Figuring it Out
The words that surround a particular word or passage that gives clues to its meaning
What is context?
A regional variety of speech; this can vary in pronunciation, word choice, and word meaning.
What is dialect?
A word that has the same or similar meaning as another word
What is a synonym?
A 4-square model for exploring definitions, characteristics, examples, and non-examples
What is the Frayer Model?
A statement of a word’s meaning; an authoritative statement of meaning found in a dictionary
A word part that carries the basic, core meaning; some cannot stand alone without an affix
What is root?
Specialized language that has meaning to a particular group in a specific context
What is jargon?
A word that has the opposite meaning as another word
What is an antonym?
Categorizing groups of single words on cards according to their meanings.
What is a word sort?
Creative uses of language that is symbolic and deals with imagery, not to be taken literally; language based on figures of speech
What is figurative
An affix attached to the front of a base/root
What is a pre-fix?
A softer, gentler, less-offensive term for one considered harsh
What is a euphemism
A word with multiple, often unrelated meanings (e.g. jam)
What is a homonym?
A graphic organizer showing multiple dimensions of a single word, and how they are linked (definition, synonyms, antonyms, characteristics, derivations, etc.)
What is a word map?
The simplest, most obvious meaning of a word, not used in any symbolic or figurative manner; the meaning that is actually meant when using a particular word.
What is literal?
An affix that is attached to the end of a base/root
What is a suffix?
The actual sound utterance of a word; the sounds the letters of a word produce; this varies with region and dialect
What is pronunciation?
Words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings
What is a homophone?
This tool has been commonly used over the years to teach vocabulary, but it is extremely ineffective.
What is the dictionary
The actual dictionary definition of a word, with no feeling or emotion attached to it; the literal meaning of the word.
What is denotation
The study of the history and origin of words
What is etymology?
A level of speech, described in terms of “high,” “middle,” and “low;” it is adjusted according to audience and purpose of speech or writing
What is diction?
Words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations (e.g. The tourists visiting Tunisia feared their guide would desert them in the desert.)
What is a homograph?
This method for teaching vocabulary relies on wide reading and multiple exposure to words.
What is the indirect method?
The emotional meaning or feelings associated with a word, not listed as a part of its dictionary definition.
What is connotation?