Spanish Vocabulary: An Etymological Approach - Softcover

Brodsky, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0292716680 ISBN 13: 9780292716681

Publisher: University of Texas Press, 2008

Synopsis

Unlike other vocabulary guides that require the rote memorization of literally thousands of words, this book starts from the premise that using the etymological connections between Spanish and English words―their common derivations from Latin, Greek, and other languages―is the most effective way to acquire and remember vocabulary. This approach is suitable for beginners as well as for advanced students. Teachers of the language will also find much material that can be used to help motivate their students to acquire, and retain, Spanish vocabulary.

Spanish Vocabulary is divided into four parts and four annexes:

• Part I provides background material on the origins of Spanish and begins the process of presenting Spanish vocabulary.
• Part II presents "classical" Spanish vocabulary―words whose form (in both Spanish and English) is nearly unchanged from Latin and Greek.
• Part III deals with "popular" Spanish vocabulary, which underwent significant changes in form (and often meaning) during the evolution from Latin to Spanish. A number of linguistic patterns are identified that will help learners recognize and remember new vocabulary.
• Part IV treats a wide range of themes, including words of Germanic and Arabic origin, numbers, time, food and animals, the family, the body, and politics.
• Annex A: Principal exceptions to the "Simplified Gender Rule"
• Annex B: 700 words whose relations, if any, to English words are not immediately obvious
• Annex C: -cer verbs and related words
• Annex D: 4,500 additional words, either individually or in groups, with English correspondences

About this title

About the Author:

David Brodsky, , who currently resides in Aix-en-Provence, France, is also the author of Spanish Verbs Made Simple(r) and French Verbs Made Simple(r). He holds advanced degrees from MIT and Yale University.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0292716680
• ISBN 13: 9780292716681
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 653