what are some techniques to expand one's vocabulary?

Question

suggested reading? anything? Thanks.

Answer 1

The best way is to read, read, read. Read things that are out of your normal scope-perhaps the Wall Street Journal or Time magazine or anything else that is not something you would normally read. Then try to incorporate it into your everyday vocabulary. You should be reading at a MINIMUM-45 minutes a day. You gain a bigger vocabulary by seeing words in a context that you not normally see.

Answer 2

Some very good ideas here but reading stands as the key. It is not unusual for me to scan five, ten pages or 20 pages of a dictionary several days per week and also read a few pages and scan a Thesaurus.

Reading specialized encyclopedias and technical manuels is a big help along with philosophy, religion, science and classics or even doing links through Wikipedia.

Look into the field of semantics for tips. I take words out of the Bible, such as edification, and do language and root searches which run from Greek through English, Latin, French, Old and Middle English, German, and more. I work the word until I get a definition to call my own. Ed and edify or edification is related to big buildings, fire places, enlightenment, education, instruction, understanding and much more.

Words have emotional context as well as relationships, history, specialized uses, private meanings, etc. I think you will find that a love for words helps more than anything else.

I refer you to 'Semantics' at Wikipedia. There review Alfred Korzybski and S.I. Hayakawa first. Korzybski is considered the father of semantics. The definition lists 30 or so men and women of note in the field. The idea is to look at words. What are words, how do we use and relate to them, what are their limitations, advantages, even dangers. How are emotions attached to words or are emotions the stuff of words? How do you give meaning to your own words. Why does a word mean one thing to you but is different for another. ARE CAPS OFFENSIVE? Why? What is the relationship between word written and word spoken?

Have fun.

Answer 3

Reading helps, but the thing that helped me the most was doing crossword puzzles. With the puzzles, you not only learn the words but their meanings. When reading a person sort of skips over words they don't recognize the meaning of and just fits it into the context of what they are reading. In crosswords you learn the meanings of the words as you use them. Get a good crossword puzzle dictionary to help you out as a solving aid.

Answer 4

Read English literature. Try authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Look up any unfamiliar word, and you'll get the definition as well as how the word is used.

Answer 5

To lots of the following:
1 talk to a range of different people
2 read
3 use a dictionary (reading it is great)
4 use a thesaurus
5 write

Answer 6

1. READ alot!
2. play board games like scrabble.
3. try reading the dictionary always not only for reference sake but to learn for a new word each day.

read anything that could be read and dont forget to have a dictionary beside you when you read.

Answer 7

Pull out a dictionary. Examine about 7-10 words from it a day. Use them at the first opportunity so they'll seep into your memory.

Answer 8

read good newspapers
look words u dont know in the dictionary learn 5 every day!
cross word puzzles help alot too!

Answer 9

Do you read a lot? That could help. I think you are meaning in conversation, though.....like how to be articulate in speaking and using the terminology correctly.
I agree with everyone...........READ! Reading is fundamental. When you know how to do so, everything else will fall in place. .....and when you read, comprehend!!!!

Answer 10

Learn small words to piece together