Chapter 4: Keywords


Overview

The parts of speech all play their specific roles in language. Keywords are words you pick out of a text and store in your memory. They help you to recall the text when you need it.

Let s try an exercise:

exercise
start example

In the following text we have removed all words but those that are describing something “ how it looks, etc. What information do you get when you read these words? Every dash means a word has been omitted. Write down the associations you get from the words in the text.

” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” . ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” . Casually ” ” ” ” , ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ornamental ” ”, ” yellow ” gaily marked , ” ” ” ”, ” ” ” alongside ” ” ” perpendicularly. ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” , ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” , young ” attractive. ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ”, ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” beneath ” ” .

Of course it is impossible to know exactly what this text is about by looking only at these words. But they do give you some information “ they seem to describe a person and/or an object.

Let s add all the other words, except the verbs and the nouns, and see what happens:

The ” he ” in this ” ” to a ” ” ” ” . Through a ” of this ” ” the ” between ” and ” . Casually ” over the ” , ” ” ” down the ” before him an ornamental ” ” , ” yellow and gaily marked, ” by two ” , a ” ” alongside ” a ” perpendicularly. The ” ” ” with ” ” and ” ” , and on the ” of the whole ” a ” , young and attractive. ” ” not ” the ” for more than half a ” , when the ” ” ” to a ” just beneath his ” .

Isn t it strange to discover how little some words mean? Let s add all the verbs as well and see what happens

The ” he was in this ” sloped to a ” called ” ” . Through a ” of this ” ran the ” between ” and ” . Casually glancing over the ” , ” saw coming down the ” before him an ornamental ” ” , painted yellow and gaily marked, drawn by two ” , a ” walking alongside bearing a ” perpendicularly. The ” was laden with ” ” and ” ” , and on the ” of the whole sat a ” , young and attractive. ” had not beheld the ” for more than half a ” , when the ” was brought to a ” just beneath his ” .

There are 27 nouns in this text out of a total of 109 words. Still it is not clear what this text is about. Perhaps some of the verbs, such as painted, drawn, walking, bearing, was laden and sat will give you some clues?

Here are the missing words!

The field he was in this morning sloped to a ridge called Norcombe Hill. Through a spur of this hill ran the highway between Emminster and Chalk-Newton. Casually glancing over the hedge , Oak saw coming down the incline before him an ornamental spring waggon , painted yellow and gaily marked, drawn by two horses , a waggoner walking alongside bearing a whip perpendicularly. The waggon was laden with household goods and window plants , and on the apex of

the whole sat a woman , young and attractive. Gabriel had not beheld the sight for more than half a minute , when the vehicle was brought to a standstill just beneath his eyes .

(From Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy)

Well, were you able to guess the content of the text? Perhaps some of the small pieces of information you got from the start could have helped you in the right direction?

Let s do it the other way round. In the text below you have all the nouns. Try to find out what this text is about:

” ” ” people ” ” oceans, continents ” rivers ” ” ” United States. ” ” ” ” language ” ” ” race, religion ” nation ” ” world.

” ” ” newcomers ” poverty ” search ” ” ” opportunities. ” ” ” ” ” persecution ” search ” ” freedom. ” United States ” ” ” symbol ” democracy ” freedom. ” ” ” ” ” ” ” society ” ” ” pot, ” ” ” ” ” decades Americans ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” society ” ” ” communities, ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” .

” fact, ” United States ” ” ” ” ” ” communities ” ” ” ” ” ” wealth. ” reality ” dreams ” success ” ” ” ” ” ” factors.

(From Americans and the US by Frederic Fleisher,

Seminarium 1987)

Now, do you need the missing words? Probably not. You get enough information with the nouns to find a meaning in the text as it is.

end example
 



Learning Maps and Memory Skills
Learning Maps and Memory Skills (Creating Success)
ISBN: 0749441283
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 63

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