Word Parts
During the Greek and Roman Empires human knowledge expanded greatly. Things and ideas were discovered,
and words were assigned to represent them. Portions (parts) of these terms remain in today's languages. The English
language is no exception. These Greek and Latin (Roman) word parts come in three forms: prefix, root or base, and suffix.
Our English vocabulary contains word parts from other ancient cultures too, but the most common types come to us from
the Greeks and Romans.
One can increase word knowledge by studying a word at a time out of the dictionary. This is a very slow process,
and the words learned will probably not become part of long-term memory. A far more efficient method is to learn word
parts. When you learn just one word part, that will help you understand many words. By concentrating on understanding
word parts, one harnesses this 'multiplier' effect. For example, student 'a' could study ten new words from the dictionary.
Student 'b' could study ten new word parts. The results are: student 'a' if familiar with ten words; however, student 'b' is
familiar with hundreds!
Let's build some words using word parts. You are probably familiar with the root/base: -view- (meaning to see,
examine, or inspect). You may also be familiar with the prefix: pre- (meaning before, prior, or beginning). If we attach the
prefix to the front of the root/base, we have a new word: preview (meaning to see or examine prior to or before others view
it). In a sentence it might appear as: "My friend and I were able to preview the new movie before it started showing at the
local cinema."
We can make another new word by attaching the suffix: -er (meaning one who). Using the three word parts, we
have our new term: pre-view-er (meaning the person who examines something before others have an opportunity to see it).
In text it might look like: "Each previewer of the scientific experiment was asked how the results should be released to the
general public."
As a child you may have played with toys that contained many pieces which could then be rearranged
(transformed) into completely new objects. This is very similar to the way word parts are used to 'make' new words. When
you place the prefix 'dis-' onto a word, it changes it dramatically. The same is true when the suffix '-tion' is connected to the
end of a term.
Actually there is a profession that deals directly with this reading and writing skill. The professional is called and
etymologist. This individual is an expert in the study and research of word parts and how languages originated and evolved
over time. Most of these intellectuals are employed with dictionary publishing companies. Unabridged dictionaries will have
etymological information listed for many of the word entries.
Still Not Sure Yet ?
Assume that you are still not convinced of the great benefit of word part knowledge. Maybe this will persuade you:
You are taking a reading examine and one of the vocabulary questions asks for 'the best definition of the term as used in
the previous passage.' The word is 'submarine', and it is totally new to you. The test sentence reads: "Everyone inside the
submarine was fearful of the enemy destroyer passing overhead." The multiple-choice question has four possible answers:
a) sailing ship b) ocean cruiser c) underwater craft d) water skier.
This is how word part knowledge will help you define it. You know that its prefix 'sub-' means below, beneath, or
under. Your word part understanding also informs you that the root/base '-marine' has something to do with water, sea,
aquatic, or ocean. Putting the word part knowledge together, you end up with something like: below the water, or beneath
the sea. This will be sufficient understanding to mark the right response (c) on the exam question!
It would be a lot simpler if there were only one word part for each meaning, but it isn't that easy. You just have to
learn the different versions of the same meaning. For example, students would be helped if the meaning for 'not' were
always 'non-', such as nonnegotiable (meaning not negotiable - as in: "The company's settlement proposal was
nonnegotiable.") Unfortunately, there are many prefixes which also mean 'not' or 'negative', such as:
un- unlikely
dis- dislike
contra- contraindicated
a- atypical
mis- misappropriate
anti- anticapitalist
il- illogical
im- imperfect
in- incorrect
ir- irreverent
By learning a few dozen word parts, your understanding of English vocabulary will improve by the thousands!