roots 01
TRANSCRIPT
Roots of Language: Foundations of English
Pre-AP English II
Roots of Language
What? You will learn word-parts How? Bi-weekly lessons on roots, prefixes,
or suffixes Why? These word-parts are the essential
parts of words. Knowing them helps you to understand new words.
Word-Parts
Roots
Prefix
Suffix
Could be anywhere in the word Manage, emancipate hand
Beginning of the word Rewind, return, respond again
End of word Bigger, smaller, smarter more
You need…
Roots of language packet Pencil Paper
Directions
Find the root in your packet Write the definition of the root Write an additional example word and its
definition
Auto (Greek)
Definition: Self
Example Word: Autocrat – one person with complete authority
Other examples? Automobile, automatic
Biblio (Greek)
Definition: Book
Example Words: Bibliography – a list of written works used as sources
Other examples? bibliophile
Dic, dict (Latin)
Definition: Speak
Example Words: Dictate - to speak or read for a person to translate
Other examples? Dictionary, diction, edict, predict, contradict
Graph (Greek)
Definition: Write
Example Words: Autograph - a signature written with one’s own hand
Other examples? Graphic, photograph, graphite
Lang, ling (Latin)
Definition: tongue
Example words: linguist - a person skilled in languages
Other words? language, bilingual
Leg, lec, lex (Latin – Legere, Greek – Lexis) Definition: Read, speak
Example Words: Legible = Readable Lecture = A speech delivered for instruction
Other examples? lexicon
Lit (Latin)
Definition: letter
Example Words: literature - writings in which expression and form are essential features
Other examples? Literate, literacy
Man (Latin)
Definition: Hand
Example Word: manuscript - the original text of an author’s work (handwritten or typed)
Other examples? Emancipate, manacles, manager
Mem (Latin)
Definition: Remember
Example Word: Memento = Something that serves as a reminder; souvenir
Other examples? Memory, memorize, memorial
Sci (Latin)
Definition: know
Example Word: omniscient = having complete or unlimited knowledge
Other examples? Conscious, conscience
Scrib, scrip (Latin)
Definition: Write
Example Word: Inscribe = To write, engrave, or print as a lasting record
Other examples? Transcribe, prescribe, prescription, scribble
Read (Germanic – raed)
Definition: counsel, advise, interpret
Example Word: readability = the ease with which a text can be read
Other examples? Reader, read
ETYMOLOGY of the word READ
Etymo = true meaning logos = word The root “read” doesn’t actually
appear in that many English words, but the history (or etymology) of the word is interesting to consider.
ETYMOLOGY of the word READ
In many languages, the word for reading comes from the Latin word legere, which originally had to do with “gathering up” or “collecting” meaning. Consider these words in other languages:
Leer = “to read” in Spanish Lire = “to read” in French Leggere = “to read” in Italian Lesen = “to read” in German
ETYMOLOGY of the word READ
In English, we use words like “legible” and “lexicon,” but when it comes to the act of READING, our word is rooted in the idea of counsel – almost a conversation between the author and the reader.
In addition to “gathering up” details to make sense of letters and words, your job in this class is to INTERPRET meaning.
Done!
Study these words.
You will have a quiz on 9/5.
Want five bonus points? Make flash cards and bring them on quiz day. They must be completed before class.
What will the quiz be like?
You will need to… Know the roots and their definitions Determine the correct definition for a word using
your knowledge of the root Write words that contain the roots and write
definitions for those words