What is the best way to learn new words?
For one of my work projects, I tried to figure out the best way to teach new words and how people learn new words.I have been reading regularly since the time I was thirteen. This was how I learnt many new words. So yes, reading is a good way to learn new words. But then you already know this, don’t you?You read, find a new word and then look up what it means. After repeatedly reading or using this word you will have finally learnt it.There is also another way that you can try. When you are reading and come across this word that you have not heard before, don’t look up the meaning. Keep reading and make sure that the usage of the particular word and the context is clear to you.If you are really not sure about how the word was used, look it up in the dictionary. But this is only in case of a very difficult word. You should understand how the word was used and what it meant when used in that particular line. Don’t bother looking for the exact meaning.But why do this?In this case, you learn to use the word along with what it means.It helps you avoid mistakes that people make while using the word in a sentence.Like if someone asks you “So, what are you upto these days?” and you answer with “Ah, nothing pertinent” - this, I believe, is incorrect usage of the word.If you don’t like reading, try the same with movies or TV series. Watch the episodes multiple times and try to see how the words are used. (Of course, not every movie or TV series will give you a large number of words)This I feel is the best way to learn new words when you have the time and patience to gradually pick up words and master their usage. However, not everyone learns the same way. So you could also try using flashcards and words lists.A lot of good flashcard apps are available which are really helpful in memorizing words and their meanings. I recommend the Magoosh app and Anki (which is open source)Anki also has many decks available for use curated by their community of learners.Apart from this you can also learn words by grouping them by usage. A lot of word lists are available on the internet where you can find words grouped as ‘words to use to talk about your feelings’ or ‘words to use to compliment people’So to sum up, reading is the best way. If you don’t have time and are looking at vocabulary from and exam perspective, then flashcards is the best way to go.
Would more letters in the English alphabet reduce the size of documents and books?
Yes, it would as there are many digraphs in English. If one were to include all consonant blends, the alphabet would be huge, which might make learning the alphabet too onerous a task.If one were to just focus on vowel digraphs, then it might be more manageable. But, there are also many. However, many phonemes have a number of digraphs assigned to them: /e/ > beer, beat, weird, achieve, mere, happy,… It might be a good idea to choose the one digraph that is most frequent or the one that makes more sense.At least four approaches can be envisaged.Masha Bell’s research would help in choosing the most frequent digraph. It only focuses on 7000 words though. (Improving English spellingIezy Ignglish (II) takes a different approach and chooses the digraphs based on coherence (and as a way to prevent the use of the cumbersome rule of doubling of the consonants to change the value of a vowel and the use of an “e” with a bridge consonant). II uses the digraphs ie, ue, ae, oe to represent all of the different digraphs like the ones shown in the first paragraph (and more for the other 3 digraphs, of course). In other words, the system is not only simpler, but it is simpler to learn (and teach). If one were to further designate those phonemes with one letter, it might work. On the other hand, the idea of length might have to be either indicated or it would require some teaching.One could use a diacritic over the short letter (o, i, e, u, a) to indicate length and keep the relationship with the shorter phoneme that in effect is related to it. (bit > beat, not > note,…). (Note that II use 2 accented vowel phonemes (that are prevalent in English words, albeit rarely): é and è. By eliminating the use of the letters x, q, k, a third letter could be use to represent the velar nasal (ŋ) for “ng” in “Inglish” or for the suffix “ng “ in “sing”). The idea of legibility might be an issue that one should think about if one were to choose diacritics. Not all diacritics can be decoded or written easily. There are many different diacritics that one can choose: Diacritic Again, some might offer a better sense of logic and coherence to a system than others.Of course, one could choose letters from other alphabets.
What are some of the best tongue-twisters that you know?
The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick (the hardest tongue-twister in the English language, according to Guinness World Records.)Which witch wished which wicked wish?Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells.I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.Luke Luck likes lakes.Luke's duck likes lakes.Luke Luck licks lakes.Luck's duck licks lakes.Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes.Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.Mary Mac's mother's making Mary Mac marry me.My mother's making me marry Mary Mac.Will I always be so Merry when Mary's taking care of me?Will I always be so merry when I marry Mary Mac?
What are some commonly mispronounced words?
What are some commonly mispronounced words?Before I start, let me point out the most mispronounced word we use, as Quorans.BONUS:Yeah, it's Kora, not Kvora/Kuora… Even I used to pronounce the former.EDIT: As many of you guys are telling me that it is Quo-ruh, let me tell you. The word Quora is derived from Quorum and it is pronounced just similarly. Flora is a rhyming word. See Charlie Cheever's answer to How do you pronounce "Quora?”.That’s why is Kora and Not Kvora.Note: The sad part is that, if you’re an Indian, this answer will not help you much in terms of applying in real life. If you try to pronounce these words in the correct way, at first, people won’t even understand what you said, once you explain, they’ll mock you. You’ll be marked as Pandit, Professor-ji etc. Experience tells me.The answer is gonna be long. Be Patient, and read it till the end. I promise you, you’ll learn the right pronunciation of at least one word you’ve been mispronouncing daily.Here we go.1. Cache.2. Hyperbole3. Mischievous.4. Meme5. Pronunciation.6. Almond7. Bury8. Women9. Tomb10. Rendezvous11. Asthma12. Wednesday.13. Bowl.14. Epitome.15. Gnaw16. Pizza17. Monk18. Genre19. Sour20. Police21. Suite22. Prayer23. Often.24. Tour25. Buffet26. Raspberry27. Hummus28. Tortillas29. Plumber30. Onion31. Comfortable.32. Subtract33. Coupon34. Adapter.35. Chassis.36. Zebra37. Yolk38. Xylophone.39. Wasp40. Tortoise.41. Recipe42. Prescription.43. Niche.44. ExpressoI have no rights/ claims over the pictures I’ve used. All of them belong to their respective owners.Have a nice day.Sources:The most commonly mispronounced words in English!http://www.nairaland.com/2828619...http://indiatoday.intoday.in/edu...GoogleCheers. Neeraj.