Developing Your Vocabulary

Textbooks are full of new terminology. In fact, one could argue that learning chemistry is largely a matter of learning the language of chemists and that mastering philosophy, history, or sociology requires a mastery of the terminology of each particular discipline.

discipline An area of academic study, such as sociology, anthropology, or engineering.

If words are such a basic and essential component of our knowledge, what is the best way to learn them? Follow the basic vocabulary-building strategies outlined below.

VOCABULARY-BUILDING STRATEGIES

  • During your overview of the chapter, notice and jot down unfamiliar terms. Consider making a flash card for each term or making a list of terms.
  • When you encounter challenging words, consider the context. See whether you can predict the meaning of an unfamiliar term by using the surrounding words.
  • If context by itself is not enough, try analyzing the term to discover the root, or base part, or other meaningful parts of the word. For example, emissary has the root “to emit,” or “to send forth,” so we can guess that an emissary is someone who is sent forth with a message. Similarly, note prefixes and suffixes. For example, anti means “against,” and pro means “for.” Use the glossary of the text, a dictionary, or the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary (www.merriam-webster.com) to locate the definition. Note any multiple definitions and search for the meaning that fits this usage.
  • Take every opportunity to use these new terms in your writing and speaking. If you use a new term a few times, you’ll soon know it. In addition, studying new terms on flash cards or study sheets can be handy at exam time.