Roots of Language: Foundations of English

Roots of Language What? You will learn word-parts How? Weekly lessons on roots, prefixes, or suffixes Why? These word-parts are the essential parts of words. Knowing them helps you to understand new words.

Word-Parts Roots Prefix Suffix Could be anywhere in the word Manage, emancipate  hand Beginning of the word Rewind, return, respond  again End of word Bigger, smaller, smarter  more

You need… Roots of language packet Pencil Paper

Directions Find the root in your packet Write the definition of the root Write an additional example word and its definition

Auto (Greek) Definition: Self Example Word: Autocrat – one person with complete authority Other examples? Automobile, automatic

Biblio (Greek) Definition: Book Example Words: Bibliography – a list of written works used as sources Other examples? bibliophile

Dic, dict (Latin) Definition: Speak Example Words: Dictate - to speak or read for a person to translate Other examples? Dictionary, diction, edict, predict, contradict

Graph (Greek) Definition: Write Example Words: Autograph - a signature written with one’s own hand Other examples? Graphic, photograph, graphite

Lang, ling (Latin) Definition: tongue Example words: linguist - a person skilled in languages Other words? language, bilingual

Leg, lec, lex (Latin – Legere, Greek – Lexis) Definition: Read, speak Example Words: Legible = Readable Lecture = A speech delivered for instruction Other examples? lexicon

Lit (Latin) Definition: letter Example Words: literature - writings in which expression and form are essential features Other examples? Literate, literacy

Man (Latin) Definition: Hand Example Word: manuscript - the original text of an author’s work (handwritten or typed) Other examples? Emancipate, manacles, manager

Mem (Latin) Definition: Remember Example Word: Memento = Something that serves as a reminder; souvenir Other examples? Memory, memorize, memorial

Sci (Latin) Definition: know Example Word: omniscient = having complete or unlimited knowledge Other examples? Conscious, conscience

Scrib, scrip (Latin) Definition: Write Example Word: Inscribe = To write, engrave, or print as a lasting record Other examples? Transcribe, prescribe, prescription, scribble

Read (Germanic – raed) Definition: counsel, advise, interpret Example Word: readability = the ease with which a text can be read Other examples? Reader, read

ETYMOLOGY of the word READ Etymo = true meaning logos = word The root “read” doesn’t actually appear in that many English words, but the history (or etymology) of the word is interesting to consider.

ETYMOLOGY of the word READ In many languages, the word for reading comes from the Latin word legere, which originally had to do with “gathering up” or “collecting” meaning. Consider these words in other languages: Leer = “to read” in Spanish Lire = “to read” in French Leggere = “to read” in Italian Lesen = “to read” in German

ETYMOLOGY of the word READ In English, we use words like “legible” and “lexicon,” but when it comes to the act of READING, our word is rooted in the idea of counsel – almost a conversation between the author and the reader. In addition to “gathering up” details to make sense of letters and words, your job in this class is to INTERPRET meaning.

Done! Study these words. You will have a quiz on 9/14 (A) 9/15 (B). The quiz is a Level 2 grade. Want five bonus points? Make flash cards and bring them on quiz day. They must be completed before class.

What will the quiz be like? You will need to… Know the roots and their definitions Determine the correct definition for a word using your knowledge of the root Write words that contain the roots and write definitions for those words