SENSATIONAL WORDS (WORDS # 36)

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SALVAGE

Verb (transitive) – To save property or possessions from a building that has been damaged; to succeed in saving something in a situation that has been a failure

The residents worked desperately to salvage their possessions after the storm.

He put a lot of effort into salvaging the project

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SCHISM

Noun (formal, countable/uncountable) – a group divides into two groups because of a disagreement

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SERPENTINE

Adjective (formal) – Full of bends and twists

A serpentine country lane.

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SOLICITUDE

Noun (formal, uncountable) – A way of behaving that shows that you care about a person’s health, feelings, care, etc.

That clinic treats its patients with solicitude

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

This collection seems relatively average, in the sense that none of the words on this short list are especially obscure.

“Salvage” is used quite frequently on news reports, and I think it is common to mentally associate it with the idea of saving something. We must be careful not to confuse it with “savage”, there’s only a difference of one letter!

“Schism” is a horrible looking word, so many letters in such a short expression. I don’t easily connect this word with any common every day event, my mind takes me off to such ideas as “schism of the Church” or “schism of the Roman Empire”, or “the East-West schism”.  It seems to be more related to academic topics.

“Serpentine” is a word that is easily associated with “serpent” which makes it relatively easy to understand. However, I wouldn’t really use it; I’d say “winding” or “coiled” instead.

“Solicitude” is a relative common word; it’s not easy to think of a substitute expression, this word expresses what it’s meant to express so it is difficult to avoid using it if that is the idea you want to transmit. It is generally related to the way persons treat other persons, and it implies a feeling of affection or love.

For Spanish speakers there are some problems here.

It is easy to confuse “salvage” with salvaje, which means “savage” and this is no help, in fact it is confusing.

The word cisma exists and means the same as “schism”, but I’m not sure if it’s easy to relate the one with the other.

The word serpentina exists and means the same, so maybe that would be a help.

The word solicitud exists, but it means “request”. “Solicitude” in the English sense would be translated as solícito, so I don’t think this is much of a help.

Well, there you have it, there’s nothing for it but to study up these words!

I hope to see you on my next post!

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© 2013  joveron  (Joan Robertson)

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