Vocabulary

 
In this topic, you will be exposed to the words and phrases that commonly use in each theme. 
 
18.1

 Society

 

1. Antisocial

Antisocial (against society) is often used in colloquial speech to mean unfriendly or not sociable (asocial). In scientific use, antisocial refers more specifically to a person who is harmful or hostile to others, or to society in general.

2. Social exclusion

Social exclusion relates to the alienation or disenfranchisement of certain people within a society. It is often connected to a person's social class, educational status, relationships in childhood and living standards and how these might affect access to various opportunities. It also applies to some degree to people with a disability, to minority men and women of all races, to the elderly, and to youth (Youth Exclusion). Anyone who deviates in any perceived way from the norm of a population may become subject to coarse or subtle forms of social exclusion.

3. Social class

Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in societies or cultures.

People may be part of lowermiddle or higher classes

4. Minority

minority or subordinate group is a sociological group that does not constitute a politically dominant voting majority of the total population of a given society.

A minority group can be defined as: 

"a group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination."

5. Social solidarity

Social solidarity refers to the integration, and degree and type of integration, shown by a society or group.

6. Multicultural Society

A society in which there is a cultural diversity. 

7. Voluntary work

Voluntary work is done by volunteers for the benefit of a community or society. 

volunteer is someone who works for a community or for the benefit of environment primarily because they choose to do so. Volunteers do not normally get paid. 

8. Homelessness

Homelessness is the condition and social category of people who lack housing, because they cannot afford, or are otherwise unable to maintain, regular, safe, and adequate shelter.

People who are part of this social category are called homeless people. 

9. Poverty

Poverty is the deprivation of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, all of which determine our quality of life. It may also include the lack of access to opportunities such as education and employment which aid the escape from poverty and/or allow one to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.

10. Citizenship

Citizenship is membership in a political community (originally a city or town but now usually a country) and carries with it rights to political participation; a person having such membership is a citizen.

11. Gender Roles

gender role is defined as a set of perceived behavioral norms associated particularly with males or females, in a given social group or system. It can be a form of division of labor by gender.

12. Domestic violence

Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse) occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners.

 
18.2

 Youth

 

1. Adolescence

The period of time in a person's life when they are developing into an adult

2. Delinquent

delinquent is one who fails to do that which is required by law or by dutywhen such failure is minor in nature.

The term is often used to refer to a juvenile who commits a minor criminal act - juvenile delinquents.

3. Generation gap

generation gap is a popular term used to describe big differences between people of a younger generation and their elders. This can be defined as occurring "when older and younger people do not understand each other because of their different experiences, opinions, habits and behavior. 
"Most misunderstandings that occur between parents and children are due to generation gap." 

4. Juvenile violence / crime / delinquency

Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juvenile.
" There is a high rate of juvenile delinquency in this area."

5. Youth

The period of your life when you are young, or the state of being young

 
18.3

 Emotions

 

1. Happiness

Jubilant, contentment, elation, euphoric, delighted, joyful, gleeful, mirthful, 

2. Sadness

Unhappy, feel low, feel blue, downhearted

3. Anger

Angry, cross, upset, irritated, mad, vexed, annoyed, furious, irate, indignant, seething

 
18.4

 Culture

 

1. Culturally acceptable

It isn't culturally acceptable in some countries to blow your nose in public places. 

2. Cultural conflicts

We should try hard to avoid cultural conflicts as they are a result of a misunderstanding.

3. Cultural stereotypes

A fixed idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong.
Cultural stereotypes make our understanding of other cultures difficult. 

4. Cultural diversity

The fact or quality of cultures of being diverse or different.
Cultural diversity should be considered as a source of enrichment rather a source of conflicts.

5. Cultural uniqueness

Culture/customs which make a country distinctive/different from other countries.

6. Cultural misconceptions

Mistaken thoughts, idea, or notion; misunderstandings about a culture. These are false ideas about a culture resulting from misunderstanding rather than from reality.

7. Cultural shock

A condition of confusion and anxiety affecting a person suddenly exposed to an alien culture or milieu.
"The first time she went to Japan, Isabel got a huge culture shock."

8. Racial behavior

Behavior resulting from a belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others (racism or racialism.)
" We may limit the danger of racial behavior if there is a mutual understanding of different cultures."

9. Stereotype

A generalized perception of first impressions. Stereotypes, therefore, can instigate prejudice and false assumptions about entire groups of people, including the members of different ethnic groups, social classes, religious orders, the opposite sex, etc. A stereotype can be a conventional and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image, based on the assumption that there are attributes that members of the "other group" have in common.

 
18.5

 Environment

 

1. Climate change

There has been a growing concern about climate change. 

2. Deforestation

The cutting down of trees in a large area; the destruction of forests by people.

Deforestation is destroying large areas of tropical rain forest.

3. Desertification

The process by which land changes into desert. 

4. Disposable products 

Describes an item that is intended to be thrown away after use.

5. Sustainable development

A development that is causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time.

 
18.6

 Health and Welfare

 

1. How to say you are ill 

  • I'm ill.
  • I feel really rough. 
  • I'm shattered (meaning tired out or exhausted)
  • I'm on my last legs (to be very tired, especially after a lot of physical activity or work. It also means to be going to die soon - 'the old man is on his last leg'). 
  • I feel / look poorly / peaky / rough / bloody awful
  • I feel / look like death warmed up (very ill or appearing very sickly - Poor thing! She looks like death warmed up)

2. How to say you are feeling OK 

  • I am alive and kicking (to continue to be well, healthy or successful - Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking)
  • I feel good (used to talk about emotional state) 
  • feel great / well 
  • He is a picture of (good) health (to be in a very healthy condition - The doctor told him that he is a picture of good health)
  • She is hale and hearty (to be in a good health - In spite of her old age, she looks hale and hearty)

3. Medicines 

  • eye drops
  • cream
  • syringe
  • syrup 
  • bandage
  • dose (of medicine)
  • drugs
  • shot / injection (give some an injection)
  • medicine (take medicine)
  • pain-killer
  • pill
  • plaster
  • tablet
  • tranquilizer
 
18.7

 Synonyms

 

big = large

blank = empty

broad = wide

cunning = clever

dangerous = risky

eatable = edible 

gay = cheerful

huge = enormous

clever = intelligent

loving = fond

lazy = indolent

noisy = rowdy

rare = scarce

old = ancient 

empty = vacant

weak = feeble

 
18.8

 Compound Adjectives

 
 

Compound adjectives can be formed as follow:

  • Adverb-past participle / noun + ed
    a well-known writer
    brightly-lit room
    deeply-rooted traditions
    well-mannered girl
  • Adjective-present participle (verb + ing) 
    good-looking boy
    a free-standing tower 
  • Noun-past participle 
    tongue-tied boy
    sun-dried fruit
  • Adjective-past participle / noun + ed
    short-sighted man
    long-haired lady 
  • Noun- adjective
    world-famous singer
  • Adjective- noun
    last minute solution
    deep-sea diving
  • Noun-noun 
    a part-time job