Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ENDEMIC

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explore the archives: Since endemic is a bit fancy, when is it more appropriate than its simpler synonyms native, local, and common? In this issue I'll try my best to answer that question. See if you can answer these: 1. When is the word pandemic more appropriate than its simpler synonyms disease and problem? 2. When is the word demagoguery more appropriate than its simpler synonyms exploitation and manipulation? 3. In demagoguery, pandemic, and endemic (and demographics and democracy), what does the "dem" part mean? make your point with... "ENDEMIC" Something endemic is common within a specific group of people, or common in a specific place. Pronunciation: en DEM ick Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "an endemic thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was endemic.") Other forms: -The nouns are "endemism" and "endemicity." -Sometimes we use "endemic" as a noun to mean "a plant or disease that's local to a certain place." -The adverb is "endemically." -Another adjective is "endemical," but why not stick with the shorter "endemic"? How to use it: "Endemic" very often describes diseases, so even when we're using this word to talk about something else (like an endemic issue or quality), we're often subtly comparing that thing to a disease. (To be less subtle about the comparison to a disease, call something "epidemic" or "pandemic" instead.) That's why endemic things are usually negative (endemic problems, corruption, smuggling, warfare, pessimism, or stress), but they can be neutral, too (endemic species, habits, tendencies, or qualities). Often we'll say one thing or quality is endemic to a certain place or to a certain group of people: "a species endemic to Madagascar," "a habit endemic to their culture," "a bias endemic to our nature as humans." To use the adverb, talk about things that grow or expand endemically, things that rage or roil endemically, or things that prevail endemically. Or say that certain things are endemically southern, endemically transmitted, endemically corrupt, etc. Both of the nouns ("endemism" and "endemicity") are rather clunky, aren't they? I bet you can avoid them entirely by rephrasing your idea. examples: Writers like Marcia Riefer Johnston have poked fun at buzzwords endemic to the world of business: "legwork," "triangulate," "action item." Stress and sleep deprivation were endemic to Evelyn's highly competitive high school. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "endemic" means when you can explain it without saying "regional" or "localized." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "When I (traveled beyond my community or my usual scope of experience), I realized that (some common habit, practice, or problem) must be endemic to (my own community or scope of experience). Example: "When I moved to Hawaii, I realized that plastic shopping bags, cheap bulk trash collection, and that entire attitude of 'let's just throw this out' must be endemic to the mainland." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "What's the Difference?" I’ll give you two terms. Without using Google or a dictionary, explain how they’re different. Go beyond saying, "well, I know the difference, but I can’t explain it," or "show me an example and I'll tell you which it is." In your explanations, try to focus on features, not comparisons. For example, what's the difference between climate and weather? A good explanation focuses on features: "climate is what’s going on in the atmosphere over long periods of time, and weather is what’s going on in the atmosphere at a particular place and time." A weaker explanation focuses on comparisons: "climate is more concerning than weather." The game will get harder as the month goes on: we’ll start with objects—natural first, then man-made—then switch to concepts. Let’s do this! From yesterday: What's the difference between a tortoise and a turtle? Answer: Tortoises spend their lives on land, but turtles spend some or all of their time in the water. Try this today: What's the difference between an ocean and a sea? review today's word: 1. One opposite of ENDEMIC is A. SILENT B. CHECKED C. UNIVERSAL 2. The article explores how _____ became endemic to _____. A. eating disorders .. treatment programs B. the over-representation of minorities .. special education C. patients participating in clinical drug trials .. their worst symptoms Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B