[B-Greek] Vocab retention methodology (Drs Buth and Conrad)

Randall Buth randallbuth at gmail.com
Mon Apr 21 12:54:04 EDT 2008


Mitch ERWTHSE
<...The reason for my hesitancy for using index cards
WITHOUT CONTEXT is because there are so many nuances
to some words. If I wanted to learn the word ARCH, and
I put it with EN ARCHi HN hO LOGOS, I might miss all
the other nuances of ARCH and learn the usage for this
use only. In other words, I'd really be interested in
hearing from Drs Buth and Conrad (alphabetical order)
on this nuance issue (semantic domain) and vocab
memorization.>

One step at a time. Each meaning needs to be used
in a situation (real or make-believe) a few times in order to
stick.

>To Drs Buth and Conrad: when you were first learning a
Greek word, did you write down all its nuances? I
mean, LOGOS has numerous nuances; so, did you write
ALL the nuances down or did you write down, in context
form, each nuance on separate index cards? Using ARCH
above, how would you go about learning that ARCH means
several different things depending on its usage in a
context. I am really just wanting to go about
memorizing more and more the best or most effective
way. ...>

I wish I had the answer. I'm not a good person to ask.
I've never used flashcards. Though I did work thru
'recommend word lists' many a year ago. I no longer
recommend such things for learning, they are better
used for rapid review and filling out missing holes,
and I've worn out a few dictionaries in a few languages,
even monolingual dictionaries. But word lists and dictionary
look-up is not an efficient technique. I find concordances
more helpful, and I've worn out several of those, too.
Bookbindings just aren't always designed for serious
users.

The basic rule of thumb is that vocabulary
retention comes from use. hearing/reading a new
word in a meaningful, understandable context, and using
a word in meaningful communication a few times.
It works in English, doesn't it?

It is good to see someone from a coming generation apply
themselves diligently. Maybe you will be in a position in
the future to answer questions like
'What words were available to the 'common man in the street'
in the first century.
And when we will get a good monolingual first century
Greek dictionary? French lit grad students would
feel at a loss if they didn't have French-French dictionaries,
and would wonder what we do in our field without Greek-Greek.
[[The comparison isn't completely fair, though, since some of
our Grk-Eng dictionaries are marvelously thorough and
comprehensive.]]


ERRWSO
Randall

-- 
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicalulpan.org
randallbuth at gmail.com
Biblical Language Center
Learn Easier - Progress Further - Remember for Life



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