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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Do they conceptualize this way?
Hi,
Different than those who rely on a dictionary to find out whether a particular word is a countable or uncountable noun, do native speakers rely their own knowledge of word usage that naturally stem from years of usage? I think if you look at some dictionaries from America, for instance, I think you will find out some do not have countable or uncountable notations for a word but seem to just list straight definitions of a word. Is that how a native speaker learns to distinguish whether a word is countable or uncountable?
The dictionay I have seems to list many definitions along with many different notations that tell whether each defined noun case for a word is countable or uncountable, or even variable. The definitional entries for 'experience', for example, are many. but when I asked a question in regard to the fact that those many definitions are confusing to apply in real sentential situations, I think a guru has told me to the effect that it all comes down to a general vs. specific differentiation.
Then why is that that word is not shown as a variable noun?
Why is that a dictionary like the one I list some words as a variable noun and for some other words like the word 'experience', it does not say it is a variable noun but goes on to list many definitional entries that seem to come down to general and specific differentiations as a guru seems to have noted in response to one of my inquring posts?
It seems, to native speakers, there is no need to look at a dictionary of my kind to sort through many entries to find one that is likely to meant to be the one that fits more or less perfectly in a particular sentential situation he is not sure about. Sorry if my question is confusing.
Different than those who rely on a dictionary to find out whether a particular word is a countable or uncountable noun, do native speakers rely their own knowledge of word usage that naturally stem from years of usage? I think if you look at some dictionaries from America, for instance, I think you will find out some do not have countable or uncountable notations for a word but seem to just list straight definitions of a word. Is that how a native speaker learns to distinguish whether a word is countable or uncountable?
The dictionay I have seems to list many definitions along with many different notations that tell whether each defined noun case for a word is countable or uncountable, or even variable. The definitional entries for 'experience', for example, are many. but when I asked a question in regard to the fact that those many definitions are confusing to apply in real sentential situations, I think a guru has told me to the effect that it all comes down to a general vs. specific differentiation.
Then why is that that word is not shown as a variable noun?
Why is that a dictionary like the one I list some words as a variable noun and for some other words like the word 'experience', it does not say it is a variable noun but goes on to list many definitional entries that seem to come down to general and specific differentiations as a guru seems to have noted in response to one of my inquring posts?
It seems, to native speakers, there is no need to look at a dictionary of my kind to sort through many entries to find one that is likely to meant to be the one that fits more or less perfectly in a particular sentential situation he is not sure about. Sorry if my question is confusing.
Top answer
As in any language, native speakers absorb words as they mature from infancy to adulthood. They learn from example and instruction the context or syntax of words. You only have to watch a mother and a small child to see how the child is learning from the mother, and how the mother will correct the child.
- As in any language, native speakers absorb words as they mature from infancy to adulthood.
- They learn from example and instruction the context or syntax of words.
- You only have to watch a mother and a small child to see how the child is learning from the mother, and how the mother will correct the child.
- However, apart from the basics of the language, they will also need dictionaries when they encounter words they cannot identify or interpret.
- Choosing one dictionary against another seems almost impossible, and it does often look as if they are using different concepts.
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3 Answers
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As in any language, native speakers absorb words as they mature from infancy to adulthood. They learn from example and instruction the context or syntax of words. You only have to watch a mother and a small child to see how the child is learning from the mother, and how the mother will correct the child.
However, apart from the basics of the language, they will also need dictionaries w
However, apart from the basics of the language, they will also need dictionaries w
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Thank you, Feeb11 and Nona.
I think I have asked a similar question and Nona made a good comment. My question this time is for words like 'experience', for which one of the dictionaries I have, which is the Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary, seems to list about three noun definitional entries, aside from one entry that said it a noun used in a N of N format, and they
I think I have asked a similar question and Nona made a good comment. My question this time is for words like 'experience', for which one of the dictionaries I have, which is the Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary, seems to list about three noun definitional entries, aside from one entry that said it a noun used in a N of N format, and they
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