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Vocabulary: Etymology and the evolution of language

Myths, Science, Languages and Other Stories

The Tower of Babel by Marten van Valckenborch (c. 1600)

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What is Language?

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Evolution of Language: The case of Hieroglyphs Language evolved from simple

concept-words to complex alphabets.

Phoenician Alphabet 11-15th century B.C.

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Evolution of language

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Evolution of language

Famous theorists:PinkerDarwinChomsky

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Evolution of Language: ScriptsIs this Urdu?

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The Evolution of English

Ye Olde English

Roman

Greek

American European International

Standardized Test English

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Etymology:What is it good for?

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Etymology:The longest word at 36 letters is:

(Noun) Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Pronounced: hippo-poto-mon-stroses-quiped-alio-phobia

Word Roots: Hippopoto- (Greek) monstro- (latin) sesqui- (latin) pedalio- (latin) phobia (greek)

Meaning: Large-Monstrous-Foot and a half long-Fear ….. Of words (Logos – Greek).

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Etymology:

Monstrous-words-phobia, is a legitimate disorder.

Symptoms Causes Treatment 1. Anxiety

2. Rapid Heart Rate

3. Loss of Breath4. Nausea5. Dry Mouth6. Clammy

Hands7. Trembling

1. Past Trauma2. Environment3. Heredity

1. Therapy2. Medication3. Will power

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Etymologya/c/d

to, toward, near Latin accelerate - to increase the speed of; accessible - easily entered, approached, or obtained; admittance - allowing into;

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Etymology

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Sentence Completion Practice SetsKaplan Set 1ReviewKaplan Set 2

Links: http://www.learnthat.org/pages/view/roots.html

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Etymology part 2Tips for sentence completion

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Word rootsRoot Meaning Example

a, an without, not asexual, amoral, anarchy, anhydrous, Anabaptist, anachronism

ab, abs, a apart, away from

abnormal, abduct, abductor (muscle), abscission

ad toward adhere, adductor (muscle) adumbrate

agere act agent, agency, agenda

amphi, ambi

round, both sides

amphitheater, amphibian, ambidextrous, ambivalent

ante before antedate, anteroom, antecedent, anterior

anthro man anthropology, anthropomorphic

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Word rootsanti against antipathy, antitank,

anticlimax

aqua water aquarium, aqueous, aqueduct

archaios ancient archeology, archetype, archaic, archeozoic

archos leader, first, chief

monarchy, oligarchy, anarchy, archetype, architect

audio hear audiophile, audiometer, auditory

auto self automatic, automaton, auto-immune

bi two bi-partisan, bisexual, biennial, binary, bicuspid, bivalve

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Word Rootsbene well,

favorablebenefit, benevolent, benefactor, beneficent

bible book bibliography, Bible, bibliophile

bio life biology, biography, bio-active

caco Bad cacophony

cide kill homicide, parricide, germicidal, ecocide

circum around circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate

constitutus stand constitution, statute

corpus body corpse, corporal punishment, corporeal, corpus callosum

cracy rule democracy, theocrat, technocracy

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Practice1 set of SC.Review

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Word Rootscredo belief credit, creed, credo, incredulous

demos people democracy, demographic

di two, double

dimorphism, -, diatomic

dia across, through

diagonal, dialectic, dialogue, diagnosis

dis not, apart disperse, disinherit, disenfranchise, distend

dominus lord dominant, dominion

dynasthai

be able dynamic, dynamo, dynasty, dynamite

ego I, self ego, egomaniac, egocentric,

epi upon, over epidermis, epidemic, epigram, epitaph, epithet, epiphyte, epistasis, epinephrine, epiphysis

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Word Rootsex out exotic, exterior, extraneous,

extemporaneous, exophalmic, exogenous, exothermic, exoskeleton

federis league, pact federation, confederate

frater brother fraternize, fraternity, fraternal, fratricide

geo earth geology, geography, geocentric, geomancy

graph write, record graphic, graphite, graphology,

hetero mixed, unlike

heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox, heterodont, hetero atom, heterocyclic, heterozygous,

homo same, alike homogeneous, homogenized, homozygous, homolytic fission, Homo sapiens, homonid, homeostasis

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Word Rootsidem the same identity, idiopathic, I, individual

ideo idea ideology, ideation, ideal

idios one's own

idiom, idiosyncrasy, idiopathic

in in incarcerate, incorporate, inculcate, induction, inductance, indigenous, indicator, inspiration

in, im not incredible, ignoble, inglorious, inhospitable, infinite, infinitesimal, immoral

inter between interact, interstellar, interpret, interstitial

legis (lex)

law legal, legislature

lexis word lexicon, lexicography

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Practice1 set SCReview

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Word Rootsliber free, book liberty, library, liberal

Loco/locu Place locality, local, circumlocution

Loqu/loqui & loc Speak Loquaciousness, interlocutor, circumlocution

macro large macroeconomics, macroscopic, macrophage

mania obsession maniac, Beatlemania

meter measure metronome, speedometer, odometer

micro small microscope, micron, micrometer, microorganism

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Word Roots

mittere, mitto send mission, transmit, remit

mono one, single monocle, monopoly, monogamy, monovalent, monomania, monarchy

mortis death mortician, mortuary, moribund, morbid

Nomen/nym name noble, ignominy, synonym, nomenclature, nominal.

olig few oligarchy, oligopoly

pater father paternal, paternity, patricide

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Word Roots

Ped/pedo foot pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, podiatrist

peri around peripatetic, periscope, perineum, peritoneum

phage eat phagocyte, phagocytosis, aerophagia, alliaphage

philo love philosophy, philanthropy

phobos phobia Agoraphobia

phon sound Phonetics, phonics, sym-phon-y

polein sell monopoly

polis City political, metropolitan

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Practice1 set SCReview

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Word Rootspoly many polygamy, polyphonic, hoi

polloi, polyglot, polygon, polyandry

porto carry porter, export, import, apportion, davenport, deported, proportion

post after post script (p.s.), ex post facto, post hoc, post-mortem

pre before premier, preview, premium, prescient

pro before, in favor of

project, projectile, prototype

psyche mind, soul Psychology, psychiatry, psychadelic

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Word Roots

publicus people public, republic, pub, publican

Riparia/riviera river Riparian, arrive, rivak

scope examine microscope, oscilloscope

scribo write transcribe, scribe, script

solus alone solo, solitary

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Word Roots

subter under, secret

subterfuge, subtle, subaltern, subterranean

sin (sys before b, p, or m)

together, with

synchronize, symbiotic, symphony, sympathy, syncretic, syncope

tele distance telegraph, telephone, teleology

trans across transport, transcend, transmogrify

utilis useful utility, utilitarian

vide, visibil, vis see video, vision, visible

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Word RootsThe end