JSS 2 ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDY NOTES

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1. SPEECH WORK: Diphthongs

Definition: A diphthong is a "glide" or a combination of two vowel sounds produced within a single syllable. Unlike a pure vowel (monophthong), the tongue moves from one position to another. There are eight (8) diphthongs in English.

The 8 Diphthongs and Examples

Contrast Practice

It is important to distinguish between similar-sounding diphthongs to avoid confusion:

• /eɪ/ vs /aɪ/: Bay (/beɪ/) vs. Buy (/baɪ/)
• /əʊ/ vs /aʊ/: No (/nəʊ/) vs. Now (/naʊ/)
• /ɪə/ vs /eə/: Beer (/bɪə/) vs. Bear (/beə/)

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2. GRAMMAR: Adjectives ending in -ous, -ious, -eous, -uous

The suffix -ous (and its variations) means "full of" or "possessing the qualities of." These suffixes turn nouns into adjectives.

A. -ous (The Standard)

Used for many base words.

• Danger + ous = Dangerous (Full of danger)
• Mountain + ous = Mountainous
• Poison + ous = Poisonous

B. -ious

Often used when the base word ends in 'y' (change 'y' to 'i') or 'e'.

• Fury $\rightarrow$ Furious
• Victory $\rightarrow$ Victorious
• Mystery $\rightarrow$ Mysterious

C. -eous

Used with specific roots, often sounding like "ee-us" or "jus."

• Advantage $\rightarrow$ Advantageous
• Courage $\rightarrow$ Courageous
• Outrage $\rightarrow$ Outrageous

D. -uous

Used for words relating to flow, continuity, or specific Latin roots.

• Contingent $\rightarrow$ Continuous
• Virtue $\rightarrow$ Virtuous
• Ambiguity $\rightarrow$ Ambiguous

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3. WRITING: Review of Formal and Informal Letters

Letters are categorized based on who you are writing to and the purpose of the letter.

Comparison Table

Structure Illustration (Formal vs. Informal)

Formal Layout:

[Writer's Address & Date]

[Recipient's Designation & Address]

Dear Sir, APPLICATION FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE [Body: Clear and direct...] Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Full Name]

Informal Layout:

[Writer's Address & Date]

Dear Emeka, [Body: "How are you? I hope you're fine..."] Yours sincerely, [First Name]

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4. LITERATURE: Terms and Figures of Speech

Key Literature Terms

1. Plot: The sequence of events in a story.
2. Theme: The central message or "lesson" of the work (e.g., Honesty, Betrayal).
3. Setting: The time and place where the story happens.
4. Protagonist: The main character (usually the hero).
5. Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist (the villain).

Figures of Speech (Comparison and Sound)

• Simile: Comparison using "as" or "like."
  • Example: He is as brave as a lion.
• Metaphor: Direct comparison without "as" or "like."
  • Example: The classroom was a zoo.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
  • Example: The wind whistled through the trees.
• Hyperbole: An extreme exaggeration.
  • Example: I have told you a thousand times!
• Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.
  • Example: The bang of the door; the hiss of the snake.
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
  • Example: She sells sea shells.

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5. COMPREHENSION: Understanding the Writer's Purpose

The Writer's Purpose is the reason why an author writes a particular text. We identify this by looking for Keywords.

The PIE Method

1. P - Persuade: The author wants to convince you.
   • Keywords: "Should," "Must," "Best," "I urge you," "Vote for."
2. I - Inform: The author wants to give facts or teach.
   • Keywords: Dates, statistics, "How to," definitions, "The history of."
3. E - Entertain: The author wants to tell a story or make you laugh.
   • Keywords: Characters, dialogue, "Once upon a time," descriptive adjectives.

How to Identify Keywords

• Step 1: Read the first and last paragraph.
• Step 2: Circle words that show emotion (Adjectives) or facts (Numbers/Dates).
• Step 3: Ask: "Is the writer trying to make me do something, know something, or feel something?"

Example: "Nigeria gained independence in 1960. It consists of 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory."

• Keywords: 1960, 36 states, Federal Capital Territory.
• Purpose: To Inform.