1. Roots of Language: Foundations of English

2. 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.

3. 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

4. You need…
Roots of language packet
Pencil
Paper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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