Dictionaries.

The biggest barrier to learning something can be words in the text that you don’t know the meaning of. It has been recognized since before Christ that a dictionary is the most important tool when studying, or trying to understand some text. That is why scholars have always emphasized the use of dictionaries in schools, homes, or any place.

Examples of complex text simplified.

I asked ChatGPT to give some examples of text that is complex, and then simplify it using simpler words that have the same meaning. The point is to show you that while initially something may be hard to understand, the only reason it is impossible to understand is that you don’t know the meaning of one or more of the words in the text.

Here’s a complex text, followed by a simplified version:

Original Text:

“The burgeoning proliferation of digital technologies has significantly transformed contemporary modes of communication, engendering novel paradigms of interaction that transcend geographical limitations. This pervasive digital connectivity has concomitantly raised concerns regarding privacy, security, and the potential erosion of interpersonal relationships.”

Simplified Version:

“The rapid growth of digital technology has changed the way people communicate today. It has created new ways for people to connect, no matter where they are in the world. However, this widespread use of digital tools also brings worries about privacy, safety, and the possibility that face-to-face relationships might suffer.”

Explanation of Difficult Words:

1. Burgeoning proliferation:
   • Meaning: Rapid growth or increase.
   • Simplified: Rapid growth.
2. Transformed contemporary modes of communication:
   • Meaning: Changed how people communicate today.
   • Simplified: Changed the way people communicate.
3. Engendering novel paradigms of interaction:
   • Meaning: Creating new ways to interact.
   • Simplified: Creating new ways for people to connect.
4. Transcend geographical limitations:
   • Meaning: Go beyond the limits of distance.
   • Simplified: Connect no matter where they are.
5. Concomitantly:
   • Meaning: At the same time.
   • Simplified: Also.
6. Erosion of interpersonal relationships:
   • Meaning: The weakening or damage of personal relationships.
   • Simplified: Relationships might suffer.

While I had a hard time understanding the complex text, the simplified version I fully understood.

Here are some more examples from ChatGPT:

1. Complex Text on Climate Change

Original:
“Anthropogenic activities, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation, have precipitated a marked increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, thereby exacerbating the greenhouse effect and engendering global climatic alterations.”

Simplified:
“Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, have caused an increase in greenhouse gases. This makes the Earth trap more heat and leads to changes in the climate.”

2. Complex Text on Economics

Original:
“Quantitative easing, employed as a non-conventional monetary policy, involves large-scale asset purchases by central banks to inject liquidity into the financial system, with the intent of stimulating economic activity during periods of stagnation.”

Simplified:
“Quantitative easing is a policy where central banks buy large amounts of assets to add money to the financial system. This helps boost the economy when it is slowing down.”

3. Complex Text on Medicine

Original:
“The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying autoimmune disorders involve the aberrant activation of the immune system, resulting in the destruction of self-tissues due to a failure in self-tolerance.”

Simplified:
“Autoimmune disorders happen when the immune system, which should protect the body, mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues because it cannot recognize them properly.”

Dictionaries are indispensable

Dictionaries are an indispensable tool when studying or trying to learn something. You cannot skip words in the text and hope to duplicate what it is saying. You would not want your heart surgeon, or airplane pilot, to skip over some of the terms related to their profession. The same with a teacher, or any profession for that matter.

At Smartbubblegum.com we have a section devoted to dictionaries which you can download on your iPhone, tablet or Android phone. This may well be the most important educational app on your phone. It allows you to have a top dictionary with you at all times!  Use the search field on top right (magnifying glass) and search for Dictionary. You will arrive at the following : https://smartbubblegum.com/?s=dictionary

If you really would like to learn how to study, check out Applied Scholastics and download this free document: http://www.appliedscholastics.org/study-tech/barriers-to-study-booklet.html

Here’s an example of a complex cooking text and its simplified version:

Complex Text:

“The emulsification process involves the dispersion of fat molecules within an aqueous medium, facilitated by an emulsifying agent such as lecithin, commonly found in egg yolks. This process ensures the homogenous integration of two immiscible substances, yielding a stable mixture, as exemplified by the preparation of a classic hollandaise sauce.”

Simplified Version:

“Emulsification is when fat is mixed evenly with a liquid, like water, using an ingredient that helps them blend, such as the lecithin in egg yolks. This helps combine things that don’t usually mix, like oil and water, to make a smooth and stable sauce. A good example is making hollandaise sauce.”

Explanation of Difficult Words:

1. Emulsification:
   • Meaning: Mixing fat and water so they blend evenly.
2. Aqueous Medium:
   • Meaning: A water-based liquid.
3. Emulsifying Agent:
   • Meaning: An ingredient that helps fat and water mix (like lecithin in egg yolks).
4. Immiscible Substances:
   • Meaning: Things that don’t mix easily, like oil and water.
5. Homogenous Integration:
   • Meaning: Mixing evenly so everything looks the same throughout.

AI, one of the newest dictionaries on the block!

While we promote that everyone, especially students should have at least one or more printed dictionaries, you can now also have one on your phone. And now we have a new dictionary with ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Gemini.com and other AI, as well the AI build into SmartBubblegum.com. In this regard it can be very useful, as you can ask it for a simpler definition or more examples.

ChatGPT:    In these professions, understanding every word while studying is crucial to mastering the subject and avoiding critical mistakes: