Images Building English Vocabulary with Etymology Introduction

Book excerpt: Images is a mnemonic method for learning English vocabulary by connecting the pictured Latin roots of English words to the present day definitions. A centuries old root stands for a simple object or action, which visualized, opens up a better understanding of a word. As one root belongs to the other interconnected linguistic family members, just one root is a catalyst to exponential growth in vocabulary. Exercises throughout Images reinforce the link between roots and word definitions. Images introduces students to the Latinate level of English essential in the professions, instrumental in the sciences, and useful in history and literature. This level the invading Norman French - descendants of Roman Gaul - forced upon the Anglo Saxon Britons after the Norman Conquest at Hastings in 1066. Since then the Anglo Saxons - and today's students of English - have had to come to terms with the imposed Latinate upper strata. Other Latin inheritors are today's Italians, Portuguese, and Spanish. Images reacquaints them with their own heritage that reverberates in English and that facilitates learning English vocabulary. Images Introduction is part of the Series Building English Vocabulary with Etymology from Latin.