[B-Greek] Memorizing definitions, learning techiniques
R Yochanan Bitan Buth
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
Wed Jun 23 11:18:24 EDT 2004
>Cook egrapsen
>So, I have a huge stack of flashcards which I go through everyday. I have a
>summer workbook to practice translating and I do "read" the GNT, and that
is
>both frustrating and enjoyable, which brings me back to the question, how
>does one read the GNT if one cannot define the words?
>Terry Cook
some language learning issues here.
If you like flashcards, they're yours.
Personally, in most languages I've worked with, I find that seeing a word in
context is crucial. With what words is it used? How is it used? Concordances
are very useful here, though when unfiltered, they require a relatively
large vocabulary.
Secondly, it is sometimes/often good to learn about words from reading
without looking them up. (I'm kidding, right? No, I'm serious.) This morning
I was working with our Texts and Land students. (different language, same
priciples.) David wanted to "chase this GEDUD", where the words "chase" and
"this" are already known by most students. Well, in the passage 1Sm30 one
can see that a GEDUD could burn a city and take captives/slaves. David
wanted to chase the GEDUD with 600 men. Also, this GEDUD was Ameleqi by
ethnicity. David and 400 men found the GEDUD and took the booty animals and
people back. By now, you have half of a picture of what a GEDUD is and your
brain has opened a new file on this for future reference. Incidently, a
GEDUD is made up of males and they are armed to fight. They are smaller than
a TSAVA.
Thirdly, I like to see definitions in the language itself and supported with
examples of usage. This is a spiralling phenomenon. Words can be used to
define more complex words which can be used for more complex words.
WHD Rouse A Greek Boy at Home (first half of 20th century)does a lot of this
in Attic Greek. This often leads to fuller pictures of what is called a
semantic domain and is also part of the self-correcting mechanism within
langauges.
ERRWSQE
Randall Buth
Randall Buth, PhD
Director, Biblical Language Center
www.biblicalulpan.org
and Director, Biblical Studies in Israel
Hebrew University, Rothberg International School
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
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