Using the Dictionary & Reading for General Meaning | En… — Transcript

Assalamualaikum. Welcome to Virtual University. I am Amir, your tutor for English. This course has been designed to improve your proficiency in English. A reading passage, a reading package with exercises and activities accompanies this course. You will be assessed from time to time, and you will be assessed through a variety of means. You will be assessed through quizzes, assignments, a term exam, and a final exam. The weightage is 15 percent for quizzes and assignments, 15 percent. The midterm exam will carry 30 percent, and your final exam will carry 40 percent.

today's lesson is in two parts in the first part we will talk about the dictionary the dictionary its uses and how to use a dictionary and in the second part you will hear a very interesting story and we will ask you questions based on that story now you've all seen a dictionary and you would like to know what is a dictionary well a dictionary as we all know is a book a book that lists the words of the language it lists them and Records the words of a language it is not only

Today's lesson is in two parts. In the first part, we will talk about the dictionary, the dictionary, its uses, and how to use a dictionary. In the second part, you will hear a very interesting story, and we will ask you questions based on that story. Now, you've all seen a dictionary, and you would like to know, what is a dictionary? Well, a dictionary, as we all know, is a book, a book that lists the words of the language. It lists them and records the words of a language. It is not only a record; it also spells, tells you how to pronounce words. It defines words, it explains words, and it also tells you the uses of words. Now, there are many dictionaries. You will find a dictionary of science, scientific terms. You will find a dictionary which is, uh, which will tell you about music. You will find a dictionary about art. You, as students of English, your concern is with a language dictionary. There are many dictionaries. [Music] There is the Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary, and there is the Webster's Dictionary, two very famous dictionaries. In this lesson, we will be telling you about how to use these dictionaries. There are many things that a dictionary will tell you. I shall just count nine of those things that a dictionary will tell you. Number one, if you want to consult the spellings, you should. The dictionary will tell you. The next thing is the pronunciation, how words are pronounced. The third is the grammar part. If you want to know what part of speech a word belongs to, the dictionary is the book that you must consult. Then a dictionary will tell you the origin of a word, the history of the word, uh. Then it will tell you the meanings, the explanations, the definitions, and it will also tell you how the word is used by the speakers of that language. You will also find synonyms, words with similar meanings, words which have opposite meanings. All these you will find in the dictionary. You will also find foreign words and expressions, and if you want some general information, it will also be in your dictionary. The first thing that I will tell you about in detail are spellings. Now, many students of English find English spelling very confusing. So, what do we do about it? The simplest thing is consult your dictionary, but it will only help you if you know how to consult your dictionary. You will find that most dictionaries carry, um, either at the beginning of the dictionary or at the end, a page where the rules of spelling are given. All you have to do is, at least once in a lifetime, you can open that page and look at the rules. There are not very many rules, not more than six or seven rules, and if you've gone through, if you go through those rules, you will find that you may not need to, you may not require consulting the dictionary again and again if you go through the rules. Now, uh, you will find that there are different spellings. Americans spell certain words in a different way. British spelling is different. Well, let me tell you, both spellings are correct. You, as a student, should stick to one spelling. If you prefer the American spelling, then be consistent. Whenever you use that word, use that spelling. If you prefer the British spelling, then you will use the British spelling. All you have to do is be consistent. I would like you to open your dictionaries and look at the word theater and the word catalog. On the screen, you will find these words given, and just see how they are spelled. Your dictionary will clarify for you. It'll have the word AM for American, BR for British. It will tell you which is the British spelling and which is the American spelling. Now, that is the first use of your dictionary. The second use of a dictionary is that it will tell you, help you in pronouncing the words of English. Pronunciations are very confusing, but if you know how to use the dictionary, you will find that it'll no longer be a problem for you. Now, that is only if you know how to use the dictionary. All dictionaries, language dictionaries, carry a table of pronunciation either at the beginning or at the end. You must go through this. I shall not talk about it in detail today, but in our next lesson, we will be talking about pronunciation, so you just wait for the next lesson. The third use of the dictionary is that it clarifies for learners what part of speech the word you are looking up belongs to, whether the word is commonly used as a noun or a pronoun or a verb. The dictionary will even tell you if it's a transitive verb or an intransitive verb, whether it's an adjective, an adverb, conjunction, or preposition. Now, the third thing that a dictionary will tell you is the part of speech the word that you're looking up belongs to. All dictionaries indicate what part of speech a word belongs to, whether the word is a noun or a verb. It will even tell you whether it's a transitive verb or an intransitive verb, whether it's an adjective or an adverb, a conjunction, article, or preposition. Now, I forgot to tell you one thing. Your dictionary, when you consult a dictionary, you must look at a, there is a page where it mentions all the abbreviations that are used in that dictionary. So, if you go through that page where the abbreviations are listed, you will have no problem looking at, looking up the part of speech. You will find they are always in italics. Now, the fourth thing that you will find your dictionary, uh, tells you is the origin of words. Now, this is a very interesting area, fascinating those of you who want to know how words have developed. Now, there is a very large body of words in English that have come from other languages. Well, not all dictionaries list the origin of words. The technical word for this is etymology. Modern dictionaries, language dictionaries usually don't, but if you've got an old dictionary in the house, you will notice that it will give you the origin of the word, whether it is from French or German, Latin, Hebrew, Greek. It's all given over there. It's only for those who are interested in finding out the origin and development of words. Um, the fifth, the fourth thing that you will find in a dictionary, and this is the most important of all, is the meaning. All dictionaries, language dictionaries, give you the meaning of the word. Now, uh, there are some words for which meanings are given, for others you will find definitions are given, and for some explanations are given, and this is the most important information about a word. Now, when you look up a dictionary for its meaning, be careful that you do not run away after looking at one meaning. Some words have more than one meaning, and the dictionary lists all those meanings. They are numbered. Most words have more than one meaning. In fact, we would say shades of meaning. You look up the word bank in your dictionary, and you will find that it is listed in three or four numbers. Now, you as a learner, you must look up, look at all the other words so that you get an idea which word, which meaning is the one that you require. Maybe you just look at the first meaning, and you close your dictionary. Maybe that is not the meaning that you require. Uh, go down the numbered list. Look for the meaning that best suits the context in which the word that you are looking up is used. You will find many, many words in English that have more than one meaning. I will just give you one example. Take the word spring. Now, if you look at the dictionary, you will find that spring is used as a noun. The word spring can mean season, the season of spring when the flowers...

dictionary and there is the Webster's Dictionary two very famous dictionaries and in this lesson we will be telling you about how to use these dictionaries there are many things that a dictionary will tell you I shall just count nine of those things that a dictionary will tell you number one if you want to consult the spellings you should the dictionary will tell you the next thing is the pronunciation how words are pronounced the third is the grammar part if you want to know what part of speech a word belongs to the dictionary is the book that you must consult then a dictionary will tell you the origin of a word the history of the word uh then it will tell you the meanings

the explanations the definitions and it will also tell you how the word is used by the speakers of that language you will also find synonyms words with similar meanings words with which have opposite meanings all these you will find in the dictionary you will also find foreign words and expressions and if you want some general information it's it will also be in your dictionary the first thing that I will tell you about in detail are spellings now many students of English find English

spelling very confusing so what do we do about it simplest thing is consult your dictionary but it will only help you if you know how to consult Your Dictionary you will find that most dictionaries carry um either at the beginning of the dictionary or at the end a page where they where the rules of spelling are given all you have to do is at least once in a lifetime you can open that page and look at the rules there are not very many rules not more than six or

seven rules and if you've gone through if you go through those rules you will find that you may not need to you may not require Consulting the dictionary again and again if you go through the rules now uh you will find that there are different spellings Americans spell certain words in a different way British spelling is different well let me tell you both spellings are correct you as a student should stick to one spelling if you prefer the American spelling then be

consistent whenever you use that word use that spelling if you prefer the British spelling then you will use the British spelling all you have to do is be consistent I would like you to open your dictionaries and look at the word theater and the word catalog on the screen you will find these words given and just see how they are spelled your dictionary will clarify for you it'll have the word a a m for American BR for British it will tell you which is the British spelling and which is the

American spelling now that is the first use of your dictionary Second Use of a dictionary is that it will tell you help you in pronouncing the words of English pronunciations are very confusing but if you know how to use the dictionary you will find that it'll no longer be a problem for you now that is only if you know how to use the dictionary all dictionaries language dictionaries carry a table of pronunciation either at the beginning or at the end you must go through this I shall not

talk about it in detail today but in our next lesson we will be talking about pronunciation so you just wait for the next lesson the Third use of the dictionary is that it clarifies for learners what part of speech the word you are looking looking up belongs to whether the word is commonly used as a noun or a pronoun or a verb the dictionary will even tell you if it's a transitive verb or an intransitive verb whether it's an adjective an adverb conjunction or preposition now the third thing that a dictionary will tell you is the part of speech the word that you're looking up what part of speech it belongs to

all dictionaries indicate what part of speech a word belongs to whether the word is a noun or a verb it will even tell you whether it's a transitive verb or an intransitive verb whether it's an adjective or an adverb a conjunction article or preposition now I forgot to tell you one thing your dictionary when you consult a dictionary you must look at a there is a page where it mentions all the abbreviations that are used in that dictionary so if you go through that page

where the abbreviations are listed you will have no problem looking at looking up the part of speech you will find they are always in italics now the fourth thing that you will find your dictionary uh tells you is the origin of words now this is a very interesting area fascinating those of you who want to know how words have developed now there is a very large body of words in English that have come from other languages well not all dictionaries lists the origin of words the technical word

for this is etymology modern dictionaries language dictionaries usually don't but if you've got an old dictionary in the house you will notice that it will give you the origin of the word whether it is from French or German Latin Hebrew Greek it's all given over there it's only for those who are interested in finding out the origin and development of words um the fifth the fourth thing that you will find in a dictionary and this is the most important of all is the meaning

all dictionaries language dictionaries give you the meaning of the word now uh there are some words for which meanings are given for others you will find definitions are given and for some explanations are given and this is the most important information about a word now when you look up a dictionary for its meaning be careful that you do not run away after looking at one meaning some words have more than one meaning and the dictionary lists all those meanings they are numbered most words

have more than one meaning in fact we would say shades of meaning you look up the word Bank in your dictionary and you will find that it is listed in three or four numbers now you as a learner you must look up look at all the other words so that you get an idea which word which meaning is the one that you require maybe you you just look at the first meaning and you You Close Your Dictionary maybe that is not the meaning that you require uh go down the numbered list look for the

meaning that best suits the context in which the word that you are looking up is used you will find many many words in English they have more than one meaning I will just give you one example take the word spring now if you look at the dictionary you will find that spring is used as a noun the word spring can mean season the season of spring when the flowers are out the words spring is also used for water that comes out of the ground that again is a noun and you will find that the word spring

is again used as a noun for that steel wire that is usually you will find in beds and in cushions and sofas it's a spring all three are nouns all three different meanings and yet there is another word there is another meaning of the word spring and that is spring as a verb when you jump on something for instance the cat Springs at you so what I'm trying to point out to you is that do not close the dictionary after looking at one meaning go down the list and you will learn to

find that words they might have the same form the same spelling but they they function they have different meanings they function in different ways in a sentence now the fifth use of a dictionary on your screens you will find exercises dealing with meaning but I shall move on to the another use another very important use of the dictionary the dictionary as I said earlier tells you how the speakers of the language use the use words now you are sitting here miles away from England and America how would you know that the speakers use a word the dictionary is the place to go to you will find that your dictionary it will tell you the usage of words and phrases idioms Proverbs of the language

they are all listed in your dictionary it will your dictionary will also tell you the limitations of the use of the word for instance take the word look the word look is used in so many different ways it is used as look up these are two word verbs look up look into look at look down these are the idioms of the language how would you know

that they the way they are used so look at the dictionary and you will notice that it is all given there some dictionaries illustrate the meaning by using them in sentences now you will find that uh special labels have been designed to tell you the usage of the word if a word is no longer in current use it's a word that belongs to let's say Shakespeare's time

the dictionary will tell you the abbreviation is archaic the word is archaic and it'll the word will carry a r c h in Brackets and it'll tell you that this use of the word is no longer current it is no longer in current use it is an archaic use of the word or you will find there are other other labels other labels which tell you the use of the world for instance you will find a word that is used only in poetry the dictionary will tell you in where the word is listed

it'll tell you in Brackets that it is poetic or if a word is used in a derogatory in a bad way the dictionary will tell you that it is not a polite word if it is a slang word the dictionary will tell you so that is why earlier on I told you that you must read the list of abbreviations if you look at the abbreviations they will tell you all these labels will be listed over there the dictionary will also tell you whether a word is formal or informal all these uses you will find in a dictionary

now on your screen you will see a few exercises I shall just read out one or two sentences for you will see three sentences and they tell you how those words are used for instance it says Professor witterson held forth for over an hour about the need of communication language teaching communicative language teaching now the word held forth there is a special label for this word for this use of the language of the words number two I don't get how you found the answer now the use of the word get

this is a special use it is colloquial that is it is used in spoken English another example my roommate is pretty hard up these days now the word hard up that is an idiom how would you know the meaning so your dictionary gives all these things all you have to do is consult Your Dictionary whenever you are in trouble whenever you want to find out a word go to your dictionary

another example you've heard the word guys the word cool now they are used in different ways Your Dictionary will tell you but cool means not hot not warm it will also tell you that cool is an informal word it can also mean it can also be used in a slang way right the word okay

will it be okay if I met you at the library about eight now what does okay mean over here the dictionary will tell you that it is colloquial that is it is used in spoken language and it means all right now uh the sixth use of the dictionary is that a dictionary will tell you the synonyms and antonyms of words synonyms are words that are similar in meaning and antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning now not all dictionaries list these in the good old days

dictionaries carried this information as well but now frequently you don't find this in most dictionaries the the next thing that you will find in your dictionary is foreign words most language dictionaries carry foreign words and phrases either they are listed in the main entries or you will find them listed in a separate section at the end of the dictionary uh words like coup d'etat Etc vice versa these are all words foreign words and your dictionary is sure to have them

if a prior a priori yes that's a difficult word one doesn't come across every day but if you do all you have to do is look up your dictionary and you will find the meaning given over there and the last thing that your dictionary will tell you is some general information now in the past most dictionaries carried general information this was information about people important percentages names of rivers towns cities or big events but uh language dictionaries nowadays do not carry such information

they they may have tables of conversion tables weights and measures names of uh prominent English names you will find all these listed in a separate section not in the main entries of the dictionary now these were I I count I talked about nine uses of the dictionary I just told you about the nine uses of a dictionary some of the things that you can do with a dictionary now I shall tell you how to use a dictionary now the time that you spend on learning what a dictionary contains

and how it should be used will save up time later we'll save up much of your time later if you know how to use a dictionary it'll save you a lot of time later on now the first thing is that you must know your alphabet the order of the English alphabet because all entries in the dictionary are arranged in alphabetical order now and the words are arranged according to the first letter when words begin with the same letter they are arranged according to the second letter

and if both the first and the second letter are the same are the same words if both the first and the second letters are the same words the same words arrange according to the third letter now I just show you a dictionary

you must learn to use the dictionary in such a way that you do not spend time looking turning over the pages because a lot of people don't know how to use the dictionary and they spend time flipping through the pages going back and forth and not finding the cut the word that they want to now when you are looking for a word first thing just thumb through thumb through the pages quickly just go through them like this look only at the guide words now what are guide words

guide words are those words that you will find at the top of the page pick up any dictionary and you will find that the word that is given the words that are given at the top of the page on your left hand side here and you will find a word given on the right hand side they are you will always find them in bold letters they are called the guide words they are meant to guide you to the word that you're looking for you will notice that

hand side first and Tree on this side on the left side of the page and the word on the right hand side when you're looking for a word in the dictionary you should look only at the guide words the guide words are the words on the top of the page these are words given right at the top on the left hand side and one on the right hand side and you will notice that they are always in bold letters the word that is given on the left hand side is the first entry on that page

the word given on the right hand side is the last entry on that page and this will help you find the word that you're looking for if it is not on that page Turn the Page and go ahead look down on the next page now in today's lesson you learn two things the first was the different uses of the dictionary what are the things that you can learn from a dictionary and the other thing that you learned about your dictionary was how to use the dictionary how you can find words quickly

now let me just recap for you uh go over what we've done today as students of English you need to know how to use a dictionary you should think of your dictionary as a tool it's a tool that you can use it is something that will make you an independent learner you don't have to wait for your teacher or for someone else to come and tell you all you have to do is consult your dictionary and you can learn a lot about the English language it will tell you if you know how to use it correctly you

will discover the full potential of the language and it will make you an independent learner and I would say that you should treat it like a friend and you will find that it is a friend it will help you in learning English now with that we come to the end of our first of the first part of our lesson

I think now we are moving to the second part of the lesson and I hope you will enjoy this part uh I shall read a story to you and you sit back and just relax and listen to the story you will listen to a folk tale from North America the story is about a natural event

Raven and the coming of daylight by Gail Robinson and Douglas Hill when the Earth was very young it was dark and cold like a Winter's Night through all the years seasons Gull was the custodian of daylight and he kept it locked tight in a cdar box beneath his wing now being custodian Gulf felt very important and he was not going to lose his position by letting daylight out of the box he is to Vain screeched owl at a meeting of the people upon meeting Hill we can never travel in this Darkness to

our homes in the South cried Robin her breast was bleached of color for lack of light they decided to have a meeting and Gull agreed to come to the meeting but it was clear when he came that he was not going to change his mind or listen to what Raven said he had come only because it made him feel even more important to have Raven pleading with him I Was Made custodian of daylight in the beginning of things said Gull I am to keep daylight safe and I will keep it safe and he curved his wing tighter around the cedar box Raven had run out of words to make gulsi

the people's need for light he thought angrily to himself I wish this girl would step on a large thorn no Sunnah had he shaped his thought then Gull cried out scream my foot a thorn cousin asked Raven innocently let me see I will take it out for you but of course it was so dark that he could not see the thorn to remove it I must have liked to take out the Thorns said raven light never said Kal then the Thomas will remain said girl complained and hopped on one foot and

wept and he finally opened his Cedar box a crack a crack so tiny so narrow that out glanced a shaft of light no brighter than a single star Raven put his hand to girl's foot then pretended not to see The Thorn instead he pushed it in deeper scree cried Gull my thoughts more light more light shouted Raven and the lid of the Box Rose a further crack so that light gleamed forth like a winter Moon then Raven reached again for the thorn and pushed it even further into the soft

flesh of girl's foot more light roared Raven squeeze squeeze squeeze squeeze screamed Gull and in his pain he flung off the lid of the cedar box like a molten fish the Sun slithered out from the box and light and warmth blazed out over the world nor was it ever to be recaptured no matter how loudly or how sadly girl called to it to return to its safe Hiding Place beneath his wing

you've heard the story now you answer the questions on the story I shall read them out I shall read them out twice select the one which you think is the most the one that expresses the main idea of the story what is the story about is the story about a the removal of the thorn from Raven's foot B the meeting of birds and animals upon meeting Hill C the release of daylight over the Earth D the capture of daylight in the Cedar box now out of these four which statement

expresses the main idea of the story well it's statement C the release of daylight over the Earth now the next question is that I shall read out eight statements eight statements and you on a piece of paper just write true if you think the statement is true or f right T if you think the statement is exactly as the story as it was in the story or if if it is false not as given in the story a Raven and Gull are birds be Gull and Raven are related

C Raven felt important being custodian of daylight d daylight was kept under a wing e Raven pushed a thorn into girl's foot if Gull at once opened the box for Raven to see the thorn G the sun slipped out of the box

h Gail Robinson is the author of the story now which one of which ones are true statements and which ones are false well statement a with Raven and Gull are birds did you know that Raven is a is a bird that belongs to the Crow family it's a black bird and Gull is also a bird you must have seen seagulls you must have read about seagulls and girls they they are birds So Raven and gal are birds that is a true statement the other one was Gull and Raven are related in the story it says that gal and Raven were cousins so this statement is also true

statement C Raven felt important being custodian of daylight this is false because it was Gull who was custodian of daylight statement D daylight was kept under a wing false because daylight was kept in a cedar box which Gull kept under its way so it was in a box not on in a wing the next statement Raven pushed a thorn into girl's foot no Raven didn't push it he just thought that if only gal had a thorn in his foot he thought of it and it so happened that the gull got a torn in its foot

the next statement Gull at once opened the box no gal did not he did not open it at once and the next sentence the sun slipped out of the box that is a true statement because the Sun do you remember I said the Sun slithered out like molten fish so statement a B and G are true the last statement Gail Robinson is the author of the tale no that's not true either because it's Gail Robinson and Douglas Hill there are two authors of this Tale now that is the end of lesson one

I hope you enjoyed this story it's an interesting story because what does the story tell you the story is an attempt at explaining a natural phenomena it explains to you how daylight came to the Earth this is a folk tale a folk myth people in The Villages always create little stories to explain natural events natural phenomena and as I said earlier it's an ancient myth an ancient myth which contains a magical or religious ideas it's an attempt by mankind to understand their surroundings and give meaning to life thank you

Allah Hafiz see you next time