Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Linh]

I've been assigned to write an essay about a group of synonyms using the componential method. But the thing is, I don't quite understand this method. Could anyone of you explain it to me? Thank you a lot!

[lotus]

Hi Linh,

Apparently, the componential method for synonyms uses componential analysis for words.

http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/componential+analysis

I surmise that you break each word into component word forms and cross-reference them as part of synonym look-up.

Example:

Cookbook: cook, book, recipe, ingredients, food

Kitchen: cook, stove, heat, room, food, eat, refrigerator, cabinets, sink, dishes, utensils, table

Lasagna: food, pasta, meat, tomato, sauce, cheese, eat, oven, heat, Italian

Spaghetti: food, pasta, tomato, sauce, eat, pot, heat, Italian

Pasta: ingredients, spaghetti, lasagna, Italian, staple, flour, wheat

Now, you can find synonyms by cross-referencing words. Let's take an easy one first, recipe book. Use "recipe" and "book." You will get cookbook.

Now try "Italian" and "food." You'll get lasagna and spaghetti.

Now try "spaghetti" and "recipe." You'll get pasta cookbook.


Now I'm hungry!


--lotus