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What's in a word?
"There are five questions that linguists (and learners) need to ask about any word. These are:
1 What does the word mean?
2 What words does it associate with?
3 What meanings does it associate with?
4 What grammatical functions does it associate with?
5 What positions in the text does the word favour? "
[i]Michael Hoey[/i]
But do students and teachers ask all those questions when confronted with learning or teaching a new word? If not, why not?
As a student, I care about only point 1 because the context is enough for me to cover the remaining points. When I look up a word in a dictionary, it provides me all the info about those points so why waste teachers's precious time for nothing.
Not necessarily. For instance, we were recently discussing that the words "utter" and "utterly", while they can be used with positive words, are usually used with negative words. Seeing the word in the context of one sentence won't tell you that, and a dictionary probably won't either.
- Kef
<When I look up a word in a dictionary, it provides me all the info about those points so why waste teachers's precious time for nothing. >
I wasn't suggesting that you use your teacher's time in that way, but that you do a bit of deeper research and ask more questions when confronted by a new word. Could you tell us which dictionary you typically use?
<<When I look up a word in a dictionary, it provides me all the info about those points so why waste teachers's precious time for nothing.>>
Does your dictionary provide you with all this info?
EG
1 What does consequence mean? (meaning)
2 How is consequence used grammatically? (grammar)
3 How is consequence pronounced? (pronunciation)
4 Are there restrictions on the use of consequence? (context and genre)
5 What are the collocations of consequence? (collocation)
6 What idioms and semi-fixed expressions does consequence appear in? (idiom)
7 What meanings does consequence associate with? (semantic association)
8 What grammatical constructions does consequence like to appear in or with? (colligation)
9 What positions in a text does consequence like to appear in? (textual colligation)
Guest, which word normally occurs with each word below?
1.
__________________
clear, deep, firm, flat, gentle, gruff, harsh, high, hoarse, husky, loud, low, quiet, shaky, shrill, soft, strident
<<I wasn't suggesting that you use your teacher's time in that way, but that you do a bit of deeper research and ask more questions when confronted by a new word. Could you tell us which dictionary you typically use? >>
Collins Cobuild(100%) and Cambridge(50%). Both are electronic dictionaries.
1 What does consequence mean? (meaning)
In complete definition form. You don't even need to read your example setences for understanding the word.
2 How is consequence used grammatically? (grammar)
A lot of example sentences show that.
3 How is consequence pronounced? (pronunciation)
Yes, its inflected forms as well. My dictionary has audio recordings and transcriptions.
4 Are there restrictions on the use of consequence? (context and genre)
No restrictions like disapproval, informal,....etc
5 What are the collocations of consequence? (collocation)
The consequences of, in consequence/as a consequence, of no consequence/of little consequence, take the consequences/face the consequences.
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6 What idioms and semi-fixed expressions does consequence appear in? (idiom)
7 What meanings does consequence associate with? (semantic association)
8 What grammatical constructions does consequence like to appear in or with? (colligation)
9 What positions in a text does consequence like to appear in? (textual colligation)
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For answering above mentioned questions, I am providing you evidence so that you can judge by yourself whether a dictionary is good enough to answer all of these questions.
I'm not Guest, but I think the answer is "voice" - without a dictionary.
From Collins Cobuild:
consequence consequences
1)[The consequences of] something are the results or effects of it.
Her lawyer said she understood the consequences of her actions and was prepared to go to jail...
An economic crisis may have tremendous consequences for our global security.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n
2) If one thing happens and then another thing happens [in consequence] or [as a consequence], the second thing happens as a result of the first.
His death was totally unexpected and, in consequence, no plans had been made for his replacement...
.
..people who are suffering and dying as a consequence of cigarette smoking...
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
3) Something or someone [of consequence] is important or valuable. If something or someone is [of no consequence], or [of little consequence], they are not important or valuable. (FORMAL)
As an overseer, he suddenly found himself a person of consequence...
Where he is from is of no consequence to me.
PHRASE: oft with brd-neg, n PHR, v-link PHR
= importance
4) If you tell someone that they must [take the consequences] or [face the consequences], you warn them that something unpleasant will happen to them if they do not stop behaving in a particular way.
These pilots must now face the consequences of their actions and be brought to trial...
If climate changes continue, we will suffer the consequences.
PHRASE: V inflects
(c) HarperCollins Publishers.
More example sentences from wordbank of Collins Cobuild:
BR written: She can talk for hours about the work, and ruefully describes an early failure when a bad- tempered goat, which refused to be milked, got mastitis as a consequence.
BR written: `It's of little consequence whether Marlette escapes or not.
BR written: Herd and Hayter had a fair inkling of what the reaction would be and explained that I was likely to be banned from playing for England if I went, with the inevitable consequence that many of the commercial deals relating to that side of my career would collapse.
BR written: Mr Spencer submitted that all that the deceased needed to know was that there was a period of time between the first and second operations, that the second operation was not successful and that in consequence of the second operation not being successful his leg was amputated.
BR written: My conscience was clear, but that is of no consequence if an applicant is determined to obtain a licence and is no help to the community in which he lives.
BR written: In consequence, many if not most cases will be detected, as Owen's was, late in the course of the disease.
BR written:s it of no significance that companies connected with Mr Ashcroft should enjoy peculiar tax benefits as a consequence of his political influence in Belize?
BR written As a consequence of the second, due to very steep rises in fuel prices on the world market, I have fine-tuned fleet activity levels to enable my command to live within allocated funds.
BR written They can, in gen- eral, accept the realities of the finan- cial situation but dislike being the focus of inaccurate implications that they and the Navy they serve are, as a consequence, unfit to fight and win.
BR written The position was analogous to that which existed where a member of the public suffered special damage in consequence of a public wrong.
BR written As a consequence of its duties, it could be said to have certain implicit statutory rights.
BR written Limited capacity to understand complex phrases and questions, as the result of a deterioriating memory and, in consequence, incapacity to process verbal information adequately. 3.
BR written Economic growth can be fruitfully enjoyed, and equitably shared, only in a community where solidarity has developed as a consequence of familiarity.
BR written The pound has actually been quite weak against the US dollar; its strength is purely a consequence of the dramatic weakening of the euro and the German mark since 1995 (see top two charts).
BR written With every day that passes it becomes clearer that the problem of sterling strength is really a reflection of euro weakness and that this weakness is, in turn, a direct consequence of the mismanagement of the euroland economy by the ECB.
BR written The Court accepted the Government's concession that there had been a violation of article 5.3 and 5.5 with the consequence that it was empowered to make an award of just satisfaction to the applicant under article 41.
BR written The consequence is that such patients frequently experience `phantom" limbs, together with the desire and subjective ability to move them.
BR written Another consequence of moving the victims is that the Somalian people will feel that they have no right to live where they desire which, in a free and democratic country, is absolutely ridiculous.
BR written In a speech to the Association of Jewish Ex - Servicemen, Churchill, claimed that `` in some areas of the inner cities children were attending schools, which not infrequently were made up of 80 percent or more of ethnic minorities and where, in consequence, a traditional English, Christian education was no longer the norm.'' Churchill, a specialist in immigration horror stories, again, for the second time in a few months, raised the spectre of an imaginary invasion by Oriental and African hordes.
BR written Yet it was a direct consequence of what they had so selflessly done.
BR written For all Levay's powers of persuasion, the question ``which is cause and which is consequence?'' remains open.
BR written G, Surrey I hope you don't think I'm ignorant, but are piles an automatic consequence of all anal sex or just the violent variety?
BR written The fairways are wide, but generally sloping: miss the middle by too much and you'll run out of position. Place the shot with passable accuracy, though, and you could face a narrow-necked green, invariably with one bunker some way short of the putting surface, foreshortening the line of shot, a Colt trait. You'll constantly come up short in consequence, so have your short game on-song.
BR written Perhaps as a consequence of inhabiting the character, he is considerably more charitable towards Ike Turner than most commentators, drawing attention to the racism he suffered and the death of his father during childhood.
BR written A significant consequence of that fragmentation of eastern Europe in the wake of Communism's collapse is the mass exodus of leading players chasing lucrative contracts in Holland, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland as well as in Germany, Italy and Spain.
BR written In consequence, our Fist Division has turned itself into a league of borrowers.
BR written In consequence, the Trust's Council is to continue to allow this well-conducted sport to take place on its land, despite the anti-staghunting vote at its annual meeting in North Wales two years ago.
BR written One consequence of the changes, which should all be instituted by the end of 1994, is that the Aga Khan may drop his ban on racing horses in Britain, something he brought in because of the Aliysa affair.
BR written Communist leaders in the region were fond of saying that AIDS was a Western capitalist disease, a consequence of overindulgent living.
BR written The pattern of Fibonacci numbers is a direct consequence of the rules for rabbit generations: here the link from cause to effect is direct and simple.
BR written Neither does it apply to claims which are solely or mainly in respect of physical injury or illness or the consequence of such injury or illness. Redress under this Scheme requires written notice requesting arbitration to be made within nine months of scheduled date of return from the holiday.
BR written Other colleagues have been promoted in consequence.
BR written Loss of some vitamins of the B group and vitamin C is an inevitable consequence of heating food.
BR written If, after allowing the councillor reasonable time to investigate, you are not satisfied, send your complaint to; The Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland [address] [telephone] He will investigate complaints from members of the public who claim to have suffered injustice as a consequence of maladministration in local government.
BR written Experience suggests that an over-emphasis on theory in the early part of the course is not appropriate; in consequence the contribution of education to the first three years has a strong practical emphasis.
BR written In consequence it has attracted a significant number of idealistic or self-sufficient students who are interested in the ends as well as the means of technology.
BR written As a consequence, luggage allowance is limited.
BR written 15. (i) You agree we may hold and process, by computer or otherwise, any information obtained about you as a consequence of this application and/or agreement `Personal Data".
BR written The consequence can be seen in sporadic, piecemeal development everywhere in the countryside and in towns and villages.
US written Another important consequence of my wall-building was a growing entente cordiale with the rocks themselves.
US written You can avoid the latter consequence by careful drafting of the trust language, but it is something to consider and requires a highly skilled, experienced, and trustworthy attorney whose specialty is estate planning and trusts.
US written Many of them found that the consequence of postponing marriage was a life alone.
US written Conservatives see it as the logical consequence of society's abandonment of its ancient insistence upon female chastity.
US written Kemp and the optimists' wrongheadedness, if indeed it is wrongheadedness, about their various pet gimmicks - from enterprise zones to quality circles - is the consequence of excessive faith in the capacity of others.
US written Alcoholism, alcohol abuse or complications thereof, narcotism, barbiturism or any other drug addition or abuse or complications thereof, or any illness, injury or death occurring while the Covered Person is under the influence of or contributed to by the use of, any narcotic or barbiturate or drug unless administered on the advice of a Physician and taken in accordance with the prescribed dosage or for loss sustained or contracted in consequence of ingestion or use of Hallucinatory drugs.
BR spoken -- that's a consequence of either sort of (the the) the er global marketing relationship or the territorial marketing relationship.
BR spoken The consequence is that wind speed stirs up the ocean and drives the ocean circulation wrong which also drives the thermohalo circulation wrong which means that you get errors in the ocean model down the southern hemisphere errors of circulation and errors of season temperature.
BR spoken It's a nuisance and it's a consequence.
US spoken If one scaled the things, then it wouldn't have a consequence.
US spoken What kind of information: identification, culture, ethnicity, what have you are we going to have on kids, gender, rural, suburban, urban so that we can aggregate and disaggregate and talk about subpopulations of consequence? -- That is an important issue.
US spoken The idea here is to make this have more consequence.
US spoken But it's not clear from any of this where the actual end point is and who says, you know, this is what has to be done,
this isn't done and this is the consequence of not putting that into action.
US spoken So there is a consequence.
US spoken So there's some consequence there, obviously. -- So you're saying that Republicans were more interested in going on vacation than in -- -- No, I'm just saying that they ain't doing a good job of running the place.
Guest, which word normally occurs with each word below?
1.
__________________
clear, deep, firm, flat, gentle, gruff, harsh, high, hoarse, husky, loud, low, quiet, shaky, shrill, soft, strident
Sorry to burst your bubble. Language learning is not like solving Calculus problems. If I come across a word "strident", I'd look it up in a dictionary, read all the info(meanings, example setences) my dictionary provides to me and will observe how it fits together with other words in the real context that I am reading or listening. It is enough for me to master its usage. Which word goes which is for the birds.
<For answering above mentioned questions, I am providing you evidence so that you can judge by yourself whether a dictionary is good enough to answer all of these questions. >
If that's all the evidence your two dictionaries provides, I'd say they cannot answer all those questions. For example, how do they answer questions 7, 8 and 9?
If you are an observant of your text then you'd find the answers to your questions like 7,8 and9 with no problems.
<<<9 What positions in a text does consequence like to appear in? (textual colligation) >>
1.She can talk for hours about the work, and ruefully describes an early failure when a bad- tempered goat, which refused to be milked, got mastitis as a consequence. (in the end)
2.`It's of little consequence whether Marlette escapes or not. (in the middle)
3. In consequence it has attracted a significant number of idealistic or self-sufficient students who are interested in the ends as well as the means of technology.
As a consequence, luggage allowance is limited.
(In the beginning)
<If you are an observant of your text then you'd find the answers to your questions like 7,8 and 9 with no problems. >
OK, you showed us 9, now what about 7 and 8?
<<8 What grammatical constructions does consequence like to appear in or with? (colligation) >>>
BR spoken -- that's a consequence of either sort of (the the) the er global marketing relationship or the territorial marketing relationship.
BR written The pound has actually been quite weak against the US dollar; its strength is purely a consequence of the dramatic weakening of the euro and the German mark since 1995 (see top two charts).
article+consequence+preposition
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US spoken-- If one scaled the things, then it wouldn't have a consequence.
So there is a consequence.
article+consequence
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You can observe similar patterns in the example setences. It is not a big deal. The word "consequence" is used in many grammatical constructions. I showed you my demonstration above.
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