Instruction, Construction
Have you ever heard or used phrases such as ‘the clothing was strewn all over the room’ or ‘the park was strewn with litter after the long weekend’?
The word strewn comes from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root streu, stere (to spread; streu is also the root of straw).
The words instruct and construct both come from this PIE root. Construct and instruct both mean taking that which is ‘spread around’ and bringing structure and order to the chaos. Perhaps construction could be considered as an ‘exterior’ structuring and instruction could be considered an ‘interior’ structuring.
The Latin prefix in- (on) + struere forms instruere (to arrange, prepare, set in order; inform, teach) and instructionem (an array, an arrangement). Later, Latin instructionem had evolved to mean teaching. From these sources, comes 14th century Old French instruccion (instruction) and by the 1400s the word instruccion (the action or process of teaching) had come to English. It is worth noting how little the word changed over the centuries—from generation to generation instruction has always more or less been instruction.
What is the difference between teaching and instructing? Generally, teaching means imparting or delivering knowledge (like delivering a load of something). On the other hand, instructing, means not only imparting or delivering knowledge, but emphasizes the orderly arrangement of the things taught.
The Latin prefix con- (with, together) + struere (to pile up) forms construere (to pile up together, to accumulate, to build, make erect) and constructionem (a putting or placing together, the act of building). This word came to English in the late 14th century as construccion and is later seen as construction. From the early 15th century construction meant the act of building or making. By 1707, the word meant a way or form in which a thing is built or made and by 1796 the word meant that which is constructed, a structure. Also, from these sources, come the words construe and the philosophy of constructivism.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
The word strewn comes from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root streu, stere (to spread; streu is also the root of straw).
The words instruct and construct both come from this PIE root. Construct and instruct both mean taking that which is ‘spread around’ and bringing structure and order to the chaos. Perhaps construction could be considered as an ‘exterior’ structuring and instruction could be considered an ‘interior’ structuring.
The Latin prefix in- (on) + struere forms instruere (to arrange, prepare, set in order; inform, teach) and instructionem (an array, an arrangement). Later, Latin instructionem had evolved to mean teaching. From these sources, comes 14th century Old French instruccion (instruction) and by the 1400s the word instruccion (the action or process of teaching) had come to English. It is worth noting how little the word changed over the centuries—from generation to generation instruction has always more or less been instruction.
What is the difference between teaching and instructing? Generally, teaching means imparting or delivering knowledge (like delivering a load of something). On the other hand, instructing, means not only imparting or delivering knowledge, but emphasizes the orderly arrangement of the things taught.
The Latin prefix con- (with, together) + struere (to pile up) forms construere (to pile up together, to accumulate, to build, make erect) and constructionem (a putting or placing together, the act of building). This word came to English in the late 14th century as construccion and is later seen as construction. From the early 15th century construction meant the act of building or making. By 1707, the word meant a way or form in which a thing is built or made and by 1796 the word meant that which is constructed, a structure. Also, from these sources, come the words construe and the philosophy of constructivism.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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