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LING150/University of |
Written Assignments
There are four written assignments.
Each assignment should be submitted to the instructor via Blackboard's Digital Dropbox on or before its deadline. Deadlines are listed in the Calendar.
For each written assignment, you need to choose and analyze 5 words borrowed from Latin and/or Greek. Each word must consist of two or more morphemes.
Do not choose words that are a) native English words, or b) borrowed from some language other than Latin or Greek. Use your dictionary's etymological entry to determine the source of the word. Please also list the title of the dictionary that you use for the assignment underneath your name and other header data.
Sample Etymological Entry:
Main Entry: trans·fer
Etymology: Middle English transferren, from Latin transferre, from trans- + ferre
to carry -- more at BEAR
Try to choose words containing at least one morpheme that you have not yet been assigned in the course. At least 2 of the words must contain solely morphemes that you have not yet been assigned in the course.
To do the analysis, use the description of word analysis in Web Lecture 1.2.2 - How to Analyze Words
Each analysis should contain a parse, a gloss, a literal definition, a dictionary definition and an etymology.
Sample Word Analysis that is fully acceptable to me:
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Word |
odontology |
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Parse |
odon / (t) / (o) / log / -y |
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Gloss |
'tooth' (filler) (filler) 'study, speak' (N) |
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Literal Definition |
The study of teeth. |
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Dictionary Definition |
The study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of teeth |
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Etymology |
for odonto- French, from Greek odont-, odous-, more at TOOTH |
A literal definition is derived from the glosses for the individual morphemes. Therefore, in the example above, ‘tooth’ + ‘study’ = the study of teeth. When creating a literal definition, you use only the information contained in the glosses. It may help to pretend that you don’t know what the word really means when you create your literal definition. Assume that the glosses of the constituent morphemes are the only information you have about the meaning of the word. The “real” definition of the word goes on the Dictionary Definition line.
It's important to have both a literal and a dictionary definition for each word. It is often, but not always true that the literal meaning of the word is very close to the dictionary definition. Frequently, the literal meaning must be metaphorically extended to arrive at the actual meaning of the word. Later in the course, we will discuss how meanings can shift. If your literal definition is contrary to the dictionary definition or it is just plain weird, that indicates that you will want to re-parse or re-gloss your word.
Do indicate where the fillers are by putting them in parentheses, but be suspicious if you think you've got two adjacent fillers. Again, try re-parsing or re-glossing your word. Good rules of thumbs about fillers are: 1) two adjacent fillers is suspicious, three or more is probably wrong, 2) a filler starting a word is probably wrong, and 3) more than one filler at the end of the word is probably wrong.
If there is no etymology for the word you've chosen, look for the etymology of a more basic form of the word, as I did above with 'odontology.'
Do this assignment with the help of the glossary in the back of your textbook and your dictionary or the on-line dictionary to be sure your analysis is correct. If your word doesn't appear in one of the approved dictionaries, it is probably a technical term that will require a specialized dictionary. You can find technical dictionaries in large libraries, on the web, or you may wish to select another word. Remember that the glossary in the textbook does NOT contain all possible Latin or Greek morphemes. The listing of affixes used in English words is pretty comprehensive, but the listing of roots is a small fraction of the possibilities. If a root in your word isn’t in the glossary, you either need to dig deeper (go to the library for dictionaries or use the Web Resources for Written Assignments folder in the External Links section of the Blackboard course) or choose another word.
The written assignment is your chance to personalize the course to fit your needs. You may want to select words from readings for other classes or from a field of study that interests you. For example, if you're planning to pursue a medical career, you may want to choose words with disease and body part morphemes.
If you still have questions, email me with any questions. Also, you are welcome to send a sample word analysis to me to get my input. If you’re unsure of your analysis, send your assignment to me at least a few days before the deadline and I can send you back suggestions to improve it if necessary (Note: this offer does NOT apply to assignments sent on the deadline date – if you wait that long, then what I see is the grade you get).
DO NOT use words that are analyzed in any lectures or homework assignments. I don't give credit for them. I have listed the words which have been analyzed on the course web site for your convenience. The unit number indicates which unit the word appears in. Note that more already analyzed words are listed in the folder Unacceptable Words under “Assignments” in the Blackboard.
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Unit 1 |
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psychometry |
theogamous |
misanthrope |
deport |
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extracorporeal |
intersection |
microbiology |
psychopathic |
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endogamy |
iatrologic |
amorphous |
omniscient |
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conducive |
perinatal |
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Unit 2 |
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saline |
halide |
periphery |
transfer |
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muscle |
metabolism |
Eugene |
helioatry |
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android |
conspicuous |
ectochromic |
energy |
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incipient |
photoreceptive |
incidence |
mesomorphic |
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extenuate |
progressive |
acceptance |
adequate |
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Unit 3 |
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compensation |
eparchy |
acrocephalic |
appendix |
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neanthropic |
abiogenesis |
monolith |
corrective |
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quadruplicature |
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Unit 4 |
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clinograph |
sororal |
plenipotentiary |
analgesic |
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peridontal |
sesquipedalian |
antiseptic |
absolution |
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theosophy |
phytophilous |
malignant |
anonymous |
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effluent |
quincentennial |
interlocutor |
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A technical note:
(The following applies only when sending a portion of your homework to me for review in advance of the deadline. Remember, assignments submitted for a grade must go through Blackboard's Digital Dropbox, rather than being emailed to me. Always name/save your files with the following format: LastName_GivenName_WA1, LastName_GivenName_XC1, LastName_GivenName_WA 2, etc., WA=Written Assignment, XC = extra credit.)
You can send your homework assignments in the body of the e-mail message or as a file attachment from Microsoft Word (any version or platform). If you don't have Word but know how to save a document as an RTF or a Text Only file, I can accept that as well.
When you send your assignment, put the following information in the Subject field: your last name and the assignment (for example: Smith Written Assignment 1). Also, put your full name (student number optional) at the top of your assignment (whether it’s an attached document or pasted into the email). These protocols will ensure that your assignment (and grade) doesn’t get mixed up with anyone else.