LG 101: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

TOPIC: VOCABULARY BUILDING

AND
DICTIONARY USE SKILLS
By
NDABAKURANE, J .J
Office No. 207 A
! College of Humanities & Social
Sciences
! School of Humanities
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
VOCABULARY BUILDING SKILLS
what is vocabulary?
! Rachman (2012) defines vocabulary
as the entire set of words of a
language or is just the overall system
of words, or the most commonly used
words in a language.
! It is also the items in a language the
speaker and the listener or audience
must know to communicate likes and
dislikes, wishes, ideas, feelings and
intentions effectively.
Vocabulary and Dictionary
— Types of Vocabulary
i) Recognition vocabulary
! It comprises the total stock of words
that you know well and you can
comprehend them in different contexts.
! As long as you can interpret them
correctly when you meet them, they
are part of your recognition vocabulary
even if you cannot define them all.
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
! Such words are so many, and you will
rarely use them in your day to day
speeches or writings.
ii) Functional vocabulary
! This is the stock of words that you
actually use in your own speech or
writing.
! It is in fact, a very small stock as
compared to recognition vocabulary
(perhaps less than a quarter of it).
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
! Ways of recognizing vocabulary
i) Recognition using context and
structure
a) Recognition using context
- Context is the textual environment in
which the word is used or found.
- Usually, textual environment provides
enough indicators regarding the use of the
word in the text.
- Consider the word “park”, for example, it
might be cumbersome for you, but you later
happen to find it in the
sentence
 Vocabulary and Dictionary

“When in the park beware of

dangerous animals”. The context of
the use of the word “park” in the
sentence can enable you to guess the
meaning of the word as it may have
sth to do with the animals area that is,
area of land for keeping wild animals.
- In the absence of the context, learning
or
recognizing the vocabulary is difficult
since the words are not subjected to
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
b) Recognition using structure
! This involves looking at the grammatical
relationships between the word being
recognized and those words around it.
For example, one can tell that the word is a
noun if it is preceded by a determiner (a, the,
an) as in a book, the bus etc. One can also
tell that a word is a verb if it is preceded by
the particle “to” as in to study, to teach, to
learn etc.
! Recognition by structure can also be felt by
understanding grammatical collocation
(occurring together) of certain words.
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Words co-occur or collocate to have natural
grammatical patterns or sound natural.
1. Collocation of content words and
prepositions
Examples: look at, deal with, fond of, angry at
etc.
2. Collocation of content words
Examples: heavy smoker, chain smoker,
chain
store, pretty girl etc.
Context and structure are important in
understanding both written and spoken texts
since it is unlikely to stop the speaker every
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
minute purposely to look up the meaning of
such words from dictionary.
ii) Recognition by word building
! It involves an analysis of how the word was
built up by breaking it into parts to get the
base form.
! In most cases, words are formed by;
-Adding prefixes (word parts which are
added
at the beginning of word base) and suffixes
(word parts which are added at the end of
word base) to form longer words.
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
-Such word formation process is
referred to as affixation.
prefixation
affixation
suffixation
Prefixation
Prefixation is the process of adding affixes
or word parts at the beginning of the word
base.
! Affixes attached to the base are prefixes.
eg. en-rich,
prefix word base
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Prefixes and their meanings
Prefixes indicating number
Prefixe meaning example
s
uni- one unisex, unicellular
bi- two bimonthly, bilingual,
bicycle
di- two dicotyledon
tri- three tricycle, tri-pod, triangle
quadri- four quadruplicate
tetra- four tetrachrolide
pent- five pentagon
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Prefixe meanin example
s g
mono- one monogamy, mono-lingual,
mono-cotyledon, mono-
party
poly- many polygamy, polygon
semi- half semi-circle, semi-final,
semi-trailer
Prefixes showing smallness
micro- small microscope,
microorganism
mini- small minibus, mini supermarket,
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Prefixes indicating space
Prefixes meaning example
pre- before premature, prenatal,
preindependence,
premature, prehistory
etc.
post- after postnatal,
postindependence
re- again rewrite, reappear, redo
sub- under submarine, subway
super- above supermarket, superman
inter- between international,
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Prefixes meaning example
ex- former ex-girlfriend, ex-wife,
ex-president
intra- within Intracommunication,
intranational,
intradepartmental
ex- out exhale, exhaust
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Prefixes indicating negation
Prefixes meaning example
non- not nonsmoker, nonstop,
nonalcoholic
in- not Inactive, inappropriate
anti- against anticorruption, antivirus
counter- opposite counterproductive,
counterargument,
counterexample,
counterattack
dis- not dislike, discontinue
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
un- not unfair, unhappy, uncertainty,
unequal
mis- wrong mislead, misinterpret,
misconduct, misunderstand
mal- wrong, malfunction, malnutrition,
bad maltreat
pseudo false pseudonym, pseudoscience,
- pseudopodia
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Other prefixes and their meanings
em- means put into
eg. empower
de- means reverse action
eg. de-industrialize, de-populate, de-
frost,
de-colonize etc.
un- means reverse action
eg. un-cover, unzip, undo, undress etc.
en- means to cause to be, make into, put
in
eg. enlarge, endanger
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
il and ir- means not
eg. illegal, illegible, illiterate, irregular,
irrelevant
etc.
im- cause to
eg. impregnate
im- means not
eg. impossible, immobile
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Suffixation
Is the process of adding affixes or word
parts at the end of the word base.
! Affixes attached to the base are suffixes.
! Suffixes can either be inflectional or
derivational.
Inflectional suffixes
! Inflectional suffix, when added to the word
produces a different form of the word but
can not alter/change its word class.
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
work (noun) + s works (noun)

word base inflectional suffix

plural marker
-s (plural marker) eg. mangoes,
computers,
books, classes etc.
tense marker
-s (present tense marker) eg. plays, stays,
delays etc
-ing eg. playing, trying, swimming etc.
-ed eg. played, tried, killed etc.
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
comparative marker
-er eg. smaller, quicker, taller etc.
superlative marker
-est eg. smallest, quickest, tallest etc.
Derivational suffix
Derivational suffix, when added to the word
produces not only a different form of the
word but also alters/changes its word class.
beauty (noun) + ify beautify (verb)

word base suffix

 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Suffixes and their meanings
Verb suffixes
suffix meaning examples
-en cause to lengthen, widen,
be, broaden, cheapen,
become sharpen, threaten
-ate cause to activate
be
-ify cause to magnify, beautify,
be simplify, specify
-ize make, give modernize, memorize,
sympathize
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Noun suffixes: Occupational suffixes
suffix meaning example
-ster person engaged gangster
in occupation
-eer person engaged engineer,
in occupation racketeer,
profiteer
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Suffixes showing smallness (diminutive
suffixes) and feminine

suffix meaning example

-let small booklet, piglet
-ette small kitchenette,
cigarette
-ess female waitress,
actress
-ette female usherette
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Status or domain suffixes
suffix meaning example
-hood status boyhood, manhood,
neighbourhood,
childhood, womanhood
-ship status, friendship, dictatorship,
condition relationship
-dom domain, kingdom, chiefdom,
condition stardom, freedom
-ocracy system of democracy,
governmen
t
Vocabulary and Dictionary
place of activity refinery
collectivity machinery
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
other suffixes
suffix meaning example
-ful amount which mouthful,
sth contains handful

Noun/adjective Noun/adjective
suffixes
suffix meaning example
-ite member of a Israelite, socialite
country,
community
-(i)an pertaining to…, Indonesian, republican,
nationality Ethiopian, Tanzanian
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
-ese nationality Japanese, Chinese,
Vietnamese
-ist member of Socialist, violinist,
party, pianist, guitarist
occupation
-ism attitude, idealism, communism,
political socialism, colonialism,
movement Marxism
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Verb noun suffixes
suffix meaning example
-er, - agentive or driver, receiver, killer,
or instrumental worker
-ant agentive or inhabitant, disinfectant,
instrumental accountant
-ee passive, payee, employee,
one who interviewee, examinee
receives sth
-ation state, action exploration, violation,
exploitation
institution organization
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
-ment state, amazement, amusement,
action development
-al action appraisal, refusal, dismissal
-ing activity driving, drinking, killing
result of healing, building, timing,
activity drawing
-age activity, drainage, postage, wastage,
result of stoppage
activity
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Adjective noun suffixes
suffi meaning example
x
-ness state, happiness, kindness,
quality blindness, brightness
-ity
Noun state, sanity, equity,
adjective suffixes stupidity
quality
suffix meaning example
-ful ‘having…, useful, helpful, beautiful,
giving…..’ successful
-less ‘without…’ childless, helpless,
meaningless, sugarless
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
-ly ‘having the cowardly, manly, lovely
qualities of…..’
-like ‘having the childlike
qualities of…..’
-y full of, like, creamy, hairy, sandy,
covered with…. salty, sexy
-ish ‘belonging to…, Turkish, British, Irish,
nationality Welsh
‘having the foolish, childish
character of…’
-ian ‘in the tradition Darwinian
of…..’
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Other adjective suffixes
suffi meaning example
x
-able worth to be readable, communicable,
v-ed negotiable, perishable
-ible be v-ed forcible, convertible,
resistible
-ish somewha youngish, childish,
t…’ boyish
-ed ‘havin pointed, educated,
g…….’ anointed
 Vocabulary and Dictionary
Adverb suffixes
suffix meaning example
-ly ‘in happily, strangely,
a….manner’ awkwardly, slowly, sadly,
communally, sadly,
-ward(s) manner, backward, north-
direction eastwards, eastward

-wise ‘in the crabwise,

manner
of…’
‘as far as...is weather-wise, health-wise,
concerned education-wise
 DICTIONARY REFERENCE
DICTIONARY USE SKILLS
! Dictionary refers to a book that contains a
list of words and their meanings.
! It is also a reference book or a list of words
(which are usually in alphabetical order)
together with a guide to their meanings,
pronunciation, spelling or their equivalence
in other languages.
! Such list of words is arranged
alphabetically.
! Dictionaries are written using the practice
or approach referred to as lexicography.
 Dictionary Use
! Lexicography is therefore a scientific
study of dictionary and dictionary use.
! It involves gathering, describing and
compilation of list of words.
! Lexicographer is a person who writes
and edits a dictionary.
 Dictionary Use
Dictionary Typology
! It is very difficult to classify dictionaries
unless one defines the approach used in
reaching such classification.
! Approaches in classifying dictionaries
1. Size of the dictionary
i) unabridged dictionaries
These are huge dictionaries with a
massive
number of vocabulary. Such
dictionaries
are normally put on a table.
ii) abridged dictionaries
These are a little bit big dictionaries
 Dictionary Use
compared to small dictionaries.
iii) compact dictionaries
iv) pocket dictionaries
v) mini dictionaries
2. The number of languages used in
compiling a
dictionary.
i) monolingual
ii) bilingual
iii) multilingual
3. The age of the users
i) children dictionaries
 Dictionary Use
Such dictionaries are usually accompanied
by coloured pictures and have large font
sized words.
ii) School dictionaries
These are written in different subjects.
iii) adult dictionaries
These are organized in different contents
with
regard to the needs of the readers.
4. Scope of the dictionary
i) synonymous dictionaries
ii) slang dictionaries
 Dictionary Use
iii) Technical dictionaries
These are specialized dictionaries according
to a certain discipline. Eg. Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Geography, Economics
dictionaries etc.
iv) Etymological dictionaries
v) Religious dictionaries
! Note: It is very difficult to categorize
dictionaries, unless one defines the
approach he/she uses to classify
dictionaries.
 Dictionary Use
The Role of Dictionary in Improving
Language Proficiency
Grammar
! A dictionary helps an individual to know the
category of words/parts of speech and how
they can be used in constructions such as
phrases and sentences.
Vocabularies
! A dictionary together with other means like
reading, will enrich the reader’s brain with
enough vocabularies hence a reader will be
flexible and at ease when using the
language.
 Dictionary Use
Spelling
! The dictionary helps its reader to know the
correct spellings for words by opening the pages
of a dictionary to learn how the native speakers
spell the words.
Meaning
! The dictionary will show its readers if a word has
idiomatic meaning, cultural meaning or a
formal/normal meaning. Eg. cat – animal(formal
meaning) and secret (idiomatic meaning). Refer
the idiom “Do not let a cat out of the basket”. To
mean, do not reveal the secret.
Pronunciation
! The dictionary offers the sounds and different
 Dictionary Use
word pronunciations to help its user to
correctly pronounce the words like the
native speaker of English.
Information in a Dictionary
! A good learner’s dictionary should provide
the user with the following information or
entries:
1. Lexical entry or headwords
These are words which are printed in bold
and are listed in alphabetical order with
their
meanings and pronunciations.
Note: Entry refers to words listed in the
dictionary and any information printed in
the dictionary.
2. Spellings or orthography
Accepted spellings of the words are given
 Information in a Dictionary
both British and American dialects.
Eg. BrE: Labour AmE: Labor
3. Pronunciation
A good dictionary shows how words are
pronounced and stressed, including
differences in pronunciation btn BrE and AmE.
It is normally presented in the slanting lines
soon after head word. Eg. bird/bɜ:d/,
abbreviations /ǝbriviˈeɪʃnz/
4. Syllable division
Lexical entries with more than one syllable
are split into syllables to show parts of words
to be pronounced but also to mark where a
 Information in a Dictionary
eg. in-vi-ta-tion/ɪn-vɪ-teɪ-ʃn/ (4 syllables)
5. Word class
A good dictionary will indicate whether a word
is a noun, adjective, article, pronoun, verb,
adverb, preposition, interjection or
conjunction.
eg. bird/bɜ:d/ noun
6. Meaning
Since most of the words have more than
one meaning, a good dictionary will show a
full range of meanings using numbers for
each head word.
 Information in a Dictionary
7. Word usage
A good dictionary will show how the
word is used ie. whether it is used as
a slang, literally, colloquial, taboo,
euphemism etc. eg. fart (slang, taboo)
 Information in a Dictionary
8. Idioms
These are group of words whose meanings can
not be obtained by looking at individual words
alone. Eg. “Do not let a cat out of the basket
“ which means “Do not reveal a secret”. They
are usually made up of a verb followed by a
noun phrase. These have special entries after
the meanings of a head word.
9. Phrasal verbs
These are usually made up of a verb followed
by either an adverb or preposition. Such verbs
act as normal verbs but have special meanings
 Information in a Dictionary
different from meanings of individual verbs.
9. Cross-reference
A good dictionary will refer the user to other
place(s) where he/she can access the
information on the same word. Such
references are introduced by indicators like
compare…. abbreviated as cf. or ‘see also’.
10. synonyms
Wo r d s w i t h s i m i l a r o r c l o s e l y r e l a t e d
meanings (synonyms) eg. large/big are
clearly listed.
11. antonyms
Words with opposite meanings (antonyms) eg.
 Information in a Dictionary
black/white are clearly listed.
12. homographs
Words with the same spelling but different in
meaning and pronunciation are clearly listed.
Eg. export and export.
13. abbreviations and acronyms
14. Dummy entry
When words in past tense, plural etc. are
used in a dictionary different from headword.
took pt of TAKE
mice pl of MOUSE
 Information in a Dictionary
15. Etymology
16. Guide words
17. Examples
 Symbols
1. small box indicates the start of derivative
section.

2. The tilde ˜ is used in the place of the head

word.
3. The slanting mark (/) is used to show
alternatives.
4. The slanting lines / / are used to show
pronunciation.
5. The brackets ( ) are used to show optional
words or phrases.
 Symbols
6. cross-reference mark guides the
user from one part of the dictionary to
another. It means look under.
7. (–ier and –iest) indicate comparatives and
superlatives respectively.

̍
8. / …. …../ indicates stress eg. indent/In-

̍dent/
9. Indicates a taboo word or
expression
10. c Countable noun
 Symbols
11. u uncountable noun

12. c, u countable and uncountable

noun
13. IDM idiom/idiomatic expression