Visual Language Learning: A Comparison of Words and Images

This homework assignment focuses on visual language learning by comparing English and Hindi words. The student explores the meaning of words like 'suffer', 'cool', 'fool', 'fall', 'come', 'conquer', 'rose', 'tin', 'hum', and 'foreign' through a combination of word definitions and corresponding images. The assignment delves into the rationale behind choosing specific words, such as 'conquer' and 'fall', highlighting their multiple implications and cultural significance. The student provides detailed descriptions, explanations, and rationale for each word choice, demonstrating an understanding of visual literacy and language comparison. References to academic sources on learning theory and visual representation are also included.

Running head: VISUAL LANGUAGE LERNING
Visual Language Learning
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1VISUAL LANGUAGE LERNING
NEW
WORD
KEYWORD MEANING PICTURE DESCRIPTION
1
Suffer सफर (Safar) In English,
“suffer” means
to undergo
hardships and
pain, while in
Hindi, “safar”
means a journey
The image clearly
shows that a person is
suffering and
vomiting while
travelling on a plane.
2
Cool (कुल) Kul In Hindi, “Kul”
refers to an
aggregate and
implies a sense
of totality,
while in English
“cool” suggests
anything that is
cold and frigid,
and not warm.
The image shows an
aggregate of family
members are
quivering in a cold,
chilling weather.
3 Fool (फूल) Phool In Hindi, the
word “Phool”
means flower
The image here
shows that a foolish
boy is trying to eat a

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while in
English, the
very same word
means anyone
who is foolish,
and lacks
intelligence.
flower.
4 Fall (फल) Fal In Hindi, the
word “fal”
implies fruit or
any
consequence of
an action, while
in English,
“Fall” implies
moving down
from higher to
lower level.
Besides, often
Autumn is also
referred to as
the Fall.
However, the
The picture here
shows the fruits on a
tree which are falling
down on the ground.

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first meaning is
the more
popuparly used
meaning of the
English word.
5
Come (काम) Kaam In Hindi,
“Kaam”
literally means
any piece of
work or job
while in
English,
although
differently
spelled, the
word “come”
means to arrive
somewhere.
In the picture, one
can clearly see that an
employee has come
to work in his
office. .
6 Conquer (कंकर)
Kankar
The word
“Kankar” is a
Hindi word that
literally means
detrital or
The picture suggests
a man who has
already invaded a
region, has emerged
victorious, probably

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residual rolled,
often nodular
calcium
carbonate
formed in soils
of semi-arid
regions while
the English
word “conquer”
means to invade
or win over
something.
in a battle as
suggested by the
sword in his hand and
the horse he is riding,
and he is standing on
the residual rolled,
often nodular calcium
carbonate formed in
soils of the desert.
7
Rose (रोज़) Roz The Hindi word
“Roz” means a
day, while in
English, “Rose”
means a red
flower.
The picture shows the
rose flower blooming
in the morning.
8 Tin (तीन) Teen In Hindi, “teen”
means three,
such as ‘teen
phool’ meaning
three flowers. In
The picture shows
three tin cans.

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English, “Tin”
is a specific
chemical
element, used
for making bins,
cans, etc.
9
Hum (हम) Hum The Hindi word
“Hum” means
us, that is when
I am referring to
myself with at
least one more
person. The
English word
“Hum” however
means to sing a
slow, unsteady
song or to make
a constant
sound like a
bee.
In the picture, it
clearly shows we are
humming.
1 Foreign (फौरन)Forun The Hindi word
“Forun” refers
This picture shows a
group of foreign

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0
to immediately,
while the
English
counterpoint
means a person,
language or an
object or
anything that is
characteristic of
a different
nation, society
or culture.
tourists who have
immediately arrived
in a new country.

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Description and Rationale for my Decision to Choose the Word Conquer:
While there are multiple words that I have been able to learn, in the process of learning
this new technique of visual literacy, the most interesting word that attracted my attention is
“conquer”. The main reason behind choosing the word is that it has more than one implication,
though it does have a single literal meaning only. Although just like any other word, the word
refers to the act of invading something, some place or a person, on a metaphorical plane, it has
many other possible implications as well. The word conquer literally is a middle age French
word derived from the word “conquerre”, that literally translated, implies to defeat any power or
authority or any person. While the prefix of the word is derived from the word “com” , the suffix
is derived from “querre” which implies to gain something. The word conquer has been chosen
also because it is widely and popularly used in History text books, to show how the rulers of
various dynasties or the colonists of one country have conquered or invaded other regions of the
world. As a verb, the word helps in suggesting an act of forcefully gaining possession of a place,
object or an entity. The word is usually difficult to spell, and the second language English
learners often find it hard to remember the word, its meaning and most importantly its spelling.
To simplify the implication of the word, it has been chosen here. Besides, at the same time, it
should be noted that the word has also been chosen because it has more than one implication, and
the very same word can be used in different ways as well. Usually, on a literal plane, the word is
used to imply gaining control over some place, its metaphorical implications are many. For
example, it can be used to signify a sense of a person gaining the love of another person, and
winning over the heart of another individual. In such a situation, it can be said that “he
conquered her love” or “he conquered their hearts”, which means that he won over their hearts.
Description and Rationale for my Decision to Choose the Word Fall:

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The next word that has been chosen here is ‘fall” that literally implies the act of falling
down from a higher position to a lower position or level. The word fall is an ancient Norse word,
that literal used to imply the downfall of a person, and not the literal physical displacement of a
person. I have chosen the word as the word is not merely a commonly used English word, but it
is essentially a word that also has other meanings and moral implications. First of all, in the
colloquial language, the word means to move downwards from a higher level. As a result,
usually the word is important as it helps in suggesting a sense of a person losing balance and
collapsing, or an falling down on the ground. Despite its wide use as a Verb, the word is
nevertheless also used as a Noun. In the Christian religion, the word Fall has a moral implication,
as it is used as a Noun, and suggests the moral downfall of a person, when he or she perpetrates a
sin. This accounts for the expression “The Fall of Mankind” implied in the moral fall of Adam
and Eve, and thus this word can be used to suggest a sense of moral degradation. A person
sinning can also be said to have undergone a fall, as it would suggest a situation where he has
morally descended. Apart from its Biblical implication, the word, thus is also used daily to
suggest the moral degradation of a person as well. The word has also been chosen here as its
implication of a sense of descending from a higher level is also used synonymously with the way
the leaves fall down from the trees, during the Autumn season. This is exactly the reason why
apart from its accepted meaning, as a Noun, the word also implies “Autumn”. The use of the
word Fall as a substitute of Autumn is very popular in American and Canadian English. Autumn
is the particular season when the leaves of a tree become dry and are hand loosely along the
branches of the trees, only to fall in a while, This is why the word Fall is used as well.

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References List:
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representations. Learning, 12(2).
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representation. IEEE Transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence, 19(7),
696-710.
Murase, H., & Nayar, S. K. (1995). Visual learning and recognition of 3-D objects from
appearance. International journal of computer vision, 14(1), 5-24.