recapitulation
lowformal/academic
Definition
Meaning
The act of summarizing or restating the main points of something.
In music, a section of a sonata form where themes are restated; in biology, the theory that embryonic development repeats evolutionary history.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in academic, musical, and biological contexts. Can imply a concise repetition or summary, often with a structured or formal tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; both variants use the word similarly in meaning and context.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American English in musical terminology, but overall connotations are equivalent.
Frequency
More frequent in written academic texts than in spoken language, with comparable usage in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
recapitulation of [something]provide a recapitulationinclude a recapitulationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings or reports to summarize key points before making decisions or concluding discussions.
Academic
Common in lectures, papers, and theses to restate main arguments or findings in conclusion sections.
Everyday
Rare; informal synonyms like 'recap' or 'summary' are preferred in casual conversation.
Technical
In music, refers to a structural section in sonata form; in biology, to the recapitulation theory in embryology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He will recapitulate the main points at the end of the lecture.
- The report recapitulates the findings from the previous study.
American English
- She recapitulated the events for the new team members.
- The speaker recapitulated the key arguments before taking questions.
adjective
British English
- The recapitulatory section in the symphony was particularly moving.
- His recapitulatory remarks clarified the complex issue.
American English
- The document includes a recapitulatory summary at the end.
- Her recapitulatory style helps audiences follow the presentation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher gave a recapitulation of the lesson.
- After the story, we did a recapitulation of the plot.
- He provided a brief recapitulation of the key ideas after the discussion.
- The recapitulation at the end of the chapter helped me remember the main points.
- In her conclusion, the author offers a recapitulation of the main arguments presented in the book.
- The recapitulation of the debate highlighted the areas of agreement and disagreement.
- The recapitulation in the symphony's final movement elegantly restates the primary motifs, creating a sense of closure.
- Biological recapitulation theory, though controversial, suggests that ontogeny repeats phylogeny.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-' meaning again and 'capitulate' related to headings; so recapitulation is going back to the main headings or points.
Conceptual Metaphor
Knowledge as a journey, where recapitulation is retracing steps to reinforce understanding.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation 'рекапитуляция' is rare and technical; more common terms are 'резюме' for summary or 'повторение' for repetition.
- Avoid using in informal contexts where 'краткое содержание' or 'пересказ' are more appropriate.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing with stress on the first syllable (e.g., 'REE-capitulation') instead of on 'pit' or 'la'.
- Confusing with the verb 'recapitulate' and using it incorrectly as a noun in sentences.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'recapitulation'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is more formal and often found in academic, musical, or technical contexts. Informal synonyms like 'recap' or 'summary' are preferred in everyday speech.
'Recapitulation' often implies a structured or formal restatement, sometimes with repetition, while 'summary' is a more general term for a concise overview.
In sonata form, it is the section where the main themes from the exposition are repeated after the development, typically in the tonic key.
The verb form is 'recapitulate', meaning to summarize or restate main points. 'Recapitulation' is the noun form.