to review the word throughout the day.

Let’s use today’s word, acquiescence, as an example. Once you’ve selected your target word, take a few minutes to do the following:

Get a definition. Acquiescence means “silent agreement (to something)” or “agreement without protest.” Some words have several meanings depending on how they’re used, so make sure you’re familiar with all of the main definitions.

Find an example. Many dictionaries have sentences using the word in context, but you may have to search on line. Once you’ve found an example and understand how to use the word correctly, create your own sentences to practice.

Carl’s acquiescence to his supervisor’s constant demands led everyone to believe he was happy with his job, but in fact Carl spent all of his free time looking for another position.

Identify the related parts of speech. One of the best ways to memorize a word is to link it to other bits of information. In this case, you’ll find it easier to remember this word once you realize that there are several derivations of the noun acquiescence: the verb to acquiesce and the adjective acquiescent.

Learn more about the word. You can get more information about a word by looking up its etymology. When you know the origins of the word, you’ll also discover other words that are related to it. For example, acquiescence comes from the Latin root word quietis, which is where we get the word “quiet.” Once you know this, the definition becomes even more clear, and your understanding of the word will be much better.

Accept the fact that daily practice is essential to achieving an excellent vocabulary, and find fifteen minutes in your schedule to devote to this valuable routine.

Personalize Your Vocabulary Study for Quick Progress

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It’s easier to become enthusiastic and involved with a study program – any course of study, not just English vocabulary – if you find reasons to be invested in that program. A good way to make sure you buy into the process is to review the benefits you’ll gain from putting the effort into it. Another way to make a connection with a program is to find ways to adapt it to suit your own personal needs and learning style. If you don’t feel as if you’re always fighting to fit your study routine into your daily schedule, then you’ll be more likely to invest the time and effort you need to get the full benefits of your study.

Speaking of fighting, have you ever come across the word myrmidon? If you’ve spent any time reading the Greek classics, you might remember that the Myrmidons were the warriors who supported Achilles in the Trojan War. They were fierce fighters who developed their superb skills by constant practice. Like today’s top athletes who devote hours each day to physical exercise, you’ll see quick improvement if you spend at least 10 or 15 minutes a day at the mental exercise of vocabulary study. Take a look at your schedule and find that quarter-hour slot; we’re sure there are 15 free minutes somewhere. Try to study at the same time each day to help you develop a routine.

Even people with advanced English vocabulary skills probably don’t use the word myrmidon very often. Today, the word refers in general to people who fight on behalf of someone, often as “enforcers” or as people who obey orders without question. There’s a negative connotation to the word, implying that someone who is a myrmidon doesn’t think for themselves, but just follows directions given by their superiors, like ants under the rule of a queen.

In fact, if you look at the etymology of the word, you’ll find that it’s traced back to the children of a princess named Eurymedousa who – at least according to one Greek myth – was turned into an ant by Zeus, and then had Zeus’ child, who became the first of the Myrmidons. Finding out some of these word histories will make you more interested in the words, and in the process of vocabulary study.

Above all, be sure you’re working as hard as an ant to build your vocabulary, one word at a time!

The Positive Impact of a Good Vocabulary

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If you’re feeling like the time you set aside for vocabulary study is wasted, or that you’re just to busy to spend any time on learning new vocabulary words in the first place, then you might want to stop a minute and think about the benefits you can get from having a good vocabulary. There’s nothing better than focusing on goals and outcomes to give you new motivation to work harder on achieving the results you want. Here are three very good reasons to include English vocabulary study into your daily routine:

You’ll be able to read through more material with better understanding. Most people have mailboxes – both virtual and physical – that are filled daily with things they need to read and process. Often important tasks and decisions can’t be completed until the information in these documents is understood. With high-level vocabulary skills, you won’t be confused by unfamiliar terminology and slowed down by having to look up words or ask others for their meaning. This means that you’ll finish reading sooner than you used to, and that extra time can be devoted to accomplishing the items on your agenda for the day.

You’ll have more confidence and ability as a speaker. Having the right words at the tip of your tongue that express exactly the thoughts and ideas you want to communicate means you’ll never be hesitant to speak up. In addition, you’ll be able to put together speeches and presentations more easily and quickly, and will have the confidence that you’re using and pronouncing words correctly. Your skills as a speaker will lead your audience to have confidence in you in return, and gain you credit with your clients and your managers.

Your faster reading skills will lead to new knowledge and advancement. For many professionals, it’s important to keep up with the latest research and discoveries in their field. Additionally, most jobs change frequently as technology is upgraded or businesses take new directions. By having the vocabulary and reading skills to always stay on top of these developments, you’ll have a better chance at rising to the top of your field. When you’re the person that everyone else goes to for answers, you’ll definitely be the person picked for a promotion.

Are you motivated to get back into your vocabulary studies now? If one of the problems is that you’re trying to do all of your studying on your own, you might want to try the Ultimate Vocabulary system, which will give you guidelines, tips, direction, and the words you need to succeed.

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