1. Vocabulary in Context
T. C. Norris
Fall 2016

2. Introduction

3. Sometimes in your reading, you may encounter a word you have never heard and, so, have no idea what it means.
This is good! It gives you a chance to develop your vocabulary and strengthen your use of the language.
Learning new words as you read may slow your reading down initially, but it is not difficult if you approach it systematically.
Also, learning new words as you read develops critical thinking skills and enhances your ability to learn.

4. Definitions

5. Kinds of Meaning Denotation Dictionary definition – general sense
Connotation
Contextual definition – specific sense
The dictionary gives a basic sense of a word.
A good dictionary will give alternative meanings, word derivations, and sample sentences.
The context in which a word is used gives shades of meaning that a dictionary might not address.
Determining the meaning of a word within the context you are reading will enable you to understand the text, but you may want to check the dictionary later.

6. Key Terms Vocabulary Context Clues Words
Immediate - The sentence in which a word appears
Extended - The sentences before and after the immediate context, or the whole paragraph
Clues
Indicators in the context that help the reader determine what a word means

7. Principle

8. You may not always have a dictionary handy.
Using a dictionary to look up a word is easy, but it has some drawbacks:
You may not always have a dictionary handy.
A dictionary will give you only a basic meaning.
Defining a word based on how it is used in a sentence gives you a better idea of its range of meaning since context influences meaning.
Dictionary: “Cold” = of a low temperature, not hot
Context: “The way she turned down his invitation was cold!” =
insulting or abusive
Defining a word based on context requires looking for four kinds of clues.

9. Clues

10. Definition Clue – synonym or longer definition
A definition is identified by:
Punctuation
Jane commiserated, or sympathized, with a friend whose dog was lost
Parentheses
Cognition (the study of how people think and learn) attracts many psychology majors as a field of specialization.
Key Words
To harass someone means to annoy him or her repeatedly.
Look for clues to find words that mean the same thing as the word in question.

11. Example Clue – illustration, explanation, analogy
Headaches, minor coughs and colds, and muscular aches and pains illustrate a few of the common ailments that are usually not serious unless they persist.
“ailments” = minor illnesses
Humans have psychological needs such as those for safety, food, and sex.
“psychological needs” = needed to sustain life
Look for specific words that relate to the word in question.

12. Contrast Clue – antonym
Although we first thought that the painting was a forgery, it turned out to be genuine.
“genuine” is the opposite of “forgery” = fake
Drinking water should be clear, but the water coming out of my faucet looks murky.
“clear” is the opposite of “murky” = cloudy, dirty
Look for words that are the opposite of the word in question – if you know what it does not mean, then you know what it does mean.

13. Experience Clue – inference from personal experience
Some carry a rabbit’s foot, but my talisman is a four-leaf clover.
“Rabbit’s foot” and “four-leaf clover” are both good luck charms, so that is what a talisman is.
The bookstore manager was irate when the student demanded a refund for a book that was dirty and filled with marginal notes.
How would you feel? Angry? = irate
Put yourself into the situation and apply what you have learned from experience.

14. Summary

15. General tips
When you encounter an unfamiliar word in your reading, notice how it is used within the context of the sentence or paragraph.
Specifically, look for
Specific definitions/synonyms near the word
Specific examples of the word
Words or ideas that are contrasted with the word
How the context relates to your own experience
The key words that introduce these clues
Use a dictionary to clarify any doubts you may have or to verify your contextual definition.

16. Work Cited
Kanar, Carol. The Reader's Corner. 3rd ed., Houghton Mifflin, 2008, pp