Roots of Language:
Foundations of English
English 2
Roots of Language
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What? You will learn word-parts
How? 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
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Roots
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Prefix
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Suffix
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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…
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RAW Book – Roots Section
Pencil
Directions
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Take notes!
Write the definition of the root
Write 2 example words
PreAP: you must learn the SAT / ACT
Challenge Words.
Auto (Greek)
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Definition: Self
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Example Word: Autocrat – one person with
complete authority
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Other examples?
Automobile, automatic
Biblio (Greek)
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Definition: Book
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Example Words: Bibliography – a list of
written works used as sources
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Other examples?
bibliophile
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Dic, dict (Latin)
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Definition: Speak
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Example Words: Dictate - to speak or read for a person
to translate
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Other examples?
Dictionary, diction, edict, predict, contradict
SAT / ACT Challenge Word: dictum (noun) 1) an
announcement from an authoritative source 2) a
statement that expresses a general truth or principle
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Graph (Greek)
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Definition: Write
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Example Words: Autograph - a signature
written with one’s own hand
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Other examples?
Graphic, photograph, graphite
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Lang, ling (Latin)
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Definition: tongue
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Example words: linguist - a person skilled in
languages
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Other words?
language, bilingual
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Leg, lec, lex
(Latin – Legere, Greek – Lexis)
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Definition: Read, speak
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Example Words:
Legible = Readable
Lecture = A speech delivered for instruction
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Other examples?
lexicon
Lit (Latin)
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Definition: letter
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Example Words: literature - writings in which
expression and form are essential features
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Other examples?
Literate, literacy
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Man (Latin)
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Definition: Hand
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Example Word: manuscript - the original text of
an author’s work (handwritten or typed)
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Other examples?
manacles, manager
SAT/ACT Challenge Word: emancipate (verb)
to free from restraint, control, or power of
another
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Mem (Latin)
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Definition: Remember
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Example Word: Memento = Something that
serves as a reminder; souvenir
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Other examples?
Memory, memorize, memorial
SAT/ACT Challenge Word: immemorial (adj)
old or ancient; from a time so long ago it cannot
be remembered
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Sci (Latin)
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Definition: know
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Example Word: omniscient = having complete
or unlimited knowledge
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Other examples?
Conscious, conscience
SAT/ACT Challenge Word: omniscient (adj)
all-knowing; having unlimited understanding
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Scrib, scrip (Latin)
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Definition: Write
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Example Word: Inscribe = To write, engrave, or
print as a lasting record
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Other examples?
Transcribe, prescribe, prescription, scribble
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SAT / ACT Challenge Word: ascribe (verb) to
attribute to a source, cause, or author
Read (Germanic – raed)
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Definition: counsel, advise, interpret
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Example Word: readability = the ease with
which a text can be read
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Other examples?
Reader, read
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ETYMOLOGY of the word READ
Etymo = true meaning
 logos = word
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appear in that many English words,
but the history (or etymology) of the
word is interesting to consider.
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ETYMOLOGY of the word READ
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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
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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!
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Study these words.
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You will have a quiz 9/18A, 19B.
The quiz is a Level 1 grade.
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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?
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You will need to…
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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