Module 12 Definitions

Etymology - the study of the origin and historical development of words.

Image result for etymology

Recognizing the etymology of a word helps students more accurately figure out the most effective use of words. It is also a stepping stone in the use of prefixes, suffixes, and affixes. As students apply the roots of words, they are able to link their meanings, thus finding out what words originally meant.

Stem - this usually refers to a base or word root together with any derivational affixes that have been added, and to which inflectional endings may be added.

Image result for word stem

Free morpheme - meaning units of language (morphemes) that stand alone as words (workshop has two free morphemes: work and shop).

Bound Morpheme - meaning units of language (morphemes) that cannot stand alone as a word. Respected has three bound morphemes: re+spect+ed.

Image result for free morpheme


Understanding morphemes (both free and bound) is important in the process of learning etymology. Students need to be able to recognize the meaningful parts of words (morphemes) in order to discern the meaning of those words with the additions of affixes.

Concept Sorts - a categorization task in which pictures, objects, or words are grouped by shared attributes or meanings to develop concepts and vocabulary.

Image result for concept sorts

Concept sorts are useful in classroom settings for both teacher and student alike. They allow the teacher to observe what their students already know about a particular area of content and can serve as an informal assessment. Students get use out of them as tools for review, visualization tools, and also to understand and recognize new categories of information as they learn.

Absorbed or Assimilated Prefix - prefixes in which the spelling and sound of the consonant has been absorbed into the spelling and sound at the beginning of the base or root to which the prefix is affixed (eg. ad+tract = attract).

Image result for assimilated prefixes

Consonant/Vowel Alternation - the process in which the pronunciation of consonants changes in the base or root of derivationally related words while the spelling does not change (e.g. the silent-to-sounded g in the words sign and signal.

Image result for consonant/vowel alternation

Reduced Vowels - vowels occurring in an unstressed syllable.

Image result for reduced vowels

References

Bear, D. B., Invernizzi, M., Templeton, S., & Johnston, F. (2011).  Words their way:    
    Word study for phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction (6th ed.).  Upper Saddle
    River, NJ: Pearson.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Module 10 Definitions

Module 4 Definitions

Module 5 Definitions