9/24/2015

Wordup:howtoimproveandenlargeyourvocabulary|Lifeandstyle|TheGuardian

Word up: how to improve and enlarge your

vocabulary
A large lexicon helps open our minds, says the memory coach Ed Cooke. Below, try his online word
quiz for fun

Ed Cooke
Friday 12 September 2014 14.00BST

he most common question that people ask our team at Memrise is: can you help me
learn a foreign language? A vocabulary rich in French or Chinese words is
indispensable for speaking those languages fluently, and the quickest route to
competence.
But we can be guilty of neglecting our own language. A large native vocabulary is a gift that
doesnt stop giving. It improves our powers of expression and comprehension, and opens
the imagination.
Words define the shape and scope of our understanding. Learn a word such as aglet, the
little plastic end to a shoelace, and youll be better able to recognise and enjoy something
familiar and unremarkable. Learn the word tarantism, a disorder characterised by the
uncontrollable urge to dance, and youll gain the ability to recognise and describe a trait in
yourself or a friend. And, of course, words such as these are simply fun to know.
Learning vocab can, however, be tricky. If we dont know the best way to retain new words,
we can forget what weve learned.
I like to think of the mind as a garden. Each new word begins life as a seed. It needs to take
root, and will die without attention early on. In this way, expanding your vocabulary is a
long-term activity that depends on good habits and sensible practice.
Here are my tips on how to enlarge your vocabulary.
Little and often
The first rule of learning is do it in small chunks. Brief bursts are better than one long blast.
During a break of only an hour, the brain assimilates new connections, then is ready for
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/12/howimproveenlargevocabularyenglishmemory

1/3

9/24/2015

Wordup:howtoimproveandenlargeyourvocabulary|Lifeandstyle|TheGuardian

more.
Three words a day is a good number to aim for in a busy life. Its best to collect words from
your reading, and add them to a wordbook or a list on an app such as Memrise.
Make connections
Memories are connections. So when youre learning a new word, you want to make sure its
connected to those you already know. What does the word tarantism remind you of?
Tarantula? Tarantino? Your friend Tara? The link doesnt matter, its only important that
there is one.
Take two other words you might not have heard before: nivial and callipygian. Before you
know their meaning, ask yourself: what do these words make me think of? What do they
resemble?
With a long word like callipygian, you might want to break it into parts.
Visual association
The next step is to connect the sound to the meaning. This is best done with a vivid visual
image. A strong image sticks in the mind for a long time. For example: to link tarantism
to its meaning, imagine Quentin Tarantino dancing manically: this vivid image should
lastingly connect the concept of manic dancing with the word.
Nivial might have reminded you of the brand Nivea. It means growing among snow. So to
remember it, you could imagine a bottle of hand cream protruding from some snow.
Callipygian means having well-shaped buttocks, but sounds like call a pigeon. Imagining
seeing a pert bird in Trafalgar Square.
Active usage and recall
The more a memory is used, the more it will endure. So my fourth tip is to engage in active
repetition and usage. This is where you get to play with your new words.
Next time you go dancing, for example, think of Quentin Tarantino there with you, going
wild on the dance floor, and youll remember tarantism.
Its absolutely fine, indeed recommended, to over-use the word, to abuse your new
knowledge. What do you think of polar bears? Theyre nivial. Of George Clooney?
Callipygian. You look restless today? Dont worry, thats just the tarantism coming on.
You see someone tying their shoelaces: nice aglets.

Words to learn
Try adding these to your vocabulary how will you make them memorable?
twyndyllyngs (TWIN-dilingz): twins (obsolete, from the Welsh)
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/12/howimproveenlargevocabularyenglishmemory

2/3

9/24/2015

Wordup:howtoimproveandenlargeyourvocabulary|Lifeandstyle|TheGuardian

apricity (ah-PRI-ci-tee): the warmth of the sun in the cold winter

snollygoster (SNOLlygoster): someone guided by personal advantage, esp politicians
princox (PRIN-koks): a self-confident young fellow (used in Romeo and Juliet)
novercal (NOvercal): of, relating to, or characteristic of a stepmother
yclept (IHklept): by the name of, as in a man yclept Ed
hodiernal (hodi-ERnal): relating to the present day (from the Latin)
snicket (SNICKit): a narrow passage between houses, an alley
tresaiel (TREsayle) a great-great-grandfather (legal term)
syzygy (SIZ-uhjee): the straight alignment of three celestial bodies

Test yourself
Nivial, aglet, callipygian and tarantism were among 50 words suggested by the Memrise
community as their favourites in the English language.
See if you can learn and remember them with this online course to help you learn and
remember these 50 words for fun. Memrise is designed to assist you with all of the
components of memory mentioned in this article, including repetition, testing, usage and
associations. The 50 words will take you perhaps an hour of play to learn, and youll
emerge with an invigorated sense of the beauty and fun of the world. Enjoy!
More features

Topics
Linguistics
Language
Languages
Written language
English and creative writing

Save for later Article saved

Reuse this content
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/12/howimproveenlargevocabularyenglishmemory

3/3