Summary:
Clear thinking depends on a clear understanding of words we use. Words confusion leads to less consciousness, or disequilibrium, which can only be restored through word clarification. The test of our understanding of a word is our ability to define it. This ability is particularly important for words representing key ideas that we wish to explain or defend. Taking the time to define the words we use is an essential preliminary to genuine communication.
Chapter2 quiz pg 62
- When Frederick Douglass grasped the concept of abolition, he understood it was possible for him to become free. False
- Words can be used to do a better or worse job of describing experiences but can never be more than translations of the experiences themselves. False
- A dictionary can help us think better when we use it to clear up word confusion. True
- Definition of a word show the word's boundaries. True
- Knowing the words for things helps us see them better. True
- We do not fully understand a word unless we can define it. True
- When people debate a tropic, understanding is greatly helped by their taking the time to define the key terms True
- Etymology gives us word histories. True
- Pocket dictionaries are sufficient guides for a critical study of word meanings. False
- The word ohm comes from the Sanskrit language and means the sound of creation. True
- According to most dictionaries, there is more than one acceptable spelling of the word cooperate. True
- The term French leave means to say good-bye with a big kiss. False
- The prefix in the words insignificant and inflammable means not in Latin. True
- The following words all contain the sound called a schwa, mass, polite, placement, bogus, visible. False
- The word nausea can be pronounced at least three different ways. False
- The word round can function as six different parts of speech, adjective, noun, transitive and intransitive verb, adverb, and preposition. False
