Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely – Book Review

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Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely: 3500 Most Beautiful English Vocabulary Words

by Robin Devoe

I've been trying to supercharge my vocabulary by consuming books on this subject. The year 2024 concluded with me finishing up Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er by Albert B. Squid, which presents one big and fancy word (as the title says) for every day of the year. In the middle of this year, I wrapped up my reading of the lexically luminiferous resource The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain. Now here I am reviewing Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe, which, in a sense, is the ne plus ultra of all such I've read to date.

Why so? Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe lists English words that you would most likely not encounter in everyday life. Here is a selection of random expressions from the book: amaranthine, limerence, oneiric, catachthonian, mansuetude, quiddity, gourmandism, esprit d'escalier, plumigerous, hesternal, zeitgeist, redivivus, encincture, devenustate, and spizzerinctum. On the whole, the definitions are easy to understand, and I like the fact that the author also provides information about etymology, parts of speech, synonyms & antonyms, rarity, obsoleteness, etc., although this doesn't apply to every entry. A tiny number of entries show how to pronounce the words – I kind of wish each and every one had such information; natheless, I realize that it would probably be too massive an undertaking. Hence, I had to use other resources, such as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), to grok this aspect of the vocabulary.

All of these notwithstanding, I have encountered a number of inaccuracies, without which the dictionary would be more outstanding. Here are several examples:

• In the entry for "nanization", "bonzai" should be "bonsai" – a mistake probably caused by the similarity between "bonsai" and "banzai" (another word of Japanese origin). (p. 86)
• As the definition is that of a verb, the word "scintillant" (adjective) should be "scintillate". (p. 118)
• In the entry for "spiracle", "anthropods" should be "arthropods". (p. 125)

All in all, Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely by Robin Devoe is an absolutely frabjous English resource! I am sempiternally grateful for its existence and wholeheartedly recommend this dictionary to any logophile, poet, or one who wants to delve deep into the English lexicon.

Have you read Dictionary of the Strange, Curious & Lovely? What would you say about this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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The Lexicologist's Handbook – Book Review

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The Lexicologist's Handbook: A Dictionary of Unusual Words

by Dane Cobain

I have been fascinated by English for eons. The joy of learning and exploring this language is immense, so much so that I ended up becoming an EFL teacher in my country, Indonesia. Although grammar is the aspect that got me hooked in the first place and played a primary role in setting my life trajectory, the beauty and richness of the English vocabulary is unlimited food for my insatiable linguistic appetite. The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain is such a terrific resource for this never-ending adventure.

This book is basically a dictionary – but not a usual one. It is jam-packed with unusual, rare, fancy, or otherwise cool English words that will imbue readers with lexical superpower. In each entry, there is information on the word's pronunciation, type(s), definition(s), and example sentence(s), which enables you to understand the word thoroughly and primes you to use it in real-life situations, impressing your fellow humans linguistically.

Howbeit, considering The Lexicologist's Handbook is aimed at learners of English and educational in nature, I wish the accuracy of the content were higher. I have encountered a number of mistakes, one of which is "Amphitheatre" being misspelled as "Ampitheatre". On top of that, the pronunciation feature could be enhanced by adding information on stress position.

On the whole, The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain is a spectacular addition to English literature. If you are bored of using ordinary expressions or looking to diversify your vocabulary, I highly recommend reading this tremendous lexical booster!

Have you read The Lexicologist's Handbook? Do you agree with my opinion? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Homophones Visualized – Book Review

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Homophones Visualized

by Bruce Worden

Watt a grate book!

Homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings, can be annoying (the title is a good example). Homophones Visualized by Bruce Worden is a wonderful reference which showcases simple yet informative illustrations explaining the differences between a good selection of homophones in English. If you want to learn this linguistic phenomenon in a fun, playful, and entertaining manner, this witty book is just for you! I also find it intriguing that the author's name, Bruce Worden, contains "word" in it (it is as if he is destined to write such books). I really enjoyed Homophones Visualized greatly (no mistake this time) and I hope you do two! ;-)

Note that this book is to be read from the American English standpoint. Thus, some of the content may not make sense, say, from the perspective of British English.

Have you read Homophones Visualized? What are your thoughts on this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er – Book Review

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Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er: A Vocabulary Builder For The Lexical Deficient Interlocutor Albeit Soon-To-Be Supercilious Smarty Pants Confabulator

by Albert B. Squid

Happy New Year, everybody! 🥳🎊🎉 The year 2024 ended with two great things: the presence of my sixth monster in Monster Rancher 2 DX, Wackosaurus; and the completion of my perusal of this vocabulary builder. 🥰

Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er by Albert B. Squid is an English-learning book with a difference. This vocabulary builder showcases "big & fancy words" (as the title says) presented in calendrically sequent order – you will learn one unusual but cool word for each day of the year, from January 1 to December 31. Apart from easy-to-digest definition(s), each word is accompanied with information on its part of speech (whether it is a noun, verb, etc.), an example sentence (which is often, if not always, funny or even hilarious!), and synonym(s) and antonym(s). Among the book's lexical selection are "opprobrious", "turpitude", "anathema", "peripatetic", and "crepuscular". It is not every day that we hear this sort of expression, is it? I guarantee that you will learn a plenitude of vocabulary in a fun way from this unique book!

Despite the positive things I have mentioned, there are some changes that I wish could be made to this vocab booster. First of all, as this book is intended to educate its readers on English language, the lack of linguistic accuracy is something to be dealt with. There are a number of mistakes, without which this book would be far more valuable. Here are several examples:

• A synonym for "antediluvian" should be "old-fashioned", not "old-fashion". (p. 43)
• The correct spelling for "consistant" is "consistent". (p. 72)
• The word "vengence" is a misspelling; the correct one is "vengeance". (p. 319)

I wish there was a pronunciation guide as well (we all know how exasperatingly unphonetic English is), and, if there was an index, it would be much easier for readers to revisit an entry (I bought the Kindle version, and, since the entries are in an image format, I cannot use the search function for this purpose).

All things considered, Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er is an amazing resource for enriching your lexical repertoire – Mr. Squid deserves scores of plaudits! Buy this book (it won't make you impecunious), read it, and impress your audience with your upgraded vocabulary!

Have you read Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er? What are your thoughts on this vocabulary builder? Share in the comment section below!

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English-Indonesian False Friends

Taking a short break from perusing the grandificently written novel Hotel Megalodon by Rick Chesler, I am here nestled on my bed writing this English-themed article. Some (or many?) friends are not real; those backstabbers or wolves in sheep's clothing should be eschewed, hurled into oblivion in a split second. Nevertheless, this is not the sense this article intends to discuss.

In linguistic terminology, a false friend is "a word in a foreign language that is similar to one in your own, so that you wrongly think they both mean the same thing" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online). It is obvious that false friends can impede a language learner's progress, misleading them into an incorrect understanding of a word. Hence, I hope the following list of English-Indonesian false friends can help English-learning Indonesian speakers and Indonesian-learning English speakers alike to avoid such a misunderstanding potentially caused by these "masquerading foes". Enjoy!

Note:

• In each entry, the first word is English and the second word Indonesian.
• The entries are arranged in alphabetical order.
• The definition of the English word is from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online, unless stated otherwise.
• If you would like to suggest your own false friends, feel free to contact me. I will credit you for your contribution(s).

1. air vs. air (added on October 10, 2024)
• air: the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe
• air: water
2. Angus vs. (h)angus (added on October 6, 2024)
• Angus: any of a breed of usually black hornless beef cattle originating in Scotland (Merriam-Webster)
• (h)angus: burnt
3. babe vs. babe (added on October 10, 2024)
• babe: a word for an attractive young woman; a way of speaking to someone you love, especially your wife or husband
• babe: father; dad
4. baggage vs. bagasi (added on October 19, 2024)
• baggage: the cases, bags, boxes etc. carried by someone who is traveling
• bagasi: the part at the back of a car where you can put bags, tools etc.; trunk [US]/boot [UK]
• Note that the word "bagasi" can also refer to the English meaning above.
5. ballyhoo vs. baliho
• ballyhoo: when there is a lot of excitement or anger about something – used to show disapproval
• baliho: a promotional medium that gives information about an activity related to a society (Kumparan)
• Note that the word "baliho" can also refer to the English meaning above.
6. bandan(n)a vs. bando
• bandan(n)a: a large brightly colo(u)red piece of cloth that you wear around your head or neck
• bando: headband
7. benzene vs. bensin
• benzene: a liquid obtained from coal, used for making plastics
• bensin: gasoline [US]/petrol [UK]
8. bow tie vs. bau ta(h)i
• bow tie: a short piece of cloth tied in the shape of a bow that men sometimes wear around their neck
• bau ta(h)i: the smell of f(a)eces
9. bullet vs. bulat
• bullet: a small piece of metal that you fire from a gun
• bulat: round(ed)
10. center [US]/centre [UK] vs. senter
• center [US]/centre [UK]: the middle of a space, area, or object, especially the exact middle; a building which is used for a particular purpose or activity
• senter: flashlight [US]/torch [UK]
11. colo(u)r vs. kolor
• colo(u)r: red, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple etc.
• kolor: briefs; underpants [US]/pants [UK]
12. copy vs. kopi (added on November 1, 2024)
• copy: something that is made to be exactly like another thing
• kopi: coffee
• Note that the word "kopi" can also refer to the English meaning above.
13. cost vs. kos(t)
• cost: the amount of money that you have to pay in order to buy, do, or produce something
• kos(t): boarding house; bedsit [UK]
14. critic vs. kritik
• critic: someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc.; someone who criticizes a person, organization, or idea
• kritik: criticism
15. dozen vs. dosen
• dozen: twelve
• dosen: lecturer
16. espionage vs. spion
• espionage: the activity of secretly finding out secret information and giving it to a country’s enemies or a company’s competitors 
• spion: side mirror [US]/wing mirror [UK]
17. fabric vs. pabrik
• fabric: cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc.
• pabrik: factory
18. grocer vs. grosir
• grocer: someone who owns or works in a shop that sells food and other things used in the home
• grosir: wholesale(r)
19. groggy vs. grogi
• groggy: weak and unable to move well or think clearly because you are ill or very tired
• grogi: nervous; have butterflies (in your stomach)
20. guru vs. guru
• guru: someone who knows a lot about a particular subject, and gives advice to other people; a Hindu religious teacher or leader
• guru: teacher
21. hide vs. haid
• hide: to deliberately put or keep something or someone in a place where they cannot easily be seen or found; to go or stay in a place where no one will see or find you
• haid: menstruation
22. ketchup vs. kecap
• ketchup: a thick cold red sauce made from tomatoes that you put on food
• kecap: soy sauce
23. khaki vs. kaki
• khaki: a dull green-brown or yellow-brown colo(u)r; cloth of this colo(u)r, especially when worn by soldiers
• kaki: foot; leg
24. modal vs. modal (added on October 6, 2024)
• modal: a verb, such as "can", "might", and "must", that is used with another verb to express an idea such as possibility that is not expressed by the main verb of a sentence (Cambridge Dictionary)
• modal: capital; money or property, especially when it is used to start a business or to produce more wealth
25. optical vs. optik
• optical: relating to machines or processes which are concerned with light, images, or the way we see things
• optik: optometrist's [US]/optician's [UK]
• Note that the word "optik" can also refer to the English meaning above.
26. ounce vs. ons
• ounce: a unit for measuring weight, equal to 28.35 grams. There are 16 ounces in a pound.
• ons: a unit for measuring weight, equal to 100 grams
27. police vs. polis (added on October 18, 2024)
• police: the people who work for an official organization whose job is to catch criminals and make sure that people obey the law
• polis: policy; a contract with an insurance company, or an official written statement giving all the details of such a contract
28. policy vs. polisi (added on October 18, 2024)
• policy: a way of doing something that has been officially agreed and chosen by a political party, a business, or another organization; a contract with an insurance company, or an official written statement giving all the details of such a contract
• polisi: police
29. prawn vs. perawan
• prawn: a small pink shellfish that can be eaten
• perawan: virgin
30. pulse vs. pulsa
• pulse: the regular beat that can be felt, for example at your wrist, as your heart pumps blood around your body
• pulsa: cell phone credit [US]/mobile phone credit [UK]
31. room vs. rumah
• room: a part of the inside of a building that has its own walls, floor, and ceiling
• rumah: house; home
32. solar vs. solar (added on October 19, 2024)
• solar: relating to the sun; using the power of the sun’s light and heat
• solar: a type of heavy oil used instead of petrol in engines, especially in trucks, buses, and trains; diesel (fuel/oil)
33. sinister vs. sinis
• sinister: making you feel that something evil, dangerous, or illegal is happening or will happen
• sinis: cynical
34. vocal vs. vokal
• vocal: expressing strong opinions publicly, especially about things that you disagree with; relating to the voice or to singing
• vokal: vowel
• Note that the word "vokal" can also refer to the English meanings above.

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English Visual Dictionary – Book Review

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English Visual Dictionary

by Collins Dictionaries

Are you planning to continue your education in the UK? Have you recently gotten a job which requires you to relocate to Darren Naish's homeland? If so, this wonderful visual dictionary is just what the doctor ordered!

English Visual Dictionary by Collins Dictionaries is an extremely comprehensive dictionary that teaches you English vocabulary that you need in order to survive in the UK by virtue of clear, relevant pictures. The book is divided into 10 theme-based chapters, ranging from "The Essentials" to "Leisure" to "Special Days", ensuring that everything you need is covered. Even though it is a visual dictionary, it also presents common expressions without accompanying images which you might need in order to communicate successfully in the UK. One of my favorite features in this book is the YOU SHOULD KNOW... sections, which give readers useful information about local customs. For example, do you know what double yellow lines on the road means? You'll find the answer to such questions in this dictionary!

Note that the vocabulary contents of this book are British English, which means that some of them may not be suitable to use in American English.

In summary, English Visual Dictionary will be of such great help, communication-wise, to those would love to explore the UK.

Have you read English Visual Dictionary? If so, share what you think in the comment section below!

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Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms – Book Review

Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms

by Marvin Terban

English grammar may be a tough nut to crack for many people. But if you ask me what the most challenging part of learning English is, I'd say, without a doubt, it is learning idiomatic expressions. According to my favorite online dictionary, Macmillan Dictionary, an idiom is "an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words." This kind of language potentially causes confusion among English learners, and it almost certainly would at some point in their learning journeys. Finding incredibly useful resources for learning idioms is a must-do, and the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms by Marvin Terban is a must-buy.

This book is a top-drawer idiom reference; I am absolutely blown away by its superb quality. Why should you read the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms? Firstly, it boasts a whopping over 700 idioms, listed in alphabetical order. The sheer number should massively enrich your idiomatic vocabulary. Next, the definitions given are as clear as a bell. This is crucial to the success of learners' acquisition of the idioms. Thirdly, a simple, easy-to-understand example is provided for every idiom. Definitions are quite indispensable, but examples give the necessary context in which the idioms can be used, and clarify the grammatical roles and behavior of the words making them up. As if these are not enough, the author treats readers to information about the origins of the idioms. I have only read about those which I thought I had to and found them very interesting and well written. Learning how these idioms came to be has helped me incorporate them in my brain. There are also occasional cross-references in this feature, which have further expanded my knowledge of English idioms. All of these make the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms an invaluable resource for those aiming to improve the idiomatic aspect of their English.

Part of the reason why I love this book so much is the author's fine writing style. Gorgeous, elegant, rich, and eloquent. I have to admit that I really admire Mr. Terban for this forte of his! I would also like you to note that all the idioms in this book are used in American English. This means that a British person might have difficulty in understanding some of them. For British idioms, you may want to check out Work on your Idioms by Sandra Anderson & Cheryl Pelteret.

If you want to be head and shoulders above your fellow English learners, idiom-wise, get the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms by Marvin Terban at the drop of a hat!

Have you read the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms? If so, share your two cents in the comment section below!

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Work on your Phrasal Verbs – Book Review

Work on your Phrasal Verbs

by Jamie Flockhart & Cheryl Pelteret

There are various reasons why people choose to read a particular book. I opted to purchase this book from the amazing British bookstore Blackwell's for the impressiveness of its sibling Work on your Idioms (read my review of the idiom book here). Phrasal verbs (things like run out, stand for, talk into, and give away) are an inextricable part of the English vocabulary and make up a large part of it (see what I did there?): mastering this area is undoubtedly crucial if you wish to be an excellent English speaker (and writer) and aim to sound more natural in using this language. I found this resource incredibly useful and this volume really lives up to my expectations; read on to discover the reasons why I heartily recommend it to fellow English learners.

Work on your Phrasal Verbs by Jamie Flockhart & Cheryl Pelteret covers not all phrasal verbs that exist in the English language. This may seem like a minus point of the book, but it is actually a plus one because what this book deals with are the 400 most common phrasal verbs: those you are most likely to meet (and use) in life. The book is divided into 25 units, each of which discusses phrasal verbs concerning a certain topic, for example money and spending. The phrasal verbs are arranged alphabetically and explained using extremely simple and easy-to-understand language (some of the definitions show labels such as [INFORMAL] and [BRITISH] so that readers can use the phrasal verbs appropriately). What's more, each meaning is equipped with at least one useful example sentence that shows a context in which the said phrasal verb can be used. These features ensure that readers understand and memorize the phrasal verbs effortlessly. I also appreciate the authors' endeavor to highlight that a particular phrasal verb is separable, for instance by giving appropriate examples. Another feature that I found really helpful is Notes, which give additional information about some phrasal verbs, e.g. alternative phrasal verbs or their opposites. Lastly, just like its close relative, Work on your Phrasal Verbs boasts numerous exercises stretched on two pages per unit to give readers opportunities to practice using the phrasal verbs that they have learned – the exercises I've done have really helped me fortify my learning.

Hold on, did I say "lastly"? Sorry for that because this book spoils its readers even more! Three appendices are present at the back of the book, the first one giving you highly useful tips for learning phrasal verbs, the second one listing the basic meanings of some common particles (such as in, from, and over), and the last one providing phrasal verb & noun collocations with example sentences. Working on your Phrasal Verbs is a perfect kit for building your phrasal verb reservoir and will be an invaluable English-learning resource on your bookshelf!

So, if you don't have the book yet, I guess you know what to do now: set off for a bookstore and opt for this book. Be careful so that you won't be run over by a vehicle and don't break into the bookstore if it is already closed – you'll have to pay for that! Just go back home, get up tomorrow morning, and head for it to get your copy of Work on your Phrasal Verbs! 😄

Have you read Work on your Phrasal Verbs? What are your thoughts on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

P.S. Did you realize that the title of this book contains a phrasal verb? 😉

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Work on your Idioms – Book Review

Work on your Idioms

by Sandra Anderson & Cheryl Pelteret

Before flying to Bangkok for the first time, I didn't expect at all that I would bring English treasures home from the Thai capital. The 47th National Book Fair & Bangkok International Book Fair 2019, at which I exhumed this idiom book as well as an illustrated dictionary, was definitely a highlight of my first-ever trip to Mario Maurer's homeland (click here to read about some of my experiences there). If you are trying to improve your vocabulary and in search of an idiom book, go get Work on your Idioms by Sandra Anderson & Cheryl Pelteret and here's why:

First of all, Work on your Idioms by Sandra Anderson & Cheryl Pelteret focuses on over 300 most commonly used idioms, those which you are highly likely to encounter in life. These idioms are grouped into 25 units based on their meanings or functions. For example, unit 1 deals with idioms related to knowledge and understanding, whilst unit 15 covers idioms that you can use to talk about success and failure. One of the most incredible features of this book is that the definitions are written in very simple English, which guarantees easy absorption and understanding of the idioms. Each entry is also accompanied with at least one example which will help you internalize the idiom in question. Not enough? Every unit is equipped with two-page exercises (with an answer key) to reinforce your learning -- the exercises I've done have been really helpful for me. This book is also peppered with Note sections, which give you more information about certain idioms. For instance, you can learn about the origins or other varieties of a particular idiom.

It seems too good to be true but this book really goes the extra mile. At the back of book, you can find three appendices. The first one gives ideas on how to understand idioms easily, the second one provides tips for learning idioms effectively (which I think can be applied more generally), and the third one covers the American versions of some of the idioms in the book (Collins is a publisher from the UK; thus, the contents of this book are British English-oriented).

All in all, Work on your Idioms is an absolute must-read if you need a vocabulary booster, particularly when it comes to idioms. Believe me, you will have a whale of a time reading this amazing book and make headway towards your vocab-enriching goal! This is straight from the horse's mouth. 😉

To read my review of its sibling Work on your Phrasal Verbs, click here.

Have you read Work on your Idioms? What is your opinion of this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary – Book Review

McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary

by LiveABC

What surprises can you get from a trip abroad? At least for me, they are books! This English dictionary is one of two books -- the other being an idiom book -- that I brought home from the unexpectedly known 47th National Book Fair & Bangkok International Book Fair 2019, during my first visit to Thailand (click here to read about some of my experiences there). Now that I've finished imbibing it, here are my thoughts on McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary by LiveABC:

McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary by LiveABC is a shortcut to enlarging your English vocabulary at a fast pace. This dictionary contains scores of illustrations with the matching words and phrases, mostly conveying their meanings clearly. This book is chopped up into 15 sections, covering a wide range of lexical items used in our daily life (around the house, people, foods, clothing, education, animals & plants, etc.). It is written and designed for beginner-level learners but I found some vocabulary quite uncommon/difficult, for example "trapezoid", "fjord", and "French horn", so I reckon it could be be fitting for pre-intermediate learners as well. McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary is also equipped with an accompanying MP3 disk filled with audio files to help you with the native-speaker pronunciation of each entry -- nevertheless, I didn't make use of this feature and employed my favorite online dictionary, Macmillan Dictionary, instead. One thing of this book that could be improved is consistency, as a bit lack of it can be confusing for low-level learners. For instance, the entries "hiking" (a gerund) and "to fish" (a to-infinitive) in the Pastimes and Hobbies sub-section can be baffling in respect of how to use them in a sentence. Please notice that this dictionary presents the vocabulary in American English (if you are looking for one that is written in British English, I'd suggest Oxford Picture Dictionary (OPD). Keep in mind that OPD is written in a more detailed and more complex fashion; thus, it is more suitable for higher-level learners).

Have you read McGraw-Hill Education: English Illustrated Dictionary? What is your take on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
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Quick Tips on the IELTS Test

Many people in the world would like to pursue their dreams by continuing their studies in their favorite universities or working in top global companies. If the organizations are located in English-speaking countries, it is very likely that one of the requirements is in the form of a test or exam such as TOEFL or IELTS. In this article, I am going to give you quick tips for achieving a good (or even great) band score on the IELTS test.

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This is just true in the case of IELTS taking. Before you face the real test, make sure you devote a sufficient amount of time to getting prepared for it.

The very first thing you should do is to familiarize yourself with the test format and band score criteria. You have to be able to answer questions such as How many and what types of questions are there in the Listening part?, How many texts are there in the Reading component and how long does it last?, What is the minimum number of words do test-takers have to write in the IELTS Writing? In addition, keep in mind what you have to do so as to achieve your desired band score. For instance, to reach a band score of 8 in the IELTS Speaking, you must “use paraphrase effectively as required”, and to attain a 7 in Writing Task 1, you have to “use a variety of complex structures”. Knowing these will be of great mental advantage to you in tackling the exam, with good time management being one of the results.

Possessing that knowledge alone is not enough. In order to succeed in the IELTS, you also need to do a substantial amount of practice. It is highly advisable that you do many practice tests. Make sure you practice carrying out the various possible task types; for example, in the IELTS Reading there are multiple choice, identifying information, identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, and so on. What is more, put a lot of effort into honing the skills that are required to get your target band score – these might include paraphrasing and using complex structures (see above). Learning with an IELTS tutor can be very helpful too as they can monitor your progress and give you feedback based on your performance – what is already good and what still needs to be improved on.

Last but not least (and perhaps one that is often forgotten or missed by IELTS participants), ensure that you are physically fit and remain calm during the test. Nourish your body with plenty of nutrients and, while practicing can take a lot of energy, remember to always have enough rest and sleep. Taking an exam can also be especially stressful, with students sweating being a common sight in examination rooms. Getting nervous can lead to your mind going blank and it definitely reduces your chance of performing to the best of your abilities on the IELTS test. Test-takers might find the effect even stronger in the Speaking section, where they need to give responses to an examiner face-to-face. Therefore, relax and enjoy the “show” – relishing your favorite beverage before the test begins might help. Wish you the best of luck with the IELTS test!

Information about IELTS can be accessed at https://www.ielts.org.

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Language Finds a Way

If the title rings a bell, chances are you are a dinosaur maniac, a sci-fi addict, or at least a moviegoer.

Yes, this curiosity-inducing title has been inspired by a popular quote uttered by American mathematician character Dr. Ian Malcolm in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. I believe, currently it's strongly reverberating all over the world in anticipation of the fifth installment of the franchise: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, slated to hit theaters on June 22 next year. It is always great to discuss dinosaurs, but now let's shift from a dinosaurian theme to a linguistic one.

I used to (and perhaps many people) think that language is something that is immune to change. It maintains its forms and features permanently and remains unaffected by any circumstance where it resides. Language is sort of comparable to religious dogma in the sense that you must accept it as it is and altering it is impossible – it would be deemed sacrilegious to attempt to make any changes to it. Language is a robust entity; it is invincible and stays the same all the time, retaining all of its characteristics. But is this true?

To answer this question, firstly, let's look at a very basic question: Why do we use language? Humans are inherently very social creatures and in order to make achievements possible, they often need to be able to express their ideas and feelings successfully as well as effectively to other members of their kind. That's where the role of language fits in. Language is simply a means of communication, intended for the good, development, advancement, and survival of our species.

With this in mind, it is easy to think that language is, quite the opposite, actually fluid. As I once put it on Facebook, just like creatures, language evolves. It adapts to the conditions as necessary and to try to prevent change is a futile act. "Functionality" is the watchword. The sheer variety of world languages itself points to the fact that language has transformed on a massive scale, and it keeps on changing – unstoppable. 'Pressure' from its surroundings inevitably modifies it and this process should be seen as a natural process and not an intimidating one.

Stan Carey excellently wrote in a Macmillan Dictionary Blog article that "the meanings and usage of words change all the time: new senses emerge, old ones fade or shift, and senses can vary greatly from one context to another." Not only that; language also constantly accepts new vocabulary. For instance, two centuries ago no-one had ever heard the words tyrannosaurid and even dinosaur, but now the terms are widely used, especially in paleontological and scientific contexts (note that the definition of dinosaur itself needs changing: many dinosaurs, such as Compsognathus and Velociraptor, are considered small and, scientifically speaking, birds are dinosaurs, so dinosaurs as a group are not extinct). In addition, as technology has advanced rapidly, a huge impact on the related vocabulary couldn't be resisted. This is clearly seen from the fact that the majority of the 15 words that have climbed in use most significantly over the past twenty years are technology-related, such as email and laptop (watch British linguist David Crystal talk about the internet's effects on language here).

The same fate also befalls other linguistic features, including grammar, which is probably often thought to be even more "stubborn". Michael Rundell, the Editor-in-Chief of the Macmillan Dictionary, stated in his Real Grammar article that "grammar is no different" from vocabulary and that it "can change over time." For example, starting as a verb, the word impact has undergone alterations in its history and now it is perfectly fine to use it either as a noun or a verb. In terms of pronunciation, rhotacism – whether or not r is pronounced in words like card – historically disappeared and emerged in English.

Change is the nature of language. It is unavoidable and it is actually good that language, uh, finds a way. Continue reading