8.2 Contentious

Where/When: In my environmental class I was showing a video concerning the survival of horse shoe crabs. The narrator stated " The moratorium on horse shoe crab fishing has been deeply contentious".

Familiarity: I don't personally use this word. I think it means something like controversial.

Definition: By google

con·ten·tious

kənˈtenCHəs/

adjective

adjective: contentious

1. causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

   "a contentious issue"

   synonyms:

   controversial, disputable, debatable, disputed, open to debate, vexed

Reflection: I was right! The word used in the context of the film I was showing specifically relates tot the argument between the fisherman who use the crab as bait and the researchers who know the number of horse shoe crabs are dwindling to an unsafe rate. I guess I'm not really sure how this word is different rom controversial. Why would one choose to use contentious over controversial?

8.1 Eschew

Where/When: I was showing a video on scientific literacy and the speaker (Neil deGrasse Tyson) said "To the extent in which we eschew the innovations of science engineering and technology, that is the unraveling of the technological society we've come to know and love ".

Familiarity: I think I've heard this word before. I don't know what it means. Maybe ignore?

Defintion: Provided by Google

es·chew

esˈCHo͞o

verb

verb: eschew; 3rd person present: eschews; past tense: eschewed; past participle: eschewed; gerund or present participle: eschewing

 

1.) deliberately avoid using; abstain from. 

 

Reflection: I'm comfortable with this definition. Tyson was specifically discussing in this video America's lack of scientific literacy. He made the point of stating people need not to know everything about everything, but they should be knowledgeable enough about the world to ask questions in order to validate a claim. Because people are abstaining from pursuing education in science, tech, math and engineering, the USA is losing out on innovations.

 

 

Please follow the advice from the unicorn and eschew drugs!

 

7.2 Polemical

Where/ When: I was trying to find out the particular type of design used to produce the video Story of Stuff. The resulting websites had the following description: The Story of Stuff is a short polemical animated documentary about the lifecycle of material goods.

Familiarity: I have never heard this word before. Since I was thinking in my head "stick figures...
graphic design.... special name for graphic design used to produce this video... story is told by an invisible hand drawing out one's thoughts" I thought the world polemical had to do with the particular type of story-telling/design/production of this animated video.

Definition provided by Merriam-Webster
Polemic
a :  an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
  b    :  the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

Reflection: Boy was I wrong in my prediction! I was actually shocked to find out what this word really meant! Mostly because I had a prediction which was way off. The definition of the word does make sense in the context in which it was read. The author of this video is extremely vocal about the hidden cost of the stuff we use on a daily basis. Not only does she discuss the environmental cost, but also the human cost... we purchase products made in China for extremely low prices mostly because the wages of those who produce these products are ridiculously low.

7.1 Affect

Where/When: I hear and use this word every single day of my life I'm sure. I'm including it in this blog because I'll be honest... it boggles my mind. Warps my brain... I just can't pin the meaning down!

Familiarity: I'm including it in this blog because I'll be honest... it boggles my mind. Warps my brain... I just can't pin the meaning down!

Definition: Instead of recording just the definition, I decided to contrast affect with effect because I confuse the meaning of these two words. Definitions provided by: Vocabulary.com and Diffen.com

                              Affect:                                                                          Effect
    Verb: To influence something or cause change              Verb: To produce or bring about
        Noun: Relates to the display of emotion                        Noun: The result of an action
          Affect is often used as a verb!                                       Effect is often used a s noun!

Reflection: I think I have a difficult time with this word for a few reasons. One, I'm not sure I was explicitly taught the difference between these two words or if I was, I did not get enough practice using them correctly. Two, I wonder how many other people really understand the word affect, and if they know when I'm saying it wrong. I know it is common place to go about correcting people in public, but I've never had anyone at any point in time I was using the word wrong when I know I must have been. Three, affect and effect have similar definition, to cause change vs. to produce?! So close, but YET, a distinction. When effect is used as a verb, it makes me think something is beginning, hence the word produce. To change, or affect, does not necessarily mean the start of something. To help me get this straight in my head... I really need to focus on the verb vs. noun piece. It helps me to know affect is more commonly used as a verb.

6.2 Precarious

Where/When: When watching an episode of BBC's "Life", the video zoomed into a frog climbing
up a steep cliff and the narrator said: "the frog's future looks precarious...."

Familiarity: This word is not new to me. I wouldn't say that I hear it often, but it is certainly more common than some of my other vocab words. I don't feel comfortably enough to use this word... I think it probably has something to do with uncertainty.

Definition by Google:

pre·car·i·ous

 

adjective: precarious

1.

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

"a precarious ladder"

2.

dependent on chance; uncertain.

"she made a precarious living by writing"

 

Reflection: In the context of the video, I believe both meanings of the word were intended. The frog was not in a stable location and it was actually be stalked by a tarantula. In this case, the frog was likely to fall but it was also uncertain whether it would become a meal for the large spider. Click to witness the awesome escape of the pebble toad!

6.1 Draconian

Where/When: I heard this word when someone was talking about another person's reaction. I didn't
hear the full conversation, but I heard the person say something like "I didn't think it called for such a draconian reaction".

Familiarity: I've heard this word before, but not often and I've never used it. I think it has a negative connotation to it.

Definition by Google:

dra·co·ni·an

 

adjective

adjective: draconian

1.

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.

 

... and more from Wikipedia:

 

Draconian is an adjective meaning great severity, that derives from Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offences had heavy punishments (Draconian laws).

 

Reflection: This definition makes sense considering what I recall of the conversation. Like I said, by the person's tone... it didn't seem like the person's response was a good response. I know now, the person reacting was probably overreacting, and probably responded with some harsh words that were not necessary.

5.2 Nebulous

Where/When: I was in a meeting the other day to discuss the qualifications for students to be considered for an accelerate science program. My principal was discussing why we should have a concrete characteristic and requirement list for parents to read. She made a comment that in the past, the requirements were rather nebulous.

Familiarity: I've know I've heard this word before, and I have a decent understanding of what it means. While I can't think of  specific example of a past encounter with the word, I know it was used when the topic of conversation was somewhat confusing. I don't think this is the definition of the word, because it wouldn't make complete sense when considering the context of the situation in how my principal used it. While I don't know my new principal that well, I have the impression based on her records that she is very well educated and chooses her words wisely.

Definition by google:

neb·u·lous

ˈnebyələs/

adjective

adjective: nebulous

• in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.

"a giant nebulous glow"

synonyms:

indistinct, indefinite, unclear, vague, hazy, cloudy, fuzzy, misty, blurred, blurry, foggy; More faint, shadowy, obscure, formless, amorphous

• (of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined.

  "nebulous concepts like quality of life"

  synonyms:

  vague, ill-defined, unclear, hazy, uncertain, indefinite, indeterminate, imprecise, unformed, muddled, confused, ambiguous More "nebulous ideas"

  antonyms:

  well-defined

• another term for nebular.

I chose to include this picture of a nebula, because it can represent the concept of an unclear, hazy idea. While there are certain colors (gases) that can be clearly seen, the cloud lacks an overall shape, and it's hard to define where the cloud ends and space begins. I think this is similar to vague or incomplete thoughts.

Reflection: There were three (really two) definitions of the word nebulous - I highlighted in pink the definition that seemed most accurate in explaining how my principal used the word. I can see how this term differs from confusion, especially in terms of the requirements we were discussing. In the past, there have always been requirements to be in the accelerated program, however whether they were enforced or not to accept or reject a student was a case by case situation and unclear. The requirements were not confusing, because they were straight-forward (ie. the student must have an 85% or higher in 6th grade science) but again, whether the requirements were followed was uncertain.  

5.1 Enigmatic

When/Where: My environmental class watched an episode of Ancient Aliens the other day during class. One of the ancient alien theorists was discussing the Moai of Easter Island (the monolithic statures if giant heads that dot the island's coast). The man said like "The enigmatic expression on their faces...."

Familiarity: I've heard this word before. Always in description of someone or something. I'm not sure what it means, but it makes me think of "high energy". Probably because enigmatic reminds me of the word energetic.

Definition provided by Google:

en·ig·mat·ic

 

adjective: enigmatic; adjective: enigmatical

 

1. difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.  

 

Reflection: The definition of this word completely makes sense to me. When I think about the Moi, there really is no better word to use when describing them besides enigmatic. Using enigmatic in this context, makes me appreciate how one might truly consider what word their using to convey a very specific message.