Language Arts Lesson 1
Word Analysis, Fluency and Vocabulary Development

Instruction 1-2

Word Origins | Context Clues | Multiple Meanings of Words | Figurative and Metaphorical Use of Words | Summary

Pre-Test
Q&A	Discovering Language Arts: Reading

In our last Instruction, we told you a little about where words come from. Now, we'll tell you how to figure out the meaning of an unknown word without looking it up in the dictionary. All you have to do is look for clues in the sentence or paragraph around it. Those clues are called context clues because they help you figure out a word's meaning by examining it in context. Many writers deliberately surround a difficult word with context clues in order to help you build your vocabulary.

There are four different kinds of context clues: example clues, definition clues, contrast clues and "sense of the sentence" clues.

Example clues are probably the easiest, since writers often use them to clarify a word's meaning. Look for words or phrases like such as or consists of or including. If you have never encountered the word decorum, for example, see if you can figure it out from this sentence. "When you go to church, you should show your best decorum, such as dressing carefully, staying awake and saying hello to the preacher." Did you figure out that decorum means "polite behavior?" Or what about the word remunerated in this context? "Chef Michael was well remunerated for his delicious recipes. For example, he received $10,000 for his Minestrone Soup and $5,000 for his Oregano Garlic Bread." Remunerated means paid.

When giving a definition clue, a writer often equates an unknown word with one that is familiar to you. In fact, he or she may actually define the word or give you a synonym for it. Here are two examples of definition clues. "Etymology, which is the study of the origin of words, is an important part of the English curriculum." Or "Isaac rose to the challenge with alacrity: quickly, intelligently and enthusiastically."

Contrast clues, on the other hand, can help you learn what a word is by telling you what it is not. After reading the following sentence, do you think that Latiyfa and Albert are plump or thin? "Unlike the rest of their reed-slim family, Latiyfa was voluptuous and Albert tended to be avoirdupois." Or, after reading this sentence, what do you think obsequious means? "Unlike cats, who expect their owners to please them, dogs can seem obsequious, almost too eager to please." That last sentence combines a contrast clue with a definition clue. Did you figure out that obsequious means "servile and fawning?" If you don't know what servile and fawning mean, look them up in the dictionary.

Sometimes you can tell what a word means by getting the "feel" of the entire sentence. This is called a sense-of-the-sentence clue. For example, what do you think the word accolades means in this sentence? "The Rolling Stones are used to accolades -- critics have been praising them for years and fans go crazy at their concerts." An accolade means an expression of praise. Or take this sentence, "Despite the warnings, Karen went into the ocean and got caught in a riptide." What does despite mean? Well, since a riptide is a dangerous thing, the warnings must have been against going into the ocean. The answer is against. Or this sentence, "The beautiful plants thrive on sunlight." If the plants are beautiful, thrive must not mean "wither away" or "die." It means "grow rapidly."

The more you read, the more you'll learn to pick up on context clues. And the more words you'll learn. By age 10, most children know over 30,000 words. You probably know far more than that. And since you can never know enough words, you should never stop reading -- and learning.

For more information on context clues, click on any of the following

for Students, Parents and Teachers

Now let's do Practice Exercise 1-2 (top).

Next Page:  Multiple Meanings of Words (top)