Last week I talked about using context clues to understand the foreign language phrases used in one of my current projects. Knowing how to interpret those clues is important when reading a book, but it is also a necessary life skill. That’s why it’s a skill we should all learn.
As noted in my previous post, I had
asked several girls to beta read Not the Enemy, which contains a number
German words and phrases. When I asked my readers if there were any words and
phrases they couldn’t understand even in context, one of the 3rd
graders listed two, and I can find ways to make both of them more obvious. However,
when I asked my beta readers what they liked least about how the story was
written, that same third grader said, “I just think there were too many German
words and I had to use context clues from other lines.” That indicates to me
that she understood most of the foreign words and phrases but didn’t like
having to use context clues to interpret them.
While I can, and will, attempt to
make some of the clues stronger, I don’t intend to eliminate the German words
from the book. Hopefully, the “context clues from other lines” will not only
help readers understand the German but will also hone their skills at reading context
clues in life as well as in fiction.
Interpreting context clues is an
important life skill. Let’s look at a simple example. You’ve just met someone
new, and the person says “pleased to meet you.” If the statement is accompanied
by a warm smile, you believe that the person really is pleased. If the same
words are said in a chilly tone or with a twitching eyebrow, they are probably
insincere. That may not matter if the person is a casual acquaintance, but it
makes a big difference if you are trying to develop a relationship.
I don’t believe in being overly
intellectual in my writing. Sometimes simple and straightforward is best.
But there is also a place for context
clues.
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