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Indo-European Roots

Conventional dictionaries can only provide users translations of English words, and users just memorize them. That is not effective, and it is difficult to strengthen learning English words. The Hyper Dictionary carries out usage the same as ordinary dictionaries, but it possesses an original feature. The Indo-European roots are inserted into the Hyper Dictionary. First, Proto-Indo-European is a virtual language obtained by theoretical reconstruction in the comparative linguistics field, and a gathering of its stems is grouped in various patterns as the Indo-European roots. It is thought that many languages including English were derived from Indo-European roots. Therefore, these roots can be called the original source language of English, or in other words, its ancestor. These Indo-European roots can be referred from the American Heritage Dictionary[4][5]. American Heritage Dictionaries are compiled by authorities of various fields such as cultural anthropology, construction, law, military affairs, religion, movie, music, and sports. It is published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Many American Heritage Dictionaries exist, and the American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European roots is the most important for us and is the basis of this research. A special function is provided in the Hyper Dictionary. The Indo-European roots and English words are linked, and can be found from each other. To learn English words with Indo-European roots is more efficient than to conduct it with nothing, since the words are learned thinking about relations between Indo-European roots and present English. It follows the fact that English words were derived from Indo-European roots. One Indo-European root word branches to several English words, so several English words can be learned via Indo-European roots related to them. This function makes learning English words more efficient. Also, English words can be learned deeply because we can learn them with tracing the origin.
next up previous
Next: An Improvement of the Up: Introduction Previous: Background
root 2004-03-02