Activity 5.03 Changes in Language

​Activity 5.03 Changes in Language

By Donna Kapa

​Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Determine meanings of words and phrases using knowledge of etymology and derivations.

• Identify how prefixes, roots, and suffixes shape meaning.

• Apply context clues to interpret Shakespearean vocabulary.

• Recognize language change as a living process that links Macbeth to modern English

Open Ended

English has changed a lot since Shakespeare’s time. In your own words, what’s one example of a word or phrase that has changed meaning—or one that you think will change in your lifetime?

​Changes in Language

Language is alive.
Over time, meanings shift, words merge, and new ones appear.

​How Words Are Built

Every word has building blocks that carry meaning.

• Root: The main part of the word that holds its meaning.

• Prefix: Added before the root to adjust meaning.

• Suffix: Added after the root to change a word’s form or use.