RELATIONAL WORDS


CLASS
C
PHASE
Idea generation
DESCRIPTION

This technique takes any existing word(s) and strives to add in relational words (e.g. ‘about, ‘except’, ‘under’, ‘though’ etc.) to modify or expand the meaning of the original word(s), or to encourage further development (devised by Crovitz, 1970). Below is a table of frequent English relational words:

About
Beyond
Out
With
Above
But
Over
Within
Across
By
Past
Without
After
Down
Round
 
Against
During
Since
 
Along
Except
So
 
Amid
For
Still
 
Among
From
Then
 
And
If
Though
 
Around
In
Through
 
As
Into
Throughout
 
At
Near
To
 
Because
Not
Toward
 
Before
Now
Under
 
Behind
Of
Up
 
Below
Off
Upon
 
Beneath
On
When
 
Beside
Opposite
Where
 
Between
Or
While
 


The method was originally designed to supplement methods that generate word pairs, see Attribute Listing, some forms of Random Stimuli, Listing, Morphological Analysis, and Paraphrasing Key words.

For example, should one of these techniques generate the combination: ‘room’ and ‘kettle’ the relational words might suggest idea-stimulating variants such as :

  • Room-beside-kettle
  • Kettle-in-room
  • Room-kettle-within etc.

It could also be used as a starting point technique in any form of idea-generation, by taking any suitable idea and adding the relational word. So if you have ‘garage sale’ as an idea, you can explore possible meanings of ideas such as ‘within the garage sale’, ‘garage sale where’ or ‘sale in garage’.

Whilst you could use the technique by working through every relational word on the list, the method is almost certainly better used selectively – e.g. by having the words on a wall chart and taking a quick look at them whenever you need inspiration.

[Source: www.mycoted.com]
REFERENCES