Ultimate Vocabulary – Vocabulary Building Software

New Words in the Oxford English Dictionary: Knowledgeful

January 19, 2011

The editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary chose refudiate as their 2010 word of the year, and now the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary have added knowledgeful to the OED, making it an officially-sanctioned proper English word, even though our spell-check program disagrees with the validity of both words. This second word, however, has a long history in the English language and a sound grammatical foundation.

The word knowledgeable is the word most of us think to use today when we want to express the concept of “full of knowledge on a topic.” But when we look at the suffix of the word, we see -able, which is the suffix used to indicate “capable of being [root word].” In this case, knowledgeable originally meant “capable of being known.” The suffix -ful, on the other hand, means exactly what you might think: that something is “full of [root word].” Therefore, back in the 17th century when both words were in use, it was correct to say that the total number of eggs a hen laid in a year was knowledgeable – a person could count the eggs and know the total – and also correct to say that a farmer whose hens laid more eggs than average was very knowledgeful about chickens and how to raise them.

Other older formations of words may eventually come back into common use in the future. Back in 1661 the London writer Samuel Pepys described a sermon as being “good, honest, and painfull,” meaning that the author of the sermon had taken great pains (been very careful in research and creation) in its composition. These days, if we say a speech is painful, it means it’s hard to listen to, rather than being admirable (capable of being admired – there’s that suffix again!). The English language is always evolving, and sometimes that evolution is a revolution, bringing back words from the past to enrich our present vocabulary.

How to Derive Nouns From Verbs

January 18, 2011

Many words in the English language can be regarded as being made out of “building blocks” – the roots, suffixes, and prefixes that can be combined in different ways to create different vocabulary words. In general, these combinations follow rules, and for the most part the rules are easy to apply and remember.

One of the main ways to create new words is to base them on (to derive them from) another word. For example, you can create many nouns from adjectives by adding the suffix -ness or -ity:

bright / brightness
specific /specificity
dark / darkness
cruel / cruelty
happy / happiness
obese / obesity

Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule (and English is rather notorious for its large number of exceptions!) but once you learn the guidelines, you’ll be able to recognize the forms and categories, even with those variations.

One of the more difficult categories to master is the derivation of nouns from verbs – or at any rate the nouns that describe abstract concepts rather than the person doing the action described by the verb. The names of people who perform certain actions can be easily traced back to the action verb related to that performance, with the addition of the suffix -er:

write / writer
bake / baker
hunt / hunter
dance / dancer

However, when you’re referring to concepts rather than people, things get a little more tricky. Here are some examples of non-occupational nouns derived from verbs:

to arrive / the arrival
to deliver / the deliverance
to grow / the growth
to pay / the payment
to compile / the compilation
to draw / the drawing
to emerge / the emergence

Seven rules for seven noun formations! In fact, though, there really is no one set rule for deriving nouns from verbs, and the student of English needs to just write down and memorize the pairs of related words without trying to identify too many patterns.

Devote a little bit of time every day to learning and memorizing these more difficult aspects of the English vocabulary, and you’ll derive a great deal of satisfaction at your rapid improvement and increased verbal skills.

English Vocabulary for Success: Commensurate

January 17, 2011

How are you coming along with your 2011 vocabulary study program? Are you getting organized and putting your word lists in order so that you have a plan for the most efficient study program? Have you included several different methods for learning each word, so that you incorporate as many learning techniques as possible? Do you have a target list of useful and powerful English vocabulary words that will enhance your presentation and conversation skills? As with most projects, you’ll get benefits from your vocabulary study that are commensurate to the amount of effort you put into it.

The word commensurate is an adjective meaning “in proportion to, corresponding to.” It can be traced back to the Latin roots com- (or con-, meaning “with”) and mensura (“measure”), and is often used to describe something that is of equal status to something else of a different type or form. Some synonyms for commensurate include appropriate, equivalent, and consistent.

Example 1: If you are well qualified for a job, don’t be afraid to ask for a starting salary that is commensurate with your skills and abilities.

Example 2: “And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes — a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925)

If you’re studying for an examination such as the GRE, you’ll probably be given a quote like the one in the second example above, and asked to paraphrase (write in your own words) the meaning of the text. Knowing the definition of the word commensurate as you now do, how would you explain what Fitzgerald is saying in the last sentence?

What Japanese Words are Used in the English Language?

January 14, 2011

When we were talking yesterday about using muscle memory to improve your English vocabulary spelling, we referenced the standard Japanese language learning technique of “stroke order” that helps students correctly remember how to write the Japanese characters called kanji. That reminded us of a list of words we came across recently of Japanese words that we now use as part of our everyday English vocabulary. How many of these words do you know?

bonsai
Literally translated as “tray/pot cultivated,” this word refers both to the art of pruning and miniaturizing trees into highly stylized shapes, and to those trees themselves.

haiku
A short poem, traditionally with a theme of or reference to nature, in the form of three non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) is one of the most well-known poets who wrote haiku.

karaoke
An invented word made up of the Japanese word kara (meaning “empty”) and the first part of the English word orchestra (which would be pronounced by a Japanese speaker as oh-KAY-su-toh-rah), this is a popular pastime in which one or more people sing along with prerecorded instrumental versions of popular songs.

manga
Although this form of art has been around since the 1800s, these “whimsical pictures” now usually refer to comics and comic books; when the comics are animated, they’re called anime.

origami
The art form of “folding paper” developed in the 17th century in Japan. A thousand origami cranes strung together on a thread is a gift that is said to bring good luck and good health to the recipient.

tycoon
The Japanese word taikun means “great person” and was used as a form of address to the shogun, the ruler of Japan during the 1850s when Japan opened its harbors to ships from the West. When the word migrated to the English-speaking world, it became a reference to any successful person, particularly in business, and generally implies that the person has a lot of wealth and power.

karate
The martial art done without weapons (from kara, “empty,” and te, “hand”) that was developed in the early 20th century, based on traditional fighting methods of the residents of the (now) Japanese islands in the East China Sea.

kudzu
This word for a fast-growing vine that can be highly invasive in warm-climate areas comes from the Japanese name for the plant, kuzu. The starchy root of the plant is edible and is a traditional ingredient in many Japanese dishes.

shiatsu
A type of massage that involves “finger pressure” at specific points on the body where the energy flow can be adjusted. Another term for this technique is acupressure.

tsunami
A potentially destructive “harbor wave” usually caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, or underwater landslides. Tsunami measure up to 100 feet (30 metres) in height and travel at speeds reaching 600 miles (966 kilometres) per hour.

Korekaramo ganbatte kudasai!

How to Improve Your Spelling

January 13, 2011

An important part of learning new vocabulary words is learning how to spell those words correctly. Naturally, correct spelling is extremely important if you’re communicating in writing, whether that’s via a Powerpoint presentation, a departmental memorandum, a quick e-mail, or a formal report to a committee. No matter how extensive and appropriate your vocabulary is, if you make mistakes in spelling, it gives your readers a negative impression of your abilities and your knowledge of the topic. However, spelling is important even if you don’t rely on written documents. In general, knowing how a word is spelled will help you remember how it’s pronounced – although as we’ve discussed before, English is unfortunately full of words that go against a common-sense pronunciation guide. But more importantly, learning the correct spelling of a word will help you learn a word more quickly.

Our eyes are trained to recognize patterns and to put pieces of things together to form a coherent whole. By focusing on how a word is spelled, you train your eye to pick up on and remember the pattern of letters that form that word. When you look at the etymology of the word, you’ll find that the smaller segments within the word (the roots and prefixes and suffixes) will also fix themselves in your memory, and help you recall the word’s form as well as its meaning. All of these aspects of learning will combine to give you a more solid understanding of the word and its definition, as well as how to spell it.

Muscle memory can also help you quickly learn how to spell a word, as students of the Japanese language know. In Japanese, words are formed primarily from combinations of characters called kanji, and each of these characters is composed of between one and twenty-four strokes, or lines, which must be placed precisely in order for the character to be read correctly. To guide the learning process, students are instructed to make the lines in the same sequence every time. For example, the character kuchi, meaning “mouth,” is a simple square that is formed by first making a vertical line on the left, then a single stroke that creates the horizontal line on the top and the vertical line on the right, and finally a stroke to create the horizontal line on the bottom of the square. Naturally, you can make a square by drawing the lines in any order you want, but when you use the same motions to make this character every single time, it’s soon completely automatic. The “spelling” of the kanji has moved from your conscious brain into your unconscious, assisted by muscle memory.

The same technique goes for English spelling. Practice each word you’re studying by writing it out at least ten times, and you’ll integrate your muscle memory with your active study, helping your retain and remember the word and its proper spelling.

How to Adapt Your Vocabulary to Your Audience

January 12, 2011

As you improve and expand your English vocabulary, you’ll find more and more opportunities to use your new words in your professional and personal communication. One place in particular that you may find an advantage in having a large and diverse vocabulary is in your work environment, especially if you have a job where you occasionally (or frequently) need to make presentations to, or interact with, many different groups of people. In order to communicate more effectively with each group, think about who you’ll be talking to, and adjust your vocabulary and your speaking style as appropriate.

If you work in a large corporation, your co-workers will probably vary in age from new interns to people with thirty years’ seniority. Although they share a common bond of working for the same organization, their personalities and experiences will be very different. Keep in mind where you are in relation to their ages, and remember that words and expressions that are current and familiar to one group may not be to another. In addition, while it’s a good idea to be polite and respectful to anyone you interact with, if you’re in a group of people who are comfortable with you and with each other, you can be a little more casual in your vocabulary and speaking style. However, if you’re making a presentation or talking to a group of people who don’t have as much in common, especially if you don’t know them, stay more formal in your speech.

There will be times when you’re asked to give an impromptu speech or presentation – such as in a departmental meeting when you’re called on by the manager, or in a class when the professor picks you to explain the topic you’re currently covering – but in general, you’ll probably have some time to prepare for the event. If you know who your audience will be, you can spend some of that time tailoring your speech to suit them. In particular, make sure that you’re using vocabulary that fits the level of your audience’s familiarity with the topic. You might be an expert on finance and the best person to explain why budgetary adjustments are being made, but if you use possibly unfamiliar terms such as derivatives and residuals then you may not be effectively communicating with your listeners.

By developing your own vocabulary, you’ll have the ability to adapt your speaking style to match that of your audience. The better you’re able to communicate, the more positive feedback you’ll get, and that will help you on your path to professional success.

English Vocabulary from A to Z: Zoological Adjectives

January 11, 2011

When we were talking about the word capricious yesterday, we were reminded of some of the other words in the English language that can be traced back to word roots related to animals, or which were later derived from animal names. How many of these adjectives and idioms have you heard or used?

bovine
Definition: From the Latin word bovis (“ox”), this is a general term describing cattle (both wild and domesticated), but the more recent meaning is “dull or stupid.”
Example: The professor tried to get the class interested in the study of word origins, but most of the students just stared off into space with bovine expressions during her lecture.

catty (adverb cattily)
Definition: Spiteful and malicious. The domesticated cat got a bad reputation in the Middle Ages when it was associated with witchcraft, and that may have led to this word.
Example: Although the dinner guests praised Angela on the authenticity of her Spanish paella, they spent the trip home making catty remarks about its lack of flavor.

crabby (adverb crabbily)
Definition: Ill-tempered, quick to anger, like a crab is quick to pinch your finger if you bother it.
Example: He’s always crabby in the morning, at least until he has his first cup of coffee.

dogged (adverb doggedly)
Definition: Persistent, like a tracking hound that closely follows the scent trail.
Example: Only through the detective’s dogged pursuit of the suspect were the police able to gather the evidence needed to arrest him.

sluggish (adverb sluggishly)
Definition: Slow and lazy. The word slug can be traced back to Middle English and was originally sluggard, meaning a heavy, slow person. The word slug as applied to the snail without a shell was probably taken from sluggard.
Example: The flooded river moved sluggishly under the bridge, choked with mud and debris from the buildings damaged in the storm.

chivalrous (adverb chivalrously)
Definition: Noble, brave, and self-sacrificing. The word comes from the Old French chevalier, a knight who rode on a horse (un cheval).
Example: Although it can’t be proven, Sir Walter Raleigh is credited with the chivalrous act of spreading his cloak over a mud puddle so that Queen Elizabeth I wouldn’t get her feet wet.

Animals appear in many idiomatic phrases in English, too. For example, someone who’s able to spot details that others miss is often called eagle-eyed, while someone who’s flighty and irresponsible is a silly goose (or silly cow, in the UK). If you have no responsibilities or worries, you’re free as a bird, which might make you so happy you go around giving people bear hugs. Take care of yourself, and you’ll be as healthy as a horse. And if you’re busy as a beaver with your vocabulary study program, you’ll soon be happy as a pig in clover at all of the benefits your new knowledge of English vocabulary will bring you!

SAT and GRE Vocabulary Practice: How to Learn a Word

January 10, 2011

When you’re preparing for an important test, like the SAT or the GRE, your time is at a premium, and you need to find the most efficient way to get the information and knowledge you need, organized so that it’s easy to study and remember. After all, you’re probably not taking the test on a whim, so you’ll want to make your choice of study materials in a deliberate way, not a capricious one.

The word capricious is an adjective meaning “impulsive or arbitrary.” Someone who is capricious often acts on a whim, or trusts in chance and luck to help them make their decisions. You can also use this word to describe such an decision, or any unpredictable occurrence. When speaking about an impulsive, arbitrary, or unpredictable action, use the adverb capriciously.

Example: The students were ready for their quiz on the rivers of Europe, and were dismayed when the teacher capriciously changed the topic to a review of the major exports of the countries in South America.

The origin of this word is probably traceable back to the Latin word root capro, meaning “goat.” If you ever watch young goats (kids) at play, you’ll notice that they jump around rather randomly, with sudden stops and starts and changes of direction.

All of this is to emphasize how not to study for a test. Rather than randomly picking topics and going from one to another on a whim, focus on a set list of items that you know you need to work on, and devote concentrated time to each of them. For vocabulary study in particular, having a specific routine to follow can provide the structure you need to build on to develop your vocabulary to its full extent.

Sort. Arrange your word list in a way that will help you learn quickly. For some people, that will be in groups by type (noun, verb, adjective) while for others it might be by difficulty, or by topic.

Segment. Divide your list up into small groups of five, ten, or twenty words each. The size of the group will depend on how much time you’re able to devote to your study in each session. Don’t try to fit too many words into one time slot, but focus on learning each word thoroughly.

Synchronize. Learn each word in the same manner. By using repetition in your study routine, you’ll accustom your brain to thinking about the words in the same way, and that information will be more readily accessible when you need it. For example, start by memorizing the correct spelling of the word, then look up the origin of the word to find related words and meanings. Next, identify synonyms and antonyms to help you lock in your understanding of how to use the word. Finally, spend time creating sample sentences to practice both your spelling skills and how to use the word in context.

Are you motivated? Jump right in and start studying!

SAT Study Strategies: Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension

January 7, 2011

The SAT Reasoning Test (which used to be called the Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test used in the United States to test whether a student is at an educational level that will allow them to apply for entry in a college or university. In general, this is a test given to high school students in their next-to-last year, and both United States citizens and international students can sign up to take the test. It’s an important benchmark that many top universities use to get a basic idea of a student’s academic standing. A high score on the SAT can lead to scholarship opportunities, while a low score may cause the applicant to drop to the bottom of the list.

Because of its role in the college application process, the more time you spend preparing for the SAT, the better. There are three main parts of the test, and English vocabulary, reading, and writing skills are the focus of two of them. The third section deals with mathematics, and also involves vocabulary and reading skills – you’ll need to be able to read and understand the problems, and be able to define terms such as equilateral and median.

In the reading comprehension section, you’ll be asked to read blocks of text of varying lengths, and then answer questions about what you’ve read. Naturally, if you know the definition of all of the words used in the text, you’ll be able to correctly answer the questions. However, studying synonyms and antonyms will also help you, because you’ll be asked to complete sentences using words that have the same meaning.

Here’s another tip from a student from Oregon, who recently took the SAT:

“Make sure you’ve taken a practice test, with timing, that is the full length. It gives you a good idea of the timing.”

This is an excellent idea, because it will allow you to experience what the test-taking environment is like, both in terms of time and of stress. When studying on your own, you probably don’t set an alarm clock to end your study session, but when you’re taking the SAT, you won’t be allowed to keep working on the test, even if you haven’t finished. By taking the practice test, you’ll have a better idea of how much time each section takes, and where you’re likely to need to practice to improve your speed.

You can find more information on when and where to take the SAT, and resources including practice questions and study guides, at the official College Board SAT website here.

English Vocabulary for Success: Cacophony

January 6, 2011

Things have quieted down after the holidays, and the clamor of banging pots and pans, fireworks, shouts, laughter, and music has died down as the New Year celebrations fade away. If you attended any large parties over the last few weeks, you might be glad for a bit of silence after the cacophony often found at those events. The word cacophony refers to loud noise, particularly noise that is harsh or irritating. In general, in a cacophony it’s virtually impossible to hear individual voices or sounds; it all just blends together in an overwhelming tsunami of sound.

Cacophony comes from the Greek roots kakos (“bad”) and phone (“voice, sound”). The root phone is one that you’ll find in many related words, all of which have to do with speech or sound. Here are some examples:

polyphony (“many voices”) noun
A type of music with several interweaving melodic lines.

euphonious (“good sounding”) adjective
Pleasant to listen to.

phoneme (“a sound”) noun
The smallest unit of sound in a spoken language.

homophone (“same sound”) noun
A word which has the same pronunciation as another word, but not the same spelling or meaning.

As always, we caution you about false cognates: words that seem to share the same roots, and therefore general meaning, but do not. You might think that phony has something to do with “sounding false” or that a siphon must relate somehow to a speaking tube, but actually those two words have completely different origins. The word phony may have come from an Irish word for a brass ring that thieves would try to sell as true gold, and siphon is simply the Greek word for a pipe or tube.

Build your English vocabulary study on sound principles and you’re sure to succeed!