UNIT 2:

Guessing Word Meaning from Context

Read the sentence below and try to guess the meaning of the word, loafer without using a
dictionary.
The people in the neighbourhood called Tom a loafer because he always wasted his time by not
working when he should.
loafer means ..........................................................................................................................
You can guess the meaning of the word loafer because it appears in a context.
CONTEXT helps you get the meaning of the unknown word. We often come across some unfamiliar
words when we are reading, but sometimes we dont have to look up the meaning of the words in a
dictionary. We can GUESS the meaning by using CONTEXT CLUES.
Types of context clues
There are a number of different context clues that can help a reader infer the meaning of a new word.
Morphology The students can derive word meanings by examining internal, morphological features,
like prefixes, suffixes, and root words (See Unit 3).

Reference words Identifying the referents of pronouns may provide a clue to the meaning of an
unfamiliar word.
Example: Malnutrition gave him the shallowest of chests and thinnest of limbs. It stunted his growth.
In this sentence, the effect of malnutrition is obvious. Students should be able to guess what
malnutrition could have done to growth.
Cohesion Sometimes words in the same sentence or in adjacent sentences give an indication of the
meaning of an unfamiliar word, because these words regularly co-occur with the unfamiliar word,
producing what has been termed "collocational cohesion" (Halliday and Hasan 1976:287).

Synonyms and antonyms Often the reader can find the meaning of new items in the same
sentence.
Example: We had never seen such a large cave: it was simply enormous.
Obviously, the unknown word is a synonym for large.
Example: To be pretty and not plain, affluent and not poor, represents status in certain social groups.
We note that pretty and plain are opposites. When we see the next pair of words in a parallel
construction, we can assume that affluent is the opposite of poor, and must therefore mean rich.
Hyponyms Very often the reader can see that the relationship between an unfamiliar word and a
familiar word is that of a general concept accompanied by a specific example (a hyponym).

Example: The museum contained almost every type of vehicle: cars, buses, trains, and even old
carriages and coaches.
Vehicle is being used as a hyponym; it encompasses all of the other items which are listed. Also, all of
the listed items are of the same category.
Definitions Sometimes the writer defines the meaning of the word right in the text.
Example: Many animals live only by killing other animals and eating them. They are called predatory
animals.

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Alternatives The writer may give an alternative of an unfamiliar word to make the meaning known.
Example: Ichthyologists, or specialists in the study of fish, have contributed to our understanding of
the past.
The word ichthyologist is unfamiliar to some readers, but the writer explains the meaning by giving a
more familiar term.
Restatement Often the writer gives enough explanation for the meaning to be clear.
Example: X ray therapy, that is, treatment by use of X ray, often stops the growth of a tumour.
The phrase that is signals a clarification of a previously used word.
Example Many times an author helps the reader get the meaning of a word by providing examples
that illustrate the use of the word.
Example: All the furniture had been completely removed so that not a single table or chair was to be
seen.
The learner should be able to guess the meaning of furniture from the two examples which are
mentioned.
Summary A summary clue sums up a situation or an idea with a word or a phrase.
Example: Mrs. Christopher contributes money to the Red Cross, the Girls Club, and the Cancer
Society. She also volunteers many hours in the emergency ward of the hospital. She is indeed
altruistic.
From the account of Mrs. Christophers deeds, the reader can infer that altruistic means unselfish.
Comparison and contrast Writers can show similarity or difference.
Example: The ancient mammoth, like other elephants, is huge.
This sentence indicates similarity and clearly states that the ancient mammoth is a type of elephant.
Punctuation Readers can also use clues of punctuation and type style to infer meaning, such as
quotation marks (showing the word has a special meaning), dashes (showing apposition),
parentheses or brackets (enclosing a definition), and italics (showing the word will be defined).

Here are signal words or markers used to signpost different types of context clues.
1. Definition: Sometimes writers help their readers to work out the meanings of unfamiliar words in
their texts by giving definitions of the words. In order to know where a definition is, you should
look for the following signals:
is/ are
(is/ are) called
(is/ are) known as
(is/ are) defined as
(is/ are) described as

mean/ means
consist of
refer to
may be seen as
what this means is

Example:
Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices you pay for things you buy.

Someone who explores and studies caves is known as a spelunker.

The time of the year when days and nights are the same length over the earth is called the
equinox.

EXERCISE 1: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and write the meaning of the
underlined word in the space provided.
1. My little brother likes a soft kind of creamy candy called fudge.
fudge = .....................................................................................
2. A small meal between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner is called a snack.

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snack = ...................................................................................
3. Circulate means to move around and return to the same place.
circulate = ................................................................................
4. An unreasonable and lasting fear of something is called a phobia.
phobia = .....................................................................................
5. An amateur is one who takes part in sport just for the joy of doing it. He is not paid for it.
amateur = ..................................................................................
6. A mammal is an animal which has a backbone and feeds its youngs with milk from its own body.
mammal = ..............................................................................
7. The male lion has a ring of long hair called a mane around his head.
mane = .........................................................................................
8. When a rock has been changed by heat or pressure, it is called metamorphic.
metamorphic = ...................................................................................
9. The earths hydrosphere consists of the water on its surface, water vapour in the air, and
even water that has soaked into soil.
hydrosphere =.....................................................................................
10. Breakfast foods made out of corn, wheat, rye, oats or rice are called cereals.
cereals =.......................................................................................
2. RESTATEMENT
This is a repetition of the unknown word using a simpler word or phrase which has the same
meaning as the unknown one. Words or phrases that are used to signal restatement of the
unknown words are:
or

in other words

that is

that is to say

However, you may sometimes find these punctuations used as signals:

,
,
commas
(
)
parentheses

dashes
EXAMPLES:

Spontaneously, that is, without planning, the students lifted the teacher onto their shoulders.

Mrs. Miller loved the tranquillitythe peace and quietnessafter everybody had gone to work.

The surface of Africa consists mainly of plateaus, or large flat areas, although these occur at
different levels.

EXERCISE 2: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and write the meaning of the
underlined word in the space provided.
1. There was a lot of furore - many complaints - about the traffic jam.
furore = ............................................................................
2. We like to hear Peter tell anecdotes (short funny stories) about his days in Bangkok.
anecdotes = ..................................................................
3. Peter was a nice boy. He never liked to fight. In fact, he was a pacifist, or a lover of peace.
pacifist = ..........................................................................
4. When I visited Chicago last month, the weather was frigid, that is, very cold.

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frigid = .............................................................................
5. The pigs crowed around the trough (a long, narrow container) after the boy had filled it with food.
trough = ...........................................................................
6. The doctor told Mrs. Johnson that Jane had anaemia, an illness in which the blood does not have
enough red blood cells, but that she would get well in the short time.
anaemia = ..........................................................................
7. Manuel lives in an area that is arid, or very dry.
arid = ................................................................................
8. The government has to provide a new accommodation - a place to live - for the people who are
moving from the slum area.
accommodation = ..............................................................
3. Examples can be used by writers to help learners guess the meaning of an unknown word.
Here are some of the signals:
for example

e.g.

for instance

And also these quotation marks:

: (colons)

such as
or

like

especially

(comma)

EXAMPLES:
Some people in the North of Thailand do wickerwork, for example, they make elephants, turtles,
plates, beds, and chairs, from teak trees for earning money.

She is very touchy. For example, she usually gets angry when her teacher makes comments on
her paper.

Scientists learn about peoples of the past by studying artefacts, such as arrowheads, spears,
pottery and tools.

EXERCISE 3: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and choose the meaning of
the underlined word in the space provided.
1. Having made a list of synonyms like rich - wealthy, sad - unhappy, Tom found that he could write
his essays better.
a. words that have opposite meanings
b. words that are used in writing
c. words that have similar meaning
d. lists of words
2. Peter is a very cautious boy; whenever he crosses the road, first he always looks in both
directions.
a. coward
b. stupid
c. excited
d. careful
3. Drivers of automobiles must be careful and look out for pedestrians, especially pupils who are
crossing streets.
a. pupils
b. drivers
c. walkers
d. drivers and pupils
4. He made many helpful contributions to our school, for example, he gave students money for
scholarships and the school lunch project.
a. goal
b. offerings
c. ability
d. discovery
5. Thailand exports many commodities; such as rice, canned food, and fruits.
a. nations properties
b. exports
c. goods

d. plants

4. COMPARISON and CONTRAST: Writers may help their readers understand unfamiliar words
they use in their text by using clauses that are in accordance with or contradict each other. Here
are signals they may use:

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COMPARISON:
As/ as ....as
Similarly
Compared with

like/ alike
likewise
in the like manner

similar to
correspondingly
as if/ as though

resemble (v)
in the same way

CONTRAST:
but
however
nevertheless
while/ whereas

even though
although
in contrast
rather than

even if
yet/still
on the contrary
instead of

on the other hand

despite/ in spite of
conversely

EXAMPLE:

Although Dara and Wipa are very close friends but they are very different. Suda spends a lot of
money to buy things while Wipa loves to economize.

Mr. Walker is usually on time, yet this morning he was tardy.

The moans of the winds on a winter evening seem like the sounds of a sad girl crying.

EXERCISE 4: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and write the meaning of the
underlined word in the space provided. The meaning you write may be in Thai or in English.
1. Some people loathe durians even though others like them.
Loathe = _________________________________
2. During the meeting, Mrs. Browns students were quiet whereas Mrs. Johnsons students were
boisterous.
boisterous = _________________________________
3. I prefer to read novels with intricate rather than simple plots.
intricate = _________________________________
4. The defence was fortunate to get an eminent lawyer rather than someone unknown.
eminent = _________________________________
5. Nick is as cunning as an old fox; dont trust him.
cunning = _________________________________
6. Tom was voluble while his brother was quiet.
voluble = __________________________________
7. Harry always makes innumerable mistakes in his writing. In contrast, Judy makes very few.
innumerable = _______________________________
8. He writes to her constantly; however, she rarely answers his letter.
constantly = _________________________________
9. Somsri was happy because she won the scholarship to study in America. Similarly, Siriwan, her
sister, was elated since she had won the music contest in Germany.
elated = _________________________________
5. CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIP: Sometimes writers may use sentences containing
clauses which show causes and effects to help readers
because
since

as
for

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so
hence

therefore
accordingly

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thus
as a result

consequently
that is why

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because of

so that

in order that

in order to

so as to

EXAMPLE:

Suda got drenched during the rainstorm because she left her umbrella at her office.
Little boy had wanted a bicycle very much. Therefore, he was ecstatic when he got it on his
birthday.

EXERCISE 5: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and write the meaning of the
underlined word in the space provided. The meaning you write may be in Thai or in English.
1. These children are very noisy and annoying. That is why Somsri cant put up with them any
longer.
2. Everybody likes to eat in that restaurant because the food is very delectable and cheap.
3. Since Tom always worked very hard and well for the company for a long time, he received a good
testimonial from the manager when he wanted to apply for a new job.
4. The workers demolished those old houses so that a condominium could be built on the site.
5. His friend derided him because of his funny haircut.
6. The accountant clerks are responsible to check for fake signatures, thus they needed to verify all
cheques with the original signature before paying the money.
6. MODIFIER TYPE
Sometimes readers may work out the meaning of unfamiliar words by looking at modifiers. Most
modifiers are clauses or phrases beginning with who, which, that, where, with or without.
Some may be phrases beginning with present participles (V-ing) or past participles (V. III).
Example:

Mr Brown is an anarchist, who thinks that all governments are bad.

Nylon and polyester are synthetic fibers made by man.

EXERCISE 6: Read each of the following sentences. Circle the signal and write the meaning of
the underlined word in the space provided. The meaning you write may be in Thai or in English.
1. Jack was an indolent boy who did not like work of nay kind and who spent most of his time
lying around the house.
2. Gerbils which are monkeylike mammals do not like to be alone; instead, they are happiest
living in pairs or groups.
3. The mandolin, which is a musical instrument that has strings, was probably copied from the
lute.
4. In the tropics which are the hot regions near the equator, there are many thick forests that get
large amounts of rain.
5. Mr Thomson earns his living as a cobbler, who repairs ones shoes.
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