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’Thematic’ lists

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JanKG
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 Message 1 of 19
18 February 2010 at 9:57pm | IP Logged 
I am not sure the adjective is correct, but I would like to find references to websites (and books) where words have been collected in 'theme clusters'. Like,e.g., all sorts of words referring to 'heavy' (lit. and fig., like 'charge'). I think I have come across some, even one where all kinds of related words were presented visually, but I cannot find them. Maybe even a coursebook "Using English Vocabulary" by a French professor?

The point is: do you have any books based on 'semantically thematic clusters' ? Not just pragmatically thematic (at the station, at the restaurant), but semantically related (heavy, charge, onus, weigh, estimate, load, ... ). Of course that might not seem so very useful, but I'd like to explore the possibilities... Thanks !

Edited by JanKG on 22 February 2010 at 9:19am

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Johntm
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 Message 2 of 19
18 February 2010 at 10:42pm | IP Logged 
I know some of the people here aren't fans of learning lists, but whatever works for you. I don't know of any books, but
JanKG wrote:
all sorts of words referring to 'heavy' (lit. and fig., like 'charge').
how does charge refer to heavy?
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JanKG
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 Message 3 of 19
18 February 2010 at 10:53pm | IP Logged 
Well, lists can be different. The kind of lists I have in mind might be different, because I prefer to learn words in contexts, with links connecting them.

For example: when thinking of Dutch zwaar/ heavy, it is easy to go on brainstorming and connect that to carrying, bearing, and then to charge, load, the antonyms like light, etc. We can use zwaar in both a lit. and fig. sense, you see.
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Johntm
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 Message 4 of 19
19 February 2010 at 1:45am | IP Logged 
I think I get what your saying. Sorry, I was just wondering what your thought process was to connect charge to heavy, but I think I understand it now.
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psy88
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 Message 5 of 19
19 February 2010 at 4:05am | IP Logged 
There are a series of "thematic" vocabulary books available. The series title is "Mastering (Spanish, French, German,etc.) Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach". Perhaps this is what you are looking for?
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TheBiscuit
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 Message 6 of 19
19 February 2010 at 4:34am | IP Logged 
You might like the 'Using German/Spanish/French/Italian Synonyms' books. Check out the German one here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=4kMa_2reUU8C&printsec=front cover&dq=using+german+synonyms&client=opera&hl=es&cd=1#v=one page&q=&f=false

I love the sequencing of these books.
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Journeyer
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 Message 7 of 19
19 February 2010 at 5:56am | IP Logged 
There are also thematic books for Japanese vocabulary. Just type in the language and thematic or vocabulary at amazon.com. Browsing is wonderful fun. :-)
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JanKG
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 Message 8 of 19
19 February 2010 at 8:51am | IP Logged 
Thanks a lot, everyone !

- Mastering/ Using ... : had a look and it is certainly interesting. I do think the presentation is not yet good enough and it is still too narrow in scope. See below. (Nut I would really love to find the book "Using English Vocabulary" (or ???) by a French professor. If anyone can give me the reference, please do)
- I am still looking for the site offering synonyms, near-synonyms, maybe more, in a visual presentation
- the Amazon hint (language + thematic) led me to some interesting books, though not so much on thematic vocabulary in the narrow sense !

But let me try to give you an idea of what I am thinking of starting from words, no, concepts like small and big ;
- synonyms could be listed, adjectives, and their nouns
- some peculiar compounds
- verbs: (derivations and all kinds of verbs meaning) get smaller,
- verbs: (id.) make smaller, lit.(reduce
) and fig. (belittle)

I could imagine adding texts where the idea of 'smallness' is discussed (miniaturisation, iPads, etc.).

Is there anything of the kind?

(I have been doing that with Dutch phrasal verbs (well, the equivalent), even from an etymological point of view (in part), with references to Lat./ Greek roots and French/ English/ German equivalents, but of course that is mainly interesting for advanced learners and native speakers. I did consider thematic clusters after that, but I want some more ideas first)



Edited by JanKG on 22 February 2010 at 9:16am



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