English is a vibrant, living language. Derived from the Indo-Euorpean family of languages, it has evolved or “borrowed” from a variety of languages, including Latin, German, French, and a host of others. It can also prove a confusing and complicated language for native and non-native speakers alike. Explaining inconsistent spelling and pronunciation rules can be quite trying for the teacher and frustrating for the learner. Why is rough pronounced (ruf), but through pronounced (thru) and though (tho)?
Another curiosity includes the class of homophones that have opposite meanings: Raise=lift Raze=demolish Oral= vocal Aural=auditory. Contranyms are an additional little known classification of troublesome words. “A contronym is a single word with two contradictory meanings.” Some common words fall into this category:
- Bolt- fasten or run
- Cleave-split or adhere
- Dust- remove dust, or sprinkle with dust
- Fast-move quickly or stick
- Sanction- permit or condemn
For a full list of these “demon words,” refer to Daily Writing Tips.
Enjoy the semantic journey!
Laura Maniglia