Do you learn meanings of words?
- Martin Gardner
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Do you learn meanings of words?
I know this has been brought up at least once before, but I thought with Christmas gone, we could bring this up again? So if you learn words for Countdown, do you learn the meanings as well? As you already know, I don't. It's not particularly that meanings don't interest me because they do, it's simply the volume of words I learn and the fact that my brain doesn't cope with it very well. If I learn a list of 10 words with 10 definitions, I won't remember which goes with which! Also there is such as thing as artificial definition learning, i.e. learning the words of the definition in the right order without really knowing what they mean. One example for me would be 'dogstail' - I know that this is a plant, but I don't know anything else! It could be six metres tall or six inches tall and I wouldn't know the difference. It stretches the meanings of 'learning the definition'. So in short, I prefer to know meanings of words only if I intend to use them in a sentence.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
- Jason Larsen
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Martin, sometimes I learn them and sometimes I don't!
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I didn't understand a word of that post.Martin Gardner wrote:I know this has been brought up at least once before, but I thought with Christmas gone, we could bring this up again? So if you learn words for Countdown, do you learn the meanings as well? As you already know, I don't. It's not particularly that meanings don't interest me because they do, it's simply the volume of words I learn and the fact that my brain doesn't cope with it very well. If I learn a list of 10 words with 10 definitions, I won't remember which goes with which! Also there is such as thing as artificial definition learning, i.e. learning the words of the definition in the right order without really knowing what they mean. One example for me would be 'dogstail' - I know that this is a plant, but I don't know anything else! It could be six metres tall or six inches tall and I wouldn't know the difference. It stretches the meanings of 'learning the definition'. So in short, I prefer to know meanings of words only if I intend to use them in a sentence.
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
We can take it then you don't bother with the meanings of words?Gavin Chipper wrote:I didn't understand a word of that post.Martin Gardner wrote:I know this has been brought up at least once before, but I thought with Christmas gone, we could bring this up again? So if you learn words for Countdown, do you learn the meanings as well? As you already know, I don't. It's not particularly that meanings don't interest me because they do, it's simply the volume of words I learn and the fact that my brain doesn't cope with it very well. If I learn a list of 10 words with 10 definitions, I won't remember which goes with which! Also there is such as thing as artificial definition learning, i.e. learning the words of the definition in the right order without really knowing what they mean. One example for me would be 'dogstail' - I know that this is a plant, but I don't know anything else! It could be six metres tall or six inches tall and I wouldn't know the difference. It stretches the meanings of 'learning the definition'. So in short, I prefer to know meanings of words only if I intend to use them in a sentence.
- Jason Larsen
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Martin must be the creative type in that he is very differently special compared to everyone else, Gavin.
But, he is no different otherwise!
But, he is no different otherwise!
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Yes I do like to learn the meanings. I am stimulated by more than just sets of juxtaposed letters, and find satisfaction in having (striving to have) a broader understanding of the world around me.
Jeff
Jeff
- Martin Gardner
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Yeah I would totally agree with that. I find it ironic that I'm interested in etymology and I read books on Latin and Romance Languages, but when it comes to Scrabble/Countdown I don't care about the definitions. So I think it's a context thing; when you see a Countdown word it has no context, so there's no reason to know what it means. But if I'm reading something in Latin like agnus dei*, the title of a song, there is a context (i.e. two words together to form a title) so if I look up the meaning, it will also be a meaning in context!Jeff Clayton wrote:Yes I do like to learn the meanings. I am stimulated by more than just sets of juxtaposed letters, and find satisfaction in having (striving to have) a broader understanding of the world around me.
Jeff
*Agnus dei = (the) lamb of God, hence the modern French agneau.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
- Jason Larsen
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Actually, I just thought I'd think of that from Jeff's point of view.
I do like to learn the meanings of words because it makes me smarter and yes, I like to learn in general.
For example, I think I became an Anglophile almost 5 years ago, and now I know what you all think it means to be "gutted."
To an American who doesn't like England as much, gut would mean a noun, and "to gut" would mean to take the internal organs out of an animal, as with calves' liver.
Come to think of it, that's how we would feel if Countdown went off the air, but it is... staying on... in 2009... with "our Jeff!"
I do like to learn the meanings of words because it makes me smarter and yes, I like to learn in general.
For example, I think I became an Anglophile almost 5 years ago, and now I know what you all think it means to be "gutted."
To an American who doesn't like England as much, gut would mean a noun, and "to gut" would mean to take the internal organs out of an animal, as with calves' liver.
Come to think of it, that's how we would feel if Countdown went off the air, but it is... staying on... in 2009... with "our Jeff!"
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I don't really see the need to learn the meanings to be honest.
I'm sure there's been a few times when the contestants have wowed Des with some amazing spots and he has asked them what the word means, but most of the time the contestants don't know the meaning of the word (it was how "The Conor Principle" came about).
I'm sure there's been a few times when the contestants have wowed Des with some amazing spots and he has asked them what the word means, but most of the time the contestants don't know the meaning of the word (it was how "The Conor Principle" came about).
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I think that's a backhanded compliment!Jason Larsen wrote:Martin must be the creative type in that he is very differently special compared to everyone else, Gavin.
But, he is no different otherwise!
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Often the only way I can remember new words is in context, and that context is almost always the meaning. Mechanical word-learning bores the tits off me frankly, hence I have to rely on natural talent to get me as far as it has.
That also explains why my performance is so erratic, I don't follow logical paths or stems for the long words, I generally just have them click into place, or more usually don't.
That also explains why my performance is so erratic, I don't follow logical paths or stems for the long words, I generally just have them click into place, or more usually don't.
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Wait, am I misinterpreting, or are you suggesting the only reason to learn the meanings of words is from a Countdown perspective? (or were you merely answering the question from a Countdown perspective?)Joseph Bolas wrote:I don't really see the need to learn the meanings to be honest.
I'm sure there's been a few times when the contestants have wowed Des with some amazing spots and he has asked them what the word means, but most of the time the contestants don't know the meaning of the word (it was how "The Conor Principle" came about).
I like to know what words mean - I don't really get enough enjoyment from just the Countdown playing benefits of having a good vocabulary to make it worth my while. I can understand if people are studying word lists for the purposes of becoming especially good at something like Scrabble (in the same way you may train hard for a sport despite not really enjoying, or needing, those 10 mile runs every morning), but since I only play casually I'd rather know fewer words and know what they mean, than loads and not have a clue.
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
You're right, Martin!
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
As I've been a cryptic crossword fan for at least 60 years, the meaning of words has always been a sine qua non, so whenever I come across an unfamiliar one I resort to the latest Chambers. Consequently, when playing along with Countdown, I sometimes spot an equaller or beater, valid in Scrabble but not in ODE2r - which I don't have: if it's in the NODE, I usually post.
Incidentally, in spite of being a maths graduate, I am interested in numbers, and usually spot the factors of a target before the clock's started, enabling me to see a solution quickly - on the other hand, I can go off on the wrong track and miss an easy one.
Incidentally, in spite of being a maths graduate, I am interested in numbers, and usually spot the factors of a target before the clock's started, enabling me to see a solution quickly - on the other hand, I can go off on the wrong track and miss an easy one.
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
You really learn that many new words?!Martin Gardner wrote: it's simply the volume of words I learn and the fact that my brain doesn't cope with it very well.
Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I learn some of them. For example, I now know what a tangelo and a dacoit are. But since I flatter myself (accurately ) that I know more words than most of the people I talk to, learning the more obscure stuff would be of limited value because I wouldn't be able to use them, and because I don't read the sort of books that would use them either.
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
David, do you like tangerines or grapefruits better?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Speaking of which, if you mixed together tangerine juice and grapefruit juice, would it taste like tangelo juice?Jason Larsen wrote:David, do you like tangerines or grapefruits better?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
That's what it would be!
You're right, Gavin!
You're right, Gavin!
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Gavin, you're a funny guy!Gavin Chipper wrote:Speaking of which, if you mixed together tangerine juice and grapefruit juice, would it taste like tangelo juice?Jason Larsen wrote:David, do you like tangerines or grapefruits better?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
You've broken my sarcasm detector.Charlie Reams wrote:Gavin, you're a funny guy!Gavin Chipper wrote:Speaking of which, if you mixed together tangerine juice and grapefruit juice, would it taste like tangelo juice?Jason Larsen wrote:David, do you like tangerines or grapefruits better?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Oh no.Gavin Chipper wrote:You've broken my sarcasm detector.Charlie Reams wrote:Gavin, you're a funny guy!Gavin Chipper wrote:Speaking of which, if you mixed together tangerine juice and grapefruit juice, would it taste like tangelo juice?
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I'm starting to learn definitions for some of the Scrabble words I'm learning that I consistently mess up.
Learning the definition definitely helps, but doesn't seem to be worth the effort most of the time.
Learning the definition definitely helps, but doesn't seem to be worth the effort most of the time.
- Jason Larsen
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
Charlie, I'm glad that you're grasping that I'm beginning to understand peoples' sense of humor.
- Martin Gardner
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Re: Do you learn meanings of words?
I used to try and learn about 20 a day, I tended to look up the anagrams of the words rather than their definitions! I play Scrabble in French and I'd say I know the definition of about a third of the words I play, the others I don't.Jimmy wrote:You really learn that many new words?!Martin Gardner wrote: it's simply the volume of words I learn and the fact that my brain doesn't cope with it very well.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?