ChatGPT as an Extension of a Classroom Dictionary

If I were teaching fourth grade again, I would provide systematic and explicit instruction to my students in using online dictionaries, repositories of linguistic information readily available through no other resource in hard copy or online. My fourth graders would also receive instruction in ways to use conversational AI as a separate resource like a dictionary but with extended functions. As a writer, I would advise all writers who have no aversion to using analytic digital tools to see more deeply into micro elements of conventional or common word functions, meanings, and nuances to take advantage of the affordances.

It truly isn’t a Faustian bargain. The bot is savvy to the affordances of a standard English dictionary (OpenAI, ChatGPT4, October, 2023). In the following segment from a conversation I held with the bot, the functions of a dictionary best reserved for a dictionary and not for a bot, in my opinion, are in boldface print. The remaining three functions open up possibilities for bots:

robot: Hello, How can I assist you?

- user: What functions can a regular English dictionary serve?

- robot: A regular English dictionary can serve several functions, including:

1. Definitions: It provides the meanings, explanations, and definitions of words in the English language. This helps individuals understand the correct usage of words and expand their vocabulary.

2. Spelling and pronunciation: Dictionaries often include the correct spelling of words, including different forms and variations. They also provide phonetic transcriptions or pronunciation guides to assist with proper pronunciation.

3. Usage guidance: Dictionaries often offer examples of word usage in sentences, phrases, and idiomatic expressions. They may also indicate whether a word is formal, informal, colloquial, or slang.

4. Word origins and etymology: Many dictionaries provide information about the historical origins and roots of words, helping users gain insight into their linguistic development and related terms.

5. Synonyms and antonyms: Dictionaries often list synonyms (words with similar meanings) and antonyms (words with opposite meanings) for various entries, helping users enhance their writing and communication skills.

6. Cross-referencing: Dictionaries include cross-references to guide users to related words or entries, aiding in understanding connections between different terms and concepts.

7. Abbreviations and acronyms: Dictionaries may contain abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms, along with their meanings, which are particularly useful in deciphering jargon or technical terms.

William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning,” which I reread recently, provided me with two juicy phrases that piqued my curiosity on this latest pass through the text. I can’t explain why I hadn’t been so struck by them earlier in life; my first experience with this text came my second year at community college in an Intro to American Literature course. Working with the bot has widened my aperture a bit, I think, and I’ve been surprised at how attuned I’ve become to nuances, I think partly because I have this new toy.

“Barn Burning” is a fit parable for our times. A wealthy landowner in Mississippi permits sharecroppers to live on and farm his land. When Abner Snopes’ pig escapes and invades the landowner’s kingdom, the landowner orders Snopes to put of a pen. He even provides some fence wire. When the pig escapes again (Snopes refused to build a pen), a fight between Snopes, dirt poor and angry with the moon, and the arrogant landowner escalates until Snope burns the man’s barn down. I noticed Faulkner’s use of the phrase “swift feet” to describe the sound of the wealthy man’s wife running from the kitchen during a moment of high drama and realized I would not have thought to choose “swift” and wasn’t entirely sure why the phrase seemed so rich:

- robot: Hello, How can I assist you?

- user: Analyze the syntax of this sentence: The boy listened to sounds of swift feet.

- robot: The syntax of the sentence "The boy listened to sounds of swift feet" is as follows:

[The bot analyses the syntax, then…]

- user: What is the morphosyntactic relationship between “swift” and “feet”?

- robot: The morphosyntactic relationship between "swift" and "feet" in the sentence "The boy listened to sounds of swift feet" is that "swift" functions as an adjective modifying the noun "feet." This relationship is known as adjectival modification, where the adjective describes the characteristics or attributes of the noun. In this case, "swift" describes the type or quality of the feet, indicating that they are fast or quick.

As I thought. Neither “swift” nor “feet” have a thing to do with sound, but when I read the passage, I heard the clattering of a woman’s heels. What intrigued me most was the fact that “swift feet” in isolation I don’t believe would conjure up an acoustic image in a reader’s consciousness. The very definition of these two words uniting in a meaning was tailored by the micro context:

- user: Generate three phrases using swift feet as a template.

- robot: Sure! Here are three phrases using "swift feet" as a template:

1. Quick strides: This phrase conveys the idea of fast and purposeful movement, similar to the concept of "swift feet."

2. Rapid pace: This phrase suggests a quick and efficient manner of moving forward, resembling the notion of "swift feet."

3. Speedy steps: This phrase implies a fast and agile way of walking or running, capturing the essence of "swift feet."

As I considered the bot’s examples, each of which indeed communicated the same basic meaning as “swift feet,” I was doubtful that Faulkner would’ve chosen any of them. Quick, rapid, and speedy seemed to emphasize visual feet—I didn’t hear the heels clicking. I wasn’t quite sure why “swift” is the perfect word. So I turned to my extended dictionary:

[I’m omitting some prompts I used to prepare the bot to respond to what I really wanted to know. To get to this point, I checked to make sure the bot understood the concept of denotation vs connotation.]

- user: Explain why rapid, quick, and agile are very differently nuanced when compared and contrasted with swift.

- robot: Certainly! While "rapid," "quick," "agile," and "swift" are all associated with speed and quickness, they do have distinct nuances when compared and contrasted:

1. Rapid: "Rapid" emphasizes the speed of an action or movement. It refers to something happening with great swiftness, often suggesting a fast pace or acceleration. However, "rapid" does not carry the same connotation of grace or elegance that "swift" often does.

2. Quick: "Quick" emphasizes the speed of a response or reaction. It implies an ability to move fast or think fast. "Quick" can refer to both physical and mental agility. However, it may not convey the same level of constant, sustained speed as "swift."

3. Agile: "Agile" emphasizes both speed and flexibility. It suggests the ability to move quickly and easily, often with grace and precision. "Agile" is often associated with nimbleness and dexterity, particularly in physical movements. While it shares some similarities with "swift," "agile" may carry a slightly different connotation, focusing more on maneuverability and adaptability.

In comparison to "swift," "rapid" emphasizes speed without necessarily implying grace, "quick" emphasizes a rapid response or agility, and "agile" emphasizes both speed and flexibility. "Swift," on the other hand, suggests a combination of speed, grace, and fluidity in movement.

I realized that the word “swift” in itself did not carry the burden of the sound of heels clicking, but instead infused the woman, who is rushing to meet Snopes, who had come to the mansion to take vengeance on the landowner for bringing a lawsuit, with grace. The sound I heard of clicking heels and the resonance of grace came from earlier in the story.

Snopes had been a Confederate soldier thirty years before he took up share cropping and, fighting with his landlord, burned the landlord’s barn. He’d been shot in the Achilles tendon by a Yankee and walked with a stiff leg. When he climbed the stairs of the mansion to knock on the door, we get the following description from Faulkner:

“[The boy] heard again that stiff foot striking the hollow portico with that wooden and clocklike deliberation, that outrageous overstatement of the weight it carried…then the foot again, unhurried and enormous…”

“Stiff foot” actually rhymes with “swift feet”; the Civil War weighed down Abner Snopes and defined him in a way that had left the landowner and his wife unscathed. Whether Faulkner consciously strategized this web of emotion and meaning embodied in the feet of these characters is anybody’s guess, but if you haven’t read the story, you need to know that Snopes takes his revenge by stomping on an expensive, elegant rug in the mansion’s parlor valued at $100 with a boot dirtied with horse manure.

*****

Near the end of first trial when the judge made the decision to acquit Snopes of burning the barn due to insufficient evidence, Faulkner described the moment just before the deliverance of the verdict as “overwhelming silence, intense listening,” two phrases that piqued my interest. I explored the nuances of each phrase individually and then together.

After some discussion, I was getting no where, off task, I think because I got stuck on some arcane issues of grammar. I’ll leave you with excerpts from the end of the chat.

**********

- user: Let me see if I understand. A dictionary can provide me with complete information about spellings, pronunciations, parts of speech, history, common uses and meanings, and related information about single words listed in alphabetical order. You don’t work that way.

- robot: Yes, that's correct. While a dictionary provides comprehensive information about single words, including spellings, pronunciations, parts of speech, definitions, etymology, and related information, as an AI language model, my responses are generated based on patterns, correlations, and contexts learned from training data. While I strive to provide accurate and helpful information, there may be instances where my responses may not align with the structured content found in a traditional dictionary.

- user: I still would like to know how it happened that you deemed overwhelming an adjective rather than a verb. Could it be that overwhelming is more often an adjective than a verb? Is that a reasonable explanation?

- robot: Based on the training data and patterns I have been exposed to, the word "overwhelming" is indeed more commonly used as an adjective rather than as a verb. It is important to note that the frequency and usage of words can vary across different contexts, registers, or geographic regions. Linguistic patterns and the prevalence of specific word usages in the training data can influence how the model generates responses.

- user: Very cool. Is it reasonable for me to ask you questions like “Is the word ‘drive’ used more frequently as a noun or a verb?’”

- robot: Yes, please go ahead and ask me any question you have about the frequency of word usage as a noun or a verb. I'll do my best to provide you with information based on the patterns and data I've been trained on.

- user: Do you have information about changes in usage of the word “they” from a plural to a singular pronoun?

- robot: Yes, I have information about the changes in the usage of the word "they" as a singular pronoun. In recent years, there has been a growing acceptance and usage of "they" as a gender-neutral or non-binary pronoun to refer to individuals instead of using traditional gender-specific pronouns like "he" or "she."

This usage recognizes and respects gender diversity and inclusivity by offering a pronoun that doesn't assume a person's gender identity. The singular "they" has been adopted by many language communities, style guides, and institutions. It is now commonly seen in literature, media, and everyday conversations.

- user: Can you pinpoint when historically this shift seems to have begun? I’m interested in the period from 1990 through 2018.

- robot: Understood. For the period from 1990 through 2018, there has been a notable increase in the usage and recognition of "they" as a singular pronoun, particularly as a gender-neutral pronoun. This shift can be attributed to various factors, including increased awaren

- user: Including increased awareness and…

- robot: Yes, including increased awareness and advocacy for gender inclusivity and non-binary or genderqueer identities. During this period, there has been a significant cultural and social shift towards recognizing and respecting individuals who do not ide

- user: Including increased awareness and…

- robot: Including increased awareness and understanding of gender diversity and non-binary identities. The shift towards using "they" as a singular pronoun has been fueled by advocacy and activism from marginalized communities, as well as a broader recogniti

- user: a broader recogni…

- robot: A broader recognition of the limitations and exclusivity of traditional gendered language. This has led to a more inclusive and gender-neutral approach to language, with the increased acceptance of "they" as a singular pronoun being part of that linguistic evo

- user: Please examine the morphosyntax of the phrase “overwhelming silence.”

- robot: Certainly! The phrase "overwhelming silence" consists of two main components: the adjective "overwhelming" and the noun "silence."

- "Overwhelming": This word functions as an adjective in the phrase, modifying the noun "silence." It describes the intensity or extent of the silence, indicating that it is powerful, all-encompassing, or overpowering.

- "Silence": This word functions as the noun in the phrase, representing the absence of sound or noise. In this context, it is modified by the adjective "overwhelming" to convey a sense of an extremely profound or intense state of quietness.

The phrase as a whole combines these components to evoke the idea of a silence that is particularly strong, impactful, or emotionally charged.

- user: Create a scenario in a courtroom that generates overwhelming silence.

- robot: In a bustling courtroom, the tension is palpable as a high-profile murder trial reaches its climax. The defense attorney delivers a closing statement that meticulously dismantles the prosecution's case, raising doubts and pointing out inconsistencies in the evidence. With every carefully chosen word, the defense paints a vivid picture of how the accused was in fact an innocent target of circumstantial evidence, trapped in a web of false accusations.

As the defense attorney concludes their speech, the impact of their argument resonates through the courtroom. The weight of their words, combined with the power of their delivery, leaves the jury and everyone present in awe. The courtroom falls into a deep and overwhelming silence. All eyes turn to the accused, awaiting the final verdict that will seal their fate.

- user: Now do the same with the phrase “intense listening.” Do the analysis and the write the scenario

- robot: Sure! Let's analyze the phrase "intense listening":

- "Intense": This word functions as an adjective, describing the noun "listening." It conveys the idea of great concentration, focus, and depth in the act of listening.

- "Listening": This word functions as a gerund, a verb form that acts as a noun in this context, representing the action or process of actively receiving and comprehending auditory informat

Scenario:

In a packed lecture hall, a renowned professor delivers a captivating talk on quantum physics. The audience, composed of eager students and esteemed scholars, leans forward in their seats, hanging on every word. The room is filled with an intense sile

- user: Go on.

- robot: In a small, intimate theater, a group of passionate theater enthusiasts gathers for a performance of a thought-provoking play. As the lights dim and the curtains draw back, the audience leans forward in their seats, captivated by the powerful story unfolding on stage. The actors deliver their lines with precision and emotion, their words carrying depth and nuance. Each member of the audience engages in intense listening, fully immersed in the dialogue, absorbing every word and subtle inflection. The air is filled with a palpable silence as the audience hangs onto every moment, feeling the impact of the play's messages and experiencing a profound connection through the power of intense listening.

- user: Nice! Now write an introduction to a lecture delivered by the physics professor about quantum physics. Overwhelming silence, intense listening.

- robot: Certainly! Here's an introduction to a lecture on quantum physics delivered by a physics professor:

In a grand lecture hall, buzzing with anticipation, eager minds gather to unravel the mysteries of the quantum world. The stage is set, and the renowned physics professor strides confidently to the podium. With a spark in their eyes and a passion that radiates through the room, they embark on a journey to explore the extraordinary realm of quantum physics. Brace yourselves for an enlightening and mind-expanding lecture that will challenge your preconceptions and push the boundaries of your understanding. Get ready to delve into the mind-boggling concepts and awe-inspiring discoveries that await in the captivating realm of quantum physics.

- user: But you didn’t write the words the professor spoke to open his lecture. Please do.

- robot: Apologies for the confusion. Here's an opening line for the physics professor's lecture on quantum physics:

- robot: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the captivating realm of quantum physics, where reality dances on the edge of uncertainty and the smallest building blocks of our universe hold extraordinary secrets. Tonight, we embark on a journey to explore the fundamental nature of matter and energy, where particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously, and measurement itself becomes a delicate interplay of probabilities. Prepare to delve into a world that challenges our intuitions and invites us to witness the sheer wonder and mystery that lies within the quantum realm."

- user: Nice! Now summarize for me based on the tasks I’ve given you services you can provide that extend the dictionary from its focus on single words to include explorations of meanings of single words and phrases in context.

- robot: Based on the tasks you've given me, I can provide services that extend beyond a simple dictionary by offering:

1. Analysis of Morphosyntax: I can examine the grammatical and structural features of words and phrases, providing insights into their roles and relationships within sentences.

2. Construction of Imaginary Scenarios: I can create fictional scenarios or narratives that incorporate specific words or phrases, allowing for a better understanding of their usage and meaning in context.

3. Contextual Sentence Generation: I can generate meaningful sentences that incorporate multiple words or phrases, showcasing their cohesive use in a given context and avoiding potential contradictions.

4. Exploration of Meaning: By considering words and phrases in context, I can assist in exploring their nuanced meanings, connotations, and implications beyond their individual definitions.

These services aim to enhance your understanding of words and phrases by providing a more comprehensive and contextual approach to their analysis and usage.

- user: Now give me feedback on the quality of my prompts and let me know how I can improve

- robot: Your prompts have been clear and specific, allowing me to understand your requirements and generate relevant responses. However, if you would like to further improve your prompts, you can consider providing more specific details or examples to help me understand the context or desired outcome in greater detail. Additionally, you can specify any preferences or constraints you have for the response, such as word count limits or a particular writing style. This will help me tailor my responses more precisely to your needs. Overall, your prompts have been effective, and I'm here to assist you further!

- user: Very helpful feedback. Thanks.

- robot: You're welcome! I'm glad I could be of help. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.