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Vocabulary Enrichment in English through Etymology among Indian

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 Resonanee -Vol. 10.2, A (July, 2022) ISSN 2320-7116

Vocabulary Enrichment in English through Etymology among Indian Undergraduates

Bisnu Charan Mahato
Research Scholar, Department of English
Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Abstract
Vocabulary, the knowledge of words, their meanings, connotations, and contexts in English is
not only a major indicator of a learner's level of understanding and efficiency to use the
language in various contexts, but it also rejlects the level of knowledge of that person,
particularly in her area of interest and expertise. Anon-native learner of ELT can easily
become overwhelmed by the sheer number of words that have to be learned to have a
competent vocabulary. In India, millions of graduates and undergraduates preparing for
GRE, GMAT, SAT, CAT, MAT, IBPS, SSC, CDS, NDA, IELTS, TOEFL, and other such
examinations face the same problem. This paper aims to find out the importance of
Etymology and its efectivenessin developing a competent vocabulary so that they can excel
in these examinations as well asbe able to talk or understand critical terms during an oral
communication in various social and professional scenarios.
Keywords: Etymology, Root words, affixes, Vocabulary Development,
Introduction
For Indians, English is the language of empowerment, upward mobility, and an instrument
for progress(Graddol, 2010). But in India, ELT itself suffers hierarchical discrimination
everywhere,from elite English medium to rural regional medium schools, from government-
run colleges to private own universities. Inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained, efficient
teachers, impractical pedagogical approach,absence of contextualized study materials coupled
with linguistic nationalism hinderthe progress of ELT and demotivate the learners.

As if these problems were not enough for Indian learners, the peculiarity of "Crazy
English"(Lederer, 2010) with odd pronunciations, illogical spellings, and the vast number of
words,erects every possible hurdle to its learners. In the absence of one-to-onealphabet to
sound correspondence, the presence of words with silent letters and multiple meanings to a
single word, irregular nouns, verbs, and weird spellings together make getting hold of
English vocabulary the most challenging task for the learners."While without grammar ver
little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed'(Wilkins, 1972, p. 111).
Without sufficient vocabulary learners neither can express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings
nor can they understand others. if areader comes across words that s/he misunderstands or
does not understand correctly, s/he feels perplexed and isunable to learn further,giving up the
rcading or study altogether(Hubbard, 2005, pp. 101-127).
Thus, lack of sufficient vocabulary development poses the greatest challenge to the learners
inhibiting their ability toread and learn(Wallace, 2007). While (Turner & Williams,
2007)established the link between the performance of a student in examinations to their

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and
vocabulary level, Norman Lewis underlines the close relationship between vocabulary
are tools of
personal, professional as well as intellectual growth. According to Lewis words
his/her level of
thought so much so that the I.Q. of a person is directly proportional to
vOcabulary.A superior vocabulary provides individuals with better jobs, better pay, anda
better perspective on life.
Why Etymology Matters
English vocabulary is abeast hard to tame for most of the Indian students from non-elite
government schools and colleges. As the Indian curriculum of English is
limited to
private or
reading and writing, students resort to rote learning only to qualify for the examinations. But
as(Wilkins, 1972)states that the best way to learm and retain words that are learned or taught
is with visual and cognitive associations. while the random rote learning of English words
fails to provide any such associations between the words to the leamers, Etymology Teveals
the inherent idea on which a word is built, can pinpoint itsorigin, and provides a logical
explanation to all the changes in its spcllings, meanings, and connotations. 1hrougn
etymology, along with the words, one gets all the associated intrinsic ideas as well as the
nexus among words and germane ideas, the leaming becomes fast and long-lasting
According to (Bryson, 1991, pp. 67-83)Over 60 % of all English words have Latin roots that
came directly into Bnglish or through an intermediary such as French. In the case of science
and technology-specific vocabulary, the figure can be as high as 90%. The Greek roots
entered into English via Latin or works of Greek authors,scientific terms in English have
been being formed by combining Greek elements in novel ways since the Renaissance.
Compounding, clipping, blending. functional shift, acronyms, derivatives of proper nouns,
imitative words, borrowing, and affixing, Etymology introduces learners to all these ways of
word-formation. Further, ithelps non-native learners master hundreds of new words, just by
acquiring a few dozen root words. For example, if one learns the Latin root scribere (to
write)and a few other affixes,one can easily comprehend the meanings ofscribe, prescribe,
proscribe, inscribe, circumscribe, transcribe, describe, subscribe, superscribe, scribble,
scribbler, script, manuscript, subscription, conscript, conscription, Superscription,
proscription, scriptorium, ypescript, scripture, scriptural, transcription, inscription, and
prescription and many other such words built on this roots(Penner & McConnell, 1977, p.
94).
(Penner & McConnell, 1977, p. 95) further claim that by understanding Etymological
derivation of just 14 words-precept, detain, intermittent, offer, insist, monograph, epilogue,
aspect, uncomplicated, nonextended, reproduction, indisposed, over-sufficient, and and
mistranscribe, one can unlock the meanings of over 14000 useful words.
Etymology not only helps learners to build just vocabulary, but it paves way for a superior
vocabulary. It teaches the learners to understand and work with ideas,broadens their
knowledge as well as their perspective, empowers them to use the right word in any

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 Resonance -Vol. 10.2, A (July, 2022) ISSN- 2320-7116

siuation.Learning to deal with etymology not only adds thousands of very important words
to the learners' vocabulary but adds them pemanently,in such a way that they can use new
words with self-assurance andcan figure out thousands of words they have never heard or
seen before(Lewis, 2015). After working through 47 sessions( 30-45 minutes each, total zof
25 -35 hours)of Lewis' best-seller book Word Power MadeEasy,leamers can learn meanings,
coherent
spelings, pronunciations of thousands of words in an interesting, logical, and
manner, fromfields as diverse as follows:
1. All kinds of personalities of people, their self-interests, reactions, attitudes, skills;
Love and hate for man, woman, and marriage.
2. Medical specialities and specialists treating women and children; Skin, skeleton,
heart, nerves, mind, and personality.
3. Various professions deal with the human mind, teeth, sight, feet, handwriting and

ageing.
4. Study of human development, heaven, earth, plants, animals, insects, words,
languages, and social organizations.
5.
5 Different types of liars and lies; Terms related to fame, craftsmanship, reform,
inheritance, time, place, and suffering.
6. Important human activities: expressive terms for good and bad, doing, saying,
and pleasing, too much or too little talked.
wishing,
Who is a disciplinary, toad, dilettante, provocative woman, flag thrower, free
7.
thinker? What should we call the person with a single mind or who have imaginary
ailments?
8. Terms regarding father and mother, all kinds of murders; sexual desires; various

manias and phobias.

9. Degree of friendliness, energy, mental sharpness, honesty, bravery, charm, and
sophistication. How people eat, drink, believe, see, or see things; face the present,

past future; Living in a city and a country.

or
10. Poverty and wealth; direct and indirect emotions; Euphemism; Banter; animal-like
satisfaction; Homesickness, Eat meat; different types of secrecy. Terms expressing
human resemblance to difterent animals and types of sounds.
kindness, clichés,
11. How people exhaust, criticize, sacrifice themselves, repeat themselves or mentally

stagnate, pretend or are indecisive. How to hint, calm down and empathize.
12. Adjectives for insincere humility, dissatisfaction, arrogance, politeness to women,

financial embarrassment, and sadness.

Conclusion
Initially, Etymology may seem intimidating to the learners but once learnt, the vocabulary
level of the learners drastically improves. Training in etymology enables them to understand
new words more clearly and remember them more easily. In due course, acquired knowledge

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 Resonance -Vol. 10.2, A (July, 2022) ISSN - 2320-7116

of basic roots, prefixes, suffixes make it possible for them to figure out the meanings of most

of the words they may never have seen before(Lewis, Instant word power, 1982, p. 8). They
ones. They have a
not only can identify, understand unseen words, but they can also coin new
them in vaious
deeper understanding and appreciation of these words and hence can use
contexts accurately. Once learned, the learners reap the benefits of etymology throughout
their lives. With stories Etymology is interesting, the versatile application makes it very

useful, as a tool to dissect meanings out of unseen words, it is a very fast and effective
strategy for quick vocabulary development.
Despite offering a vocabulary and enabling learners to decipher new
tremendous increase in
words on their own, in a relatively very short time, Etymology failed to draw
the attention of
in school or
the researchers and academicians in India, consequently,it has not been featured
theoretical and empirical
college curriculum at any level in India. The paper calls for further
of etymology to
research in the Indian context so that students of India get to rip the benefits
raise their vocabulary as well as themselves to meet the demands of recruiting agencies
or

organizations and realize their latent potentials.

References:
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