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Building a Better Vocabulary

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Building a Better Vocabulary

By: Kevin Flanigan, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Kevin Flanigan
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About this listen

What is the difference between specious and spurious? What does the word bombast have to do with cushion stuffing? Would you want to be called a snollygoster?

The hallmark of a powerful vocabulary is not simply knowing many words; rather, it's knowing the exact word to use in a specific context or situation. A great vocabulary can enhance your speaking, writing, and even thinking skills. This course will boost your vocabulary, whether you want to enhance your personal lexicon, write or speak more articulately in professional settings, or advance your knowledge of the English language. For anyone who has ever grasped for the perfect word at a particular moment, this course provides a research-based and enjoyable method for improving your vocabulary.

Building a Better Vocabulary offers an intriguing look at the nuts and bolts of English, teaches you the etymology and morphology - or the history and structure - of words, and delves into the cognitive science behind committing new words to long-term memory. By the end of the 36 enjoyable lectures, you will have a practical framework for continuing to build your vocabulary by discovering new words and fully mastering the nuances of familiar ones.

If you are an avid reader, you may have previously encountered some of the words in this course. But even the most voracious reader will be surprised and delighted by these eye-opening lectures, which delve into the building blocks of the English language and reveal intriguing new nuances to words you thought you knew well. These lectures will kindle a passion for the process by which words are created and for the beauty of the words you read, speak, and hear every day.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLC Communication & Social Skills Personal Development Inspiring Business Nonfiction English Grammar Word Smart Business Language

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All stars
Most relevant  
For a professional lexicographer, I'd expect pronunciation would be essential apparently not in this case. This course, although very well written and interesting, is infuriating when pronouncing "t" as "d". As in "trader" instead of "traitor ". Now this is ok in the context of written and with familiar words. But here we are listening to new words. How then are we supposed to know the true word if the "t's" are "d's". In short; a good course but poor diction.

American English

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The narrator is a good story teller and conveys the material very interestingly.

The book is free of charge but can only be downloaded from the audible website (not the phone app)

Loved it!

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I absolutely love this course . It helped me so much honestly I love it . I would recommend it to everyone.

Absolutely incredible

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I have listened to most of this audio book on x1.25 whilst walking the dog, and I have enjoyed the anecdotes, historical links and quirky delivery. Yes it's irritating for the first 20 minutes, but I got used it and, dare I say, enjoyed it.

I would not listen to lengthy books such as this whilst sitting in an armchair etc. - it's one for on the move.

I would like a list of the words covered though; so I will email the author.

Contrary to the one other, one star, review!

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Where does Building a Better Vocabulary rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is the only one of its type that I have listened to, and it is therefore the best. It introduces Kevin Flanagan's technique for learning and remembering a large number of words by offering context, etymology and related stories to fix words in a context within your memory. The system works, and into the deal, you get an enjoyable lecture from an interesting and enthusiastic educator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Building a Better Vocabulary?

The stories which acted as memory-aids for 3 similar latinate -id adjectives.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Each chapter covers similar groups of words which are similar on what they describe. Ingenious.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh a few times.

Any additional comments?

Well worth listening to. Much better than listening to the facile, banal nonsense of the average radio DJ.

Entertaining and Informative

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It's not a book but a course so would highlight the need to probably sit and do the end of chapter exercises in the pdf too. The PDF added is a nice addition and will sit and read that again.

He gives good examples of how words come about, how to identify words and patterns with words and even games to help you improve your vocabulary. It's's not a book that has immediately transformed my vocabulary but had given the tools to do so.

makes vocabulary fun

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Would you consider the audio edition of Building a Better Vocabulary to be better than the print version?

Great in-depth 300 page course material which helps make the new words become more like second nature.

What did you like best about this story?

Over the past 4-5 years I have purchased over 70 audiobooks from Audible. Build a Better Vocabulary is in my top 3 favorites; I've listened to it twice already and I only purchased it three weeks ago.

It's great to learn a logical process for growing a better vocabulary. The course uses an organized and entertaining method to deliver exactly what is says on the tin. Other vocab courses I've purchased are bland and unrealistically expect that spelling and repeating a random word, then giving a brief definition, will do the trick.

Learning many of the Latin and Greek affixes and roots has helped me immensely. Whilst many of the words are just too pretentious to be used in every day life, many are not and many more of the new words are just plain fun to say. Snollygoster lol. However, over and above that, the biggest thing I've gained from the course (coupled with an even stronger love for words) is a structured method for building a better vocabulary. That is, the five step process, using games such as connect two, connecting the new 'dim word' to words that are second nature, having pet words and much much more.

Delectable, Illuminating and Nonpareil

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Apart from being informative and providing inspirational and creative ways to memorise difficult words, the course is an absolute joy to listen to because of Professor Flanigan’s sense of humour and engaging delivery.

A joy

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It's been a pleasure to listen to Professor Flanagan, who shed light on my understanding of English.

An informative book

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I'm glad I bought this book. My vocabulary has improved significantly since I started listening to this brilliant book and I now pay more attention to the words I come across.

Thank you Professor Flanigan for your erudition and for writing this masterpiece.

Insightful, trenchantly conveyed and easy to understand

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