拉丁词根(二):看、说、写、听

看、说、写、读、听。 沟通与认知离不开这几种动作,拉丁语里也各有对应词根:vid/vis(看)→ vision /ˈvɪʒn/visible /ˈvɪzəbl/dict(说)→ dictionary /ˈdɪkʃənri/predict /prɪˈdɪkt/scrib/script(写)→ describe /dɪˈskraɪb/script /skrɪpt/leg/lect(读、选)→ lecture /ˈlektʃə/elect /ɪˈlekt/aud(听)→ audio /ˈɔːdiəʊ/audience /ˈɔːdiəns/。本章把这五组词根讲清楚,每词都配 IPA 与简短讲解,并附图示,帮助你在阅读中一眼认出「看、说、写、读、听」的家族词。

一、vid / vis:看

拉丁词根 vid- / vis-(看)来自动词 vidēre。现在时词干是 vid-(有时拼成 vis-vey-),过去分词等形式里常见 vis-。意思都是「看见、看到」。

vid- / vis- “see”

拉丁 vidēre(看)→ vid-、vis-

  • video /ˈvɪdiəʊ/ 来自拉丁「我看见了」→ 视频、录像。例: We watched a video of the wedding last night.
  • vision /ˈvɪʒn/ vis- + -ion,名词「视力、视野、远见」。例: She had a clear vision of what she wanted to achieve.
  • visible /ˈvɪzəbl/ vis- + -ible(能……的),能被看到的 → 可见的。例: The moon was clearly visible in the night sky.
  • invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəbl/ in-(不)+ visible → 看不见的、隐形的。例: Stress is often an invisible burden that affects our health.
  • visit /ˈvɪzɪt/ vis- + -it(表动作),去「看」某人/某地 → 访问、参观。例: We will visit the museum when we go to London.
  • advise /ədˈvaɪz/ ad-(向)+ vis,把看法「放到对方眼前」→ 建议、劝告。例: I would advise you to save some money for emergencies.
  • revise /rɪˈvaɪz/ re-(再)+ vis,再看一遍 → 修订、复习。例: I need to revise my notes before the exam tomorrow.
  • supervise /ˈsuːpəvaɪz/ super-(上)+ vis,在上面看 → 监督、管理。例: The teacher will supervise the students during the test.
  • evident /ˈevɪdənt/ e-(出)+ vid- + -ent,能看出来的 → 明显的。例: It was evident from his face that he was very pleased.
  • evidence /ˈevɪdəns/ e- + vid- + -ence,能让人「看出」真相的东西 → 证据。例: The police found new evidence at the scene.
  • provide /prəˈvaɪd/ pro-(前)+ vid,提前「看到」、预先准备 → 提供。例: The hotel will provide breakfast for all guests.

二、dict:说

拉丁词根 dict-(说、讲)来自动词 dīcere。在英语里形式多为 dict-。意思就是「说、宣告、指出」。

dict- “say, speak”

拉丁 dīcere(说)→ dict-

  • dictation /dɪkˈteɪʃn/ dict- + -ation,口述让人记下 → 听写、口授。例: The secretary took dictation while the boss spoke.
  • dictionary /ˈdɪkʃənri/ dict- + -ion + -ary,「说清词义的书」→ 词典。例: Look up the word in the dictionary if you’re not sure.
  • predict /prɪˈdɪkt/ pre-(前)+ dict,事先说出 → 预言、预测。例: No one can predict what will happen next year.
  • contradict /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/ contra-(反)+ dict,反着说 → 反驳、与……矛盾。例: The two witnesses seemed to contradict each other.
  • verdict /ˈvɜːdɪkt/ ver-(真)+ dict,说出真相 → 裁决、定论。例: The jury reached a verdict of not guilty.
  • indicate /ˈɪndɪkeɪt/ in-(向)+ dict + -ate,向……说出、指出 → 表明、指示。例: The arrow on the map indicates north.
  • dedicate /ˈdedɪkeɪt/ de-(强调)+ dict + -ate,郑重说出(献给)→ 奉献、题献。例: She dedicated her first book to her parents.
  • addict /əˈdɪkt/ ad-(向)+ dict,被「说」向某物(被指派给)→ 使沉迷;名词 addict /ˈædɪkt/ 成瘾者。例: He is a coffee addict and drinks five cups a day.

三、scrib / script:写

拉丁词根 scrib- / script-(写)来自动词 scrībere。现在时词干 scrib-,过去分词词干 script-。英语里动词多保留 scrib-(如 describe),名词、形容词多保留 script-(如 script、manuscript)。

scrib- / script- “write”

拉丁 scrībere(写)→ scrib-、script-

  • scribe /skraɪb/ 写的人 → 抄写员、书记。例: In ancient times, a scribe would copy books by hand.
  • script /skrɪpt/ 写出来的东西 → 剧本、笔迹、脚本。例: The actors had to learn the script by heart.
  • describe /dɪˈskraɪb/ de-(下、详)+ scrib,详细写下来 → 描述。例: Can you describe what the thief looked like?
  • prescription /prɪˈskrɪpʃn/ pre-(前)+ script + -ion,事先写好的(药方)→ 处方。例: You need a prescription from the doctor to buy this medicine.
  • manuscript /ˈmænjuskrɪpt/ manu-(手)+ script,手写的 → 手稿。例: The author sent her manuscript to the publisher.
  • subscribe /səbˈskraɪb/ sub-(下)+ scrib,在下面写上(名字)→ 订阅、签署。例: I subscribe to three magazines about science.
  • transcript /ˈtrænskrɪpt/ trans-(跨)+ script,照原样「写过去」→ 抄本、转录稿。例: You can read the transcript of the interview online.
  • inscription /ɪnˈskrɪpʃn/ in-(入)+ script + -ion,刻写进去 → 铭文、题词。例: The inscription on the stone was worn and hard to read.
  • postscript /ˈpəʊstskrɪpt/ post-(后)+ script,信末后写的 → 附言(常缩写 P.S.)。例: She added a postscript at the end of her letter.

四、leg / lect:读、选

拉丁词根 leg- / lect- 来自动词 legere,有两个常见含义:一是「读」,二是「选、收集」。过去分词词干是 lect-。遇到 leg/lect 时要根据语境判断是「读」还是「选」。

leg- / lect- “read” or “choose, gather”

拉丁 legere(读;选、收集)→ leg-、lect-

  • lecture /ˈlektʃə/ lect-(读)+ -ure,把内容「读」给人听 → 讲座、讲课。例: The professor gave a lecture on Roman history.
  • legend /ˈledʒənd/ leg-(读)+ -end,被读的东西 → 传说、图例。例: According to legend, a dragon once lived in this cave.
  • elect /ɪˈlekt/ e-(出)+ lect,选出来 → 选举。例: The class will elect a new monitor next week.
  • select /sɪˈlekt/ se-(离)+ lect,从中间选出来、挑开 → 挑选。例: Please select one option from the list below.
  • collect /kəˈlekt/ col-(con- 一起)+ lect,选到一起来 → 收集、聚集。例: He likes to collect stamps from different countries.
  • neglect /nɪˈɡlekt/ neg-(不)+ lect,不选、不收集 → 忽视、疏忽。例: Don’t neglect your health while you’re busy working.
  • intellect /ˈɪntəlekt/ inter-(之间)+ lect,在(信息)之间「选读」→ 智力、理解力。例: She is a person of great intellect and curiosity.
  • eligible /ˈelɪdʒəbl/ e-(出)+ lig(lect 变体)+ -ible,能被选出来的 → 有资格的。例: Are you eligible to apply for this scholarship?
  • elegant /ˈelɪɡənt/ e- + leg- + -ant,精「选」出来的 → 优雅的、精美的。例: She wore an elegant dress to the party.
五组词根与例词:看(vid/vis)、说(dict)、写(scrib/script)、读·选(leg/lect)、听(aud);连线会逐步画出

五、aud:听

拉丁词根 aud-(听)来自动词 audīre。在英语里形式稳定,多为 aud-。意思就是「听见、听」。

aud- “hear”

拉丁 audīre(听)

  • audio /ˈɔːdiəʊ/ aud- + -io,与听觉相关的 → 音频、声音的。例: The audio quality of this recording is very clear.
  • audience /ˈɔːdiəns/ aud- + -ence,「听的人」→ 观众、听众。例: The audience burst into applause at the end of the show.
  • audit /ˈɔːdɪt/ aud- + -it,去「听」、查账 → 审计、旁听。例: The company conducts an annual audit of its accounts.
  • audible /ˈɔːdəbl/ aud- + -ible,能被听到的 → 听得见的。例: Her voice was barely audible in the noisy room.
  • inaudible /ɪnˈɔːdəbl/ in-(不)+ audible → 听不见的。例: He muttered something inaudible and walked away.
  • auditorium /ˌɔːdɪˈtɔːriəm/ audit- + -orium(场所),听的场所 → 礼堂、观众席。例: The concert will be held in the school auditorium.
  • audition /ɔːˈdɪʃn/ aud- + -ition,听(试演、试唱)→ 试听、试镜。例: She went to an audition for the lead role in the film.

易混辨析:leg/lect 的「读」与「选」

leg/lect 有两个常见义项。与「读」相关:lecture /ˈlektʃə/(把内容读/讲给人听)、legend /ˈledʒənd/(被读的传说)。与「选、收集」相关:elect /ɪˈlekt/(选出)、select /sɪˈlekt/(挑选)、collect /kəˈlekt/(收集)、neglect /nɪˈɡlekt/(不选=忽视)。遇到 leg/lect 时,看前缀和语境:e-(出)+ lect 多为「选出来」;col-(一起)+ lect 多为「收到一起」;lecture、legend 则偏向「读、讲述」。

六、小结与下一步

本章介绍了五组与「看、说、写、读、听」相关的拉丁词根:vid/vis(看)→ vision、visible、visit、advise、evident、provide;dict(说)→ dictionary、predict、contradict、verdict、indicate;scrib/script(写)→ script、describe、prescription、manuscript、subscribe、transcript;leg/lect(读或选)→ lecture、legend、elect、select、collect、neglect、intellect;aud(听)→ audio、audience、audit、audible、auditorium。掌握这些词根后,在阅读中遇到同族词就能快速联想到「看、说、写、读、听」的语义。下一章我们会学习「放置、站立、转动与断裂」:pon/possta/stitvert/versruptfract/frag