Vocabulary

Here are some examples of cognates that children can readily understand, based on the knowledge gained from the Springboard course: Topic one – colours: griza = grey French gris, Italian grigio, English grizzled. Topic two – animals: kato = (cat) Swedish katt, German katze, Russian kot. Topic three – numbers: ok = (eight) Latin octo, Greek οκτω, English octagon. Topic four – shapes: cirklo = (circle) Latin circulus, Spanish circulo, French cercle. Topic five – the body: piedo = (foot) French pied, Italian piede, Spanish pie, English pedestrian. Topic six – the family: patro = (father) Latin pater, Italian padre, Spanish padre, English paternal. The “reference model” of a regular grammar, with no exceptions, helps children to understand the role that each word plays in a sentence. This can then lead to improved confidence when dealing with the very irregular grammar of English; knowing (for example) when to use “who” or “whom”; when to say “my friend and I” or “my friend and me”. Further examples in Sentences and Structures.