UNIT 5

GUESSING MEANINGS OF
UNKNOWN WORDS
Objectives:
to
guess
the
meaning
of
unknown words from context
to find the meaning of a word by
using a dictionary

1. Guessing meaning from context /

context clues
a. Guessing meaning from context clues /
structural clues
b. Guessing meaning from synonyms &
antonyms
c. Guessing meaning from prefixes,
suffixes, word stems

A context is a sentence, paragraph, or longer unit of writing

that surrounds a word. The context sometimes provides
structural clues.
For example:

A definition: be, that is, etc.

e.g. Graphology is the study and analysis of handwriting for
the purpose of interpreting character and personality.

Punctuations: comma, dashes (-), brackets, quotation

marks.
e.g. Natural medicine became hugely popular, especially
acupuncture (an ancient Chinese method of anesthetizing
by sticking pins into points in the nervous system).

Words showing similarities: in other words, for example,

etc,
e.g. Many prominent universities, such as IPB and ITB can
produce qualified human resources.

Appositives, or more explanation, examples , etc.

e.g. In a remarkable documentary, Wings of Hope, German
Director Werner Herzog recounts the true story of an
eighteen year old girl.

Sample passage
(using context clues or structural
clues)

Two Italian psychologists, Vincenzo Marte

and Giovanni Notarnicola, describe the
traditional spontaneous practice of sport by
children climbing trees, riding a bicycle
along quiet roads, racing their friends across
the field as an activity of freedom, a
special activity of discovery and learning. In
the case of free sporting activity, the childs
time is given up entirely to the activity, as
can be seen in the endless games of football
young children play, which may then be
followed by bicycle races and/or a swim in
the river, for example.

Sample passage
(using synonyms or antonyms)
A first reason for the imbalance in the practice of
sport by children is therefore, linked to the urban
society we live in today. We need not regret the past;
it is rather a question of knowing how to recreate this
freedom in our towns and in the country, where sport
is increasingly based on organized leisure activities.
Doing one sport is now the rule in clubs. Sports
grounds are often on the outskirts of cities, and are
overcrowded and invariably enclosed, while
recreational areas, such as parks or hard-parked
surfaces, are very few and far between. How can we
find the balance of a varied and spontaneous
relationship to sport under such conditions?

Sample passage
(using prefixes, suffixes, word stems)
For example, report is formed from re, which means
back, and port which means carry. Scientist is
derived from sci, which means know, and ist, which
means one who. Port and sci are called stems. A
stem is the basic part on which groups of related
words are built. Re and ist are called affixes, that is
word parts which are attached to stems. Affixes like
re, which are attached to the beginning of stems are
called prefixes. Affixes attached to the end, like ist,
are called suffixes.

2. Finding the meaning of a word based on the

part of speech and a dictionary
2.1. The Part of Speech
1. He tried to answer the question. (verb)
2.

It is difficult to find an answer to the

problem. (noun)
Verb

Noun

Cause
Change
Dream
Drink
Edge
Glow
Mark

Cause
Change
Dream
Drink
Edge
Glow
Mark

Exercise:
Identify the part of speech of each word in
purple, and then write the related words.
An undergraduate student of this university
who has senior status and is within ten
credit hours of completing all requirements
for graduation may register for graduate
work with the recommendation of the
chairperson of the department and the
approval of the Dean of the Graduate
School.

2. 2. Using the Dictionary

A dictionary will tell you the part of speech a
word can be, usually with these abbreviations:
n.
= noun,
v.
= verb,
adj. = adjective,
adv. = adverb,
pre. = preposition,
conj. = conjunction.

Exercise
Read this dictionary entry and answer the questions
about it.

coach /kut/ n 1. teacher esp one who gives

private lessons to prepare students for a public
examination; 2. person who trains athletes for
contests: a baseball ~. vt, vi teach or train: ~ sb for
an exam; ~ the crew for the boat race.
Questions
1. How many parts of speech does the word coach have?
2. Which definition (noun or verb) of coach means a person who trains
athletes?
3. As a noun how many meanings does the word coach have?
4. What is the other definition of the word?

Now !
Go to your book for further
exercises