RIC-20239 Primary Grammar and Word Study Year 4 – Understanding and choosing words
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Underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>choosing</strong> <strong>words</strong><br />
<strong>Word</strong> origins<br />
Focus<br />
<strong>Word</strong> origins<br />
Definition<br />
• Etymology is the name given to the study of<br />
historical linguistic change, usually when referring to<br />
individual <strong>words</strong>; the body of knowledge relating to<br />
this study; an account of the history of a particular<br />
word <strong>and</strong> the derivation of a word.<br />
Example:<br />
astrology comes from the Greek word ‘astro-’<br />
meaning ‘star’<br />
Explanation<br />
• Finding out about the origin of <strong>words</strong> gives a history<br />
of the language <strong>and</strong> the people who use it.<br />
• By underst<strong>and</strong>ing word origins, students exp<strong>and</strong><br />
their vocabulary <strong>and</strong> ability to determine the<br />
meaning of unfamiliar <strong>words</strong>.<br />
• Included in this section are <strong>words</strong> using word parts,<br />
such as alter- <strong>and</strong> also <strong>words</strong> derived from other<br />
countries, such as patio.<br />
• The word part can be used as:<br />
<strong>–</strong> a suffix (phone <strong>–</strong> telephone)<br />
<strong>–</strong> a prefix (geo <strong>–</strong> geography)<br />
• In a good dictionary, word origins are usually given<br />
after the meaning.<br />
Worksheet information<br />
• Read <strong>and</strong> discuss the introductory paragraph. Give<br />
<strong>and</strong> ask for examples. Familiar prefixes or suffixes<br />
such as bio- (life), graph (writing, printing), fac<br />
(make), hydro (water), mater (mother), psych (mind),<br />
spec (look/see), terr (earth) <strong>and</strong> vac (empty) may be<br />
used.<br />
• Students should read the text <strong>and</strong> complete the table<br />
in Question 1.<br />
• All the <strong>words</strong> in Question 2 have entered English<br />
from another language.<br />
Ideas for further practice<br />
• Look at the origins of phrases in well-known nursery<br />
rhymes such as ‘Ring a ring a rosy ...’.<br />
• Investigate <strong>words</strong> such as scuba, radar <strong>and</strong> laser<br />
where the initials are used to make <strong>words</strong> (an<br />
acronym).<br />
• Use a dictionary to find the meanings <strong>and</strong> origins of<br />
<strong>words</strong> of interest.<br />
Answers<br />
1. (a) report (b) temporary<br />
(c) scribe (d) alternate<br />
(e) bibliography (f) zoology<br />
(g) solar (h) crustaceans<br />
(i) thermal (j) amphibian<br />
Teacher check other <strong>words</strong> from origin.<br />
2. (a) garage (b) chef<br />
(c) yacht (d) siesta<br />
(e) comm<strong>and</strong>o (f) brunette<br />
(g) kindergarten (h) patio<br />
(i) pizza<br />
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