I would like to ask for your special interests. please, post topics in which you are interested mostly.
the goal is to collect collocations that are used to describe a particular subject. we all probably know how difficult it is to learn new words and to bear them in mind let alone to use them ā¦
Iād like to give you an example:
If you want to talk about a special theme - arts for instance in my case - often you might feel hesitancy using phrases or vocabulary you have heard about already, maybe you are capable of following a written text about it but asked to reproduce them with your own words, you panic because you canāt remember certain words you need to describe clearly what your thoughts are about. just using common words probably will make you feel despressed that you cannot point out clearly what you mean.
considering this fact I thought it was a good idea to collect words that are related to a special subject, that means to group words to so called lexical sets.
Itās quite easier to remember a new word thatās linked to other words you have in mind already, isnāt it?
so, please help me and tell me words and phrases which are connected to art!
letās built a mind map!
Hi Naufragis, your idea is excellent, Iām sure we can create a list with appropriate keywords and collocations. Letās what our friends have to sayā¦[YSaerTTEW443543]
thank you!
I hope we can run this topic to evoce peoples interests in a mind trading way.
what phrases would you choose to describe a picture?
how the paint is brought onto it?
in which way would you compare it to other pictures?
bright and dark f.e. are opposites but what about futher expressions?
verbs are brighten and darken, they seem to be quite short but are there any other alternative words?
I can clearly see your point. Yes, it would be a good idea to create vocabulary lists for specific purposes. The question is where to start.
Letās try some brainstorming with your topic - arts:
painting
expressions
impressions
colours
colors
texture
surface
gripping
creative
gallery
exhibition
vernisage
literature
prose
poetry
poems
lyrics
etc.
You probably will agree that we could continue this list endlessly. You can create a myriad of associations and it follows words and word collocations to express your thoughts. Sky is the limit. Even the best glossary or dictionary is limited to a tiny little fraction of possible combinations.
What you also could do is this:
Read an article about an artist and their works in English. After you are finished take a clean sheet of paper and write down every little piece of information that you remember. There is a lot more to this methodā¦[YSaerTTEW443543]
TOEIC listening, photographs: A man smiling[YSaerTTEW443543]
I want to avoid making pure word lists.
Iām a follower of mind maps.
so, letās pick out a word from your list and create different sentences it is used in different ways, to point out differences in meaning.
f.e. the word exhibition
tomorrow evening there will be an exhibition opening.
what is the gallerist up to show there?
do you remember the artists name and what kind of work he/ she is creating?
ā¦-
Naufragis, a young artist from Leipzig, Germany, has again been praised for the quality of her work submitted forArt at the Lake exhibition.[YSaerTTEW443543]
I prefer using colours at close quartersto opposite them to a complete other expression, by mixing pigments which are high-contrasteditās easier to transport your imaginations. the picture gets a higher brilliance.
another thing about painting is that unfortunatly it sounds flatly if you say āoveractā to a handling that actually means that you want to point out something by using flashier colours.
is there another expression? to exaggerate s.th. maybe?
How is this used?
I regret to have to stop here, but I have to arrange a nice coffee - table for my bithday guests - my 90-year-old grandma is giving me the pleasure to come along! Iām very happy about that because we havenāt had met for over about half a year.
I would like to recommend a very handy book which will
help you with find?ng those descriptive words you are
looking for to spice up your English vocabulary.
I mentioned it before on the answer to FrankU about the
Fun with a Pun and the āAmbiguousā example.
It?s called the - Chambers - Super-Mini Thesaurus.
Chambers is the Publisher by the way.
It?s small, practical and handy to carry with you everywhere.
Full of Synonyms & Antonyms of course - over 155,000 actually.
You will probably find it in Amazon quite easily and will cost
about ?7,00 I would think.
Hi Naufragis,
I?ve just realised you are pretty much a word junkie like me.
The more words I know - the better I can paint.
When we write we actually āpaint with wordsā.
How colourful, definite and recognisable your picture will be
depends on how many word types you use (i.e Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Quantifiers etc.) AND the weight
or impact the words hold. Can you follow my thoughts.
The best selling story writers (novelists, journalists, thriller writers, playwrights etc.) - in the world are those who literally can paint with words so clearly that the reader understands and sees without any effort at all. There are also some readers who want to be taken on a cat and mouse journey to try and guess what the conclusion will be, and that?s fun too.
What do you think about that Naufragis???
Best Wishes, Bruce.
out of bed, Iām back again and -how surprising - over night new questions were growingā¦
but first: thank you all very much for your wishes!
the party was a complete success - all the people have gotten drunken and funny. maybe my special punch made of stawberries, lychees and a huge amount of vodka has played a trick on them?
bruce, your recommendation is ordered by now.
and for replying to your last post - I really do agree with you!
but therefore Iāll write another post.
In a book rewiew I found the word āwilsthā but canāt find out the meaning ā¦ would you please write an explaination to that? hereās the sentence I refer to: āWhilst focusing primarily on art, neither architecture nor design are overlooked.ā
Hi Naufragis, sounds like you had a great time yesterday with all your friends. By the way: Is their English as good as yours?
As for your question, I think Ā«whilstĀ» and Ā«whileĀ» are synonyms, yet the latter has more or less replaced Ā«whilstĀ». You might hear the word when you talk to a certain type of British people. There could be more information about this word - you might want to ask Mr Alan Townend when he returns from his holiday, Iām sure he can give you a more detailed answer.[YSaerTTEW443543]
TOEIC listening, photographs: Enjoying a beer[YSaerTTEW443543]
youāre quite wrong assessing my english for good. it isnāt as good yet as your comments and answers have been - and I hope will keep - since I entered this forum.
I do have to learn quite a lot, because all Iāve ever heard about isnāt on top of my memory.
the point is not only to understand but to achieve a level of understanding āby heartā that allows me to describe exactly what I think. thinking in your mother tounge allows you to think further while youāre speaking so you can make an effect on how the words you are saying are soaked up, interpreted ā¦
my troubles are about -first of all- times, grammar and even vocabulary.
I still donāt believe that I could survive
with my current language skills in england. okay, maybe Iām able to order something for breakfast and to ask for a ticket straight home ā¦ but to study there I have a very long way to go ā¦
- over night new questions were growingā¦