LESSONS
Increase Vocabulary Through Elaboration
Vocabulary words are the building blocks of language, and therefore tips on increasing vocabulary are a staple part of many language and communications textbooks. Vocabulary is essential to learning in any field. If you do not have an adequate vocabulary, you might find it hard to locate information in a reference book or understand the contents of a document.
If your vocabulary skills are below average, don't wait any longer to improve it. On way to increase vocabulary is with the technique of elaboration. According to studies, elaboration can increase your ability to recall words and use them correctly by up to 670%.
What Exactly Is Elaboration And How Can It Increase Vocabulary?
Elaboration is a process or a method of linking words into understandable, relevant information segments as soon as you learn them. For instance, if you come across the word "globalize" and are unfamiliar with the word, you'll go to your dictionary to find out its meaning. In the dictionary, you'll find that the word refers to a process of making something become international, or to something that is adopted or used in various parts of the world. Many students confuse "globalize" with "localize" because of the similar-sounding ending, even though the words are opposite in meaning.
To be able to quickly learn the correct meaning of this word, you have to associate it with other information. In other words, you have to elaborate on its meaning. Take the root word "global." to start with. This word can be associated with "globe". If you look at the globe, you'll see all of the countries and cities in detail. With that image in your mind, saying the word "globalize" will quickly connect the meaning of the word as you visualize something appearing in all of those different locations.
Elaboration increases your ability to memorize words and use them in your daily conversation, because the linked information means that connections to the word will be triggered, and your brain will automatically retrieve the target word. The more information you connect to a word, the more links you will form, and the easier it will be for your brain to retrieve it. Links can be created by the appearance of the word, the visual image you associate with it, the way the word is pronounced, and its definition, as well as how it is used in context.
How To Increase Vocabulary Through Elaboration
The process of elaboration is actually quite simple. Try linking the words you want to learn into familiar concepts such as world events, something you have learned in the past, current events, or personal experiences.
You can also check out the synonyms of the words. Synonyms are a great way to describe the word further. The word "agitated" can also mean "overly excited", "nervous" or "restless". The word "passive" can also mean "unresponsive" or "cold". Refer to the thesaurus part of your dictionary (or to a print or online thesaurus) to get the synonyms of the word. While the synonyms each have minute differences, or nuances, from the word you are linking, they can still give you a general idea of the meaning of the word.
Antonyms (the words that are directly opposite in meaning) can also be helpful tools. You can double or triple your word bank just by learning the antonyms of the words along with the synonyms. If check the antonym of "passive", you can come up with a myriad of other words such as "responsive" or "proactive".
Use all the materials you find, and you'll discover many tools to make your vocabulary study easier.
NEXT LESSON: Repetition Is The Key To Word Building