Three pics worth one word

Today’s Mark Trail cartoon is a good example of how graphics can help readers figure out words. The first panel shows Trail paddling a canoe, the second panel shows him bringing the canoe ashore and the final panel shows him carrying the canoe above his head.

Scanning the graphics, a young reader or a student whose first language is not English can accurately assume that “portage” means the carrying of a vessel over land. Sure enough, the word part “port” means to carry. That is why we have “support” (to carry weight), “transport” (to carry from one place to another) and “report” (to carry back).

Other “port” words are “comport,” “deport,” “export” and “import.” Do you know what they mean? Answers tomorrow.

Volok by Nicholas Roerich, 1915
Photo of painting courtesy of Wikipedia