VOCABULARY
one's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die - Evelyn Waugh
What is a vocabulary?
Your boss has a better vocabulary than you, isn't it?
Words are the building blocks of both written and oral communication. A good speaker or a writer will be able to choose the right words for an appropriate context, this enhances the effectiveness of communication. The chosen words should be compact and to the point. Rich vocabulary is a must for the people who prefer top positions. Vocabulary is not inherent, one has to toil to acquire this gift. If you have passion for new words, half the battle is won. A good vocabulary includes idioms and phrases, journalistic, scientific, political, business terms etc. The attributes of a good vocabulary are :
Using correct words with correct meanings in a grammatically correct way.
Recalling the appropriate word/words in particular situation.
Understanding the context where a particular word is used.
Pronouncing a word properly.
Spelling the words correctly.
Knowing the alternate words (having the same meaning).
Knowing if a particular word has positive or negative effect.
Knowing which other words can be used with a particular word.
How to improve one's vocabulary?
1.Use a good dictionary. (I recommend Oxford Advance learner’s). Go through all entries of a word.
2. Mark words in a dictionary that you have referred.
3. Read news paper like Guardian or NY times or The Hindu (For India). The news papers refresh us with the current or dynamic vocabulary, unlike books where the terms remain static. The events that shape the world generate new terms and give new meaning to old terms, no doubt films and writers too contribute a lot in this area. The word mouse elevated to the desk top and word bear (bearish) was relegated to the down trend ( In Stock)
4. Watch any good English TV News channel (Don't miss interviews)
5. Always maintain a small pocket note to note down words and their usage (Which you might come across).
NEWS AND NEWS PAPER SKILL:
Following news on radio,TV, Internet and news paper needs extraordinary skill. Listening comprehension and keen observation are attributes of this skill. It will take minimum of one year for a person to acquire this skill, because it requires continuous following of events( I mean the present generation is hardly aware of the words like cold war or SALT). TV news and news papers are the greatest sources of dynamic vocabulary.
COLLOCATION
Collocation is the way words combine in a language to convey something. No sentence in spoken or written English is free from collocation. Let’s see collocation of ‘accept’, ‘ acceptance’ , acceptable – Oxford collocation dictionary
e.g. Accept
Accept (Verb)
Joe willingly/gladly/gratefully/graciously/reluctantly accepted the job offer.
He accepted the money from his friend.
He readily accepted the responsibility.
It is commonly/Universally accepted belief – Phrase
Acceptable (Adjective)
The New law is fully acceptable ( other nearly equals of ‘fully’ is completely,entirely,perfectly,totally)
The new proposal is fairly/reasonably acceptable.
Acceptable also collocates with universally, widely, mutually,readily, politically,socially, morally ethically, morally, environmentally etc.
Acceptance (Noun)
The new product won complete/full/unconditional/wholehearted/gradual/greater acceptance.
Many countries are against the universal acceptance of live-in-relationship.
Acceptance also collocates with wide, widespread, blind, voluntary, ready, formal, official, social etc.
FAULTY ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS
FAULTY ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS
One must be careful while composing a sentence. Faulty arrangement of words would cost one dearly, some times this results in worsening of diplomatic relations between two countries. watch out this sentence
David thought of marrying Shane several times, what a nonsense? How could a person marry the same girl several times. The correct order of words is David thought several times of marrying Shane.
APPEAR SAME BUT DIFFER IN MEANING
compliment and complement
Compliment is an admiration approval greeting or praise
We label the gifts with ‘with the best compliment from…….’
Complement is a grammatical term In the sentence she is a teacher. ‘ teacher ‘ is complement
‘zebra crossing’ ‘ pelican crossing ’And ‘crosswalk’ mean a ‘Pedestrian crossing’. ‘zebra crossing’ is spot where the vehicles stop to allow pedestrians to cross. Pelican crossing is a place with a signal light operated by the pedestrians while crossing.
In USA ‘pedestrians’’ crossing is called ‘crosswalk’
navy and navvy.
Navy refers to a part of country’s armed forces that fights at sea.
Navvy refers to a person employed to do hard physical work.
poss and posse
Poss is shortened form of possible used in American
Posse means a group of people.
Eg.A posse of helpers arrived to help the engineer/ A posse of policemen
corps, corpse and corpus.
Corps – A large unit of army
Corpse Dead body
Corpus – Collection of written or spoken texts. It also refers to quantity in American English
English/ French leave.
The English call it French leave, and French call it English leave
Both the expressions mean the same ,that is taking leave without permission. Eg. Alice is on French leave today.
lecture and lecher
Lecture is a talk that is given to a group of people.
Lecher is a man who is always looking for sexual pleasure
O.K and A-O.K
A-O.K means first-class great or better than O.K.
magnet and magnate
Magnet is a material that attracts iron pieces
Magnate refers to a person who is rich powerful and successful in business
Eg. Bill Gate is an IT magnate.
Difference between bath and bathe
Bath means washing the whole body . Bathe means to wash a part of the body.
Eg. Baby was bathed yesterday. As a noun it is used as an act of swimming
WORDS ORIGIN (Interesting stories)
Chauvinism
An aggressive or unreasonable belief that their own country is better that all others. This comes from the name of Nicholas Chauvin. He was a soldier in Napoleon’s Army. He had a blind faith in his leader.
Facing the music
It means facing the consequences of an action.
E g. Jack is on leave today, he is going to face music tomorrow.
Scholars believe that the expression is of a military origin. Once
Charged soldier had to face the music of the drums before he was
Sent out.
Back log .
This word is of an American origin It is a cause of joy for Americans when a large Log(wood) kept at the back of a fireplace in reserve ,so that one can keep the fire going on. Still it is in use in America
In British English it means Piled up work/ Work not yet attended. We also use ‘cold storage’, when some work is kept in pending ( Raju’s promotion file is kept in cold storage since March last year)
Jeep
Is associated with the police or Army vehicle. Actually it is shortened forms of GP (General purpose) used by American army.
Earmark
Set aside someone or something. In olden days shepherds put a mark on the ear of an animal so that its owner can be identified.
E g. This area is earmarked for construction of a post office.
Back burner
Putting something in the back burner, means to postpone some work, because it is less important. Back burner is rear burner on a stove. It is used to keep the simmering pot, which doesn’t need immediate attention Eg. Govt. puts the construction plan (A bridge) in the back burner.
Bakers dozen
means thirteen not twelve- in 1266 British parliament passed a law to regulate price and weight of the bread. Bakers found it difficult to ensure the exact weight of the bread they made. So they offered extra loaf of bread to escape the punishment. The extra loaf was called vantage loaf.
peter out
Means decrease or fade gradually. This expression has its origin in the Bible. When the Jesus was arrested, Peter denied thrice that he knew Jesus. In other words his courage petered out or his faith petered out.
Mum – It means don’t say anything It has its origin in Shakespeare’s play KING HENRY IV “ seal your lips and give no words but mum”.
Dead line
The time limit within which the task must be completed
In 19th century a dead line was referred to a line around a military prison. No prisoner dared to cross the line because he might be fired.
Minority
In the 20th century Minority means highly rich and privileged people (very few in number)
Sisyphean task means an unending and difficult task. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king of Corinth. He was punished in the hell , he had to roll a heavy stone uphill again and again. It was very difficult and laborious task.
Bulldoze
African slaves in USA were whipped with whips made out of bull hide . This whipping is called
Bulldose which became bulldoze
BUSINESS ENGLISH TERMS
Favorable balance of trade
Situation that exists when the value of a nation’s export is in excess of the value of its imports.
Balance of payment
A systematic record of a nation’s total payment to foreign countries.
Balance of trade
The difference in the value between the total exports and total imports of during a specific period of time.
Contraband
Goods that illegally imported or exported/Goods that are prohibited by a country/Goods that evade duty.
Dumping duty
Penalty imposed on low priced imports to protect the local industry from unfair competition.
e.g Foreign goods importers face dumping duty.
Time zones
Areas with same standard time.(e.g Big countries are divided into different time zones)
Trade deficit
It is situation that exists when imports exceed exports. (e.g Trade minister assures to bridge the trade deficit.)
GDP
This term is an indication of economic health of a country. It refers to the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year minus net income from investments in other countries. E.g. The finance minister predicts 9.5 % (GDP) this year.
Fiscal health
It is the government spending and taxation to influence the economy
No 10 downing street (Also known as Number 10)
It refers to the official residence of the Prime minister of the United kingdom.
Stealth aircraft
A latest combat aircraft designed by the US . It can hit the enemy’s target without being detected by radars.
Portfolio
In finance it refers to a collection of investments held by an institution or an individual ( Eg. Portfolio risk portfolio management). It also refers to the responsibility assigned to a minister (Home portfolio goes to Gill)
Protocol
It refers to Etiquette of formal occasions
(e g, Museum visit is not in the protocol of the visiting minister)
Attaché
It refers to a diplomatic official attached to an embassy.
Charge daffier
A subordinate diplomat who substitute for an absent ambassador or minister.
Ambassador
A diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a country to another country as long term Representative
Diplomat
It refers to a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another country or international organization
Diplomacy
It is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between two countries or representatives of group
Diplomatic immunity
It is a privilege enjoyed by the diplomats that prevents the host country to charge or detain him/her on suspicion . Diplomats are considered not susceptible to wrong doings. (e. g IMF chief told police that he had diplomatic immunity when he was first detained at a new York airport.
SALT
Refers to strategic Arms Limitation Treaty It is a treaty between former USSR and US to limit strategic arms in their countries and bases all over the world.
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