Are you always wrestling with the problem of "how to say something"? Most
of us are. This problem NEED NOT EXIST yet it so often does.
The crux of the difficulty lies in a simple deficiency that most of us have.
It is the lack of a precise and powerful vocabulary - words at your fingertips
- to express any and every idea we have.
Building a vocabulary is not easy. But it is THE ONLY WAY TO SUCCESS IN EXPRESSING
YOURSELF. There is a way to acquire a more effective vocabulary. It requires no
money and is priceless. The only price is YOUR APPLICATION of five definite laws
of vocabulary building.
Here they are listed for you:
Be Word Conscious
THE HABIT of building your vocabulary comes after a CONSCIOUS DESIRE to improve
it. Squeeze every ounce of learning from the heaps of waking time. Become a continuos
question box. Ask yourself—when you read— what NEW WORD, what BETTER EXPRESSION
CAN I learn NOW, that I can USE LATER?
Make vocabulary building fascinating, captivating, and rewarding. Read about
the history of words. Give words life—personality. Carry a list of words with
you to memorize during spare moments.
Read Widely
EXPAND YOUR READING HORIZONS! Subscribe to a news magazine. Peruse Reader's
Digest. Browse through Science Digest. Occasionally take time to read
about such subjects as economics, world affairs, medicine, geology, carpentry,
architecture, art, farming, or ranching. This will depend on your interest and
time.
As you read, cultivate the habit of SPOTTING NEW WORDS IN YOUR READING and
listening. Guess at the meanings of new words IN THE CONTEXT of the book or speech.
Words you never knew existed will stand out like an elephant at a fashion show.
Strive to build a RICHER vocabulary—and your life will be greatly enriched!
Remember, you may have a million-dollar idea—but penny-powered words will not
convince anyone.
Get The Dictionary Habit
Buy yourself a dictionary - we suggest a copy of Webster's New Collegiate
Dictionary. Then look up new words you come upon AT THE TIME YOU COME UPON
THEM!
Follow this procedure in looking up a new word. Take the word "precocious"
as an example:
pre-co'cious,/B> (~shus), adj. [L. praecox., ~ocis. fr. praecoquere
to cook or ripen beforehand. Fr. prae- + coquere to cook.] 1. Exceptionally
early In development, esp. mentally; forward; — chiefly of children.
2. Of, pert. to, or suggesting precosity. - pre~co'cious~ly, adv. - pre.co'cious~ness,
pre~coc'i~ty (-kos'i~ti), n.
FIRST, check the proper PRONUNCIATION—practice until it is sunshine
clear! The part in parenthesis (-shus) for preco (shus) gives the phonetic equivalent.
SECONDLY, the dictionary places the original derivation of the word in brackets,
(prae + coquere = to cook beforehand). Here you find the prefixes, suffixes and
roots.
THIRDLY, learn the definition of the word. Precocious means "having early
mental development."
FINALLY, use the new word in a sentence: "James, a very PRECOCIOUS individual,
learned to speak French at age five."
Use The Word
WHAT YOU DON'T USE YOU LOSE! When you take in these new words—you must
give them out in conversation, writing, and SPEAKING!!
USE NEW WORDS you are learning. Force yourself to use APPROPRIATELY the new
words during the week and also in class situations.
Set A Goal For Yourself
Set a goal of learning ONE new word per day. Force yourself to use these words
in conversation at home and at work. Take the opportunity to write and incorporate
new words into your articles, reports, etc.
Increase your VERB vocabulary. Verbs are the powerhouses of language—they
make your speech flow. Notice this change in verbs. Weak: The car went over the
curb and came at him. Now with power-packed verbs: The car hurdled the curb and
roared toward him. A powerful verb rockets your speech to life!
Acquire NOUNS and ADJECTIVES that are picturesque and colorful. Root out generalities
such as: great, nice, fine, and big. Demand a clear verbal photograph!
But remember! A huge, ponderous vocabulary is NOT what you want. Don't build
a vocabulary as an end in itself. Learn common, easily understandable but powerful
and picturesque words words you CAN USE!
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