Unfamiliar Word_Rio Handoko

Selasa, 31 Mei 2011

Unfamiliar Word_Rio Handoko

Author: englishdepartementb08 |

Unfamiliar Word

By: Rio Handoko

vVocabulary Skill – Context Clues - Unfamiliar Words

§ When you read, you may come across a word you do not know.

§ To figure out the meaning of the unfamiliar word, look for clues in the sentences or paragraph around it.

§ A clue might be found in specific details or examples given near the unknown word.

§ You can also use a dictionary to clarify word meanings.

1. Definition

A definition gives the meaning of words. The writer may use words, phrases, or statements to define something. The writer will use key words, or signal words to identify a definition so you need to look for them. See examples of key words below.

— e.g.

Ø A cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique as known as Batik.

an unfamiliar word = Batik
signal words = is known as
definition = a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique.

Exercise :

In Jambi, Tempoyak that is referring to Durian Sauce, become a Traditional food.

Tempoyak means =

2. Restatement

The writer may use other words, phrases, or sentences to provide the meaning of difficult words. We call this restatement; the writer describes it again or in a different way. Signal words for restatement are in the “Key words box” below.

— e.g.

— The surface of Jambi consists mainly of plateaus, or large flat areas, although these occur at different levels.

an unfamiliar word = plateaus
signal word = or
meaning = large flat areas

Exercise :

There are several types of aerosol cans in WTC Batanghari. Simple ones contain a liquefied gas, called the propellant, in which material is dissolved, i.e., melt.

dissolved =

3. Punctuation marks

Punctuation is used to describe the meaning of unfamiliar words. The writer will write unfamiliar words and then use punctuation, words, phrases, or sentences to explain the meaning of the new words. Such punctuation is in the “Key words box” below.

— e.g.

The use of computers to handle text, or word processing, is become the most commontly skill which should be mastered by students in SMP N 8 Jambi.

an unfamiliar word = handle text
signal punctuation = , ,
meaning : handle text = word processing

Exercise :

Infection ? becoming ill through contact with bacteria ? of the respiratory system such as the nose, the throat, and the chest is among the most common of all diseases in Jambi.

Infection =

4. Examples

Examples help us to understand the meaning of new words. See key words or signal words used for showing examples in the “Key words box”.

— e.g.

— Use navigation buttons, such as, the “Next” button, the “Previous” button, the “Menu” button, and the “Exit” button, to go back and forth or jump to other topics while the student in SMP 8 Jambi are using their English software in Computer room.

unfamiliar words = navigation buttons
signal word = such as
meaning = buttons on computer program that are used for turn on pages

Exercise :

—

Some people in the Jambi City do wickerwork, for example, they make elephants, turtles, plates, beds, and chairs, from trees for earning money.

a) silver handicraft

b) bronze handicraft

c) niello handicraft

d) wood handicraft

5. Surrounding words

If you cannot find any signal words or key words as stated before, you may look around new words or unfamiliar words and try to guess them. The surrounding words may help you to understand the new words. See examples below.

— e.g.

—

The accountant clerks at every Bank in Jambi City are responsible to check for false signatures, thus they needed to verify all cheques with the original signature before paying the money.
a) fake

b) true

an unfamiliar word = false signature
meaning : handle text = fake

Exercise :

— In Sipin Ujung and Simpang Kawat on Monday morning, most streets are very crowded, so Rio came to school late because he was trapped in traffic. a) blocked