CLSL 001 - Etymology: The Greek and Latin Roots in English

Lower Division

A course in vocabulary-building and word-power. Students learn how to decode a wide range of complicated English vocabulary, to make better and more precise vocabulary choices, and to improve oral and written communication skills. Over 60 percent of all English words have Greek or Latin roots. In the sciences and technology, the figure rises to over 90 percent. This course surveys Greek and Latin derivatives in English and examines the contexts in which the original meanings have changed. Students learn to interpret correctly the semantic range of Greek and Latin roots in English. The English language emerges as a dynamic system intricately linked to historical, social, and cultural realities.

Course credits: 0.25