The word "attention" is spelled with the letter combination "ti" in the middle, which can be confusing for non-native speakers. In IPA transcription, it is pronounced /əˈtɛn.ʃən/, with the "ti" pronounced as "sh". This is because the letter combination "ti" is often pronounced as "sh" in English words, such as in "nation" or "condition". So, when spelling "attention", remember to substitute the "sh" sound for the letters "ti".
Attention, a noun derived from the Latin word "attentio," refers to the cognitive process of focusing one's mental resources on a particular stimulus or task, often involving the selection and concentration of information. It denotes an individual's ability to consciously direct their awareness and mental energy towards a specific object, event, or thought, excluding or disregarding other irrelevant or peripheral elements in the environment.
Attention can be both voluntary and involuntary, and it plays a crucial role in various aspects of human functioning, such as perception, learning, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. It involves allocating mental resources efficiently to enhance the processing of relevant information and filter out distractions, ultimately determining the depth and quality of an individual's engagement with a particular subject or situation.
This cognitive process is closely related to the concept of concentration, involving sustained focus and the ability to sustain attention over time. It can be influenced by external factors like novelty, importance, or relevance of the stimulus or internal factors like motivation, fatigue, or emotional state.
The study of attention encompasses several theoretical perspectives and domains, including selective attention, divided attention, sustained attention, and executive attention. Researchers often utilize various methods, such as behavioral experiments, neuroimaging techniques, and computational modeling, to explore the underlying mechanisms and neural correlates of attention.
In summary, attention refers to the conscious cognitive process of selectively focusing mental resources on specific information or tasks, influencing perception, learning, memory, and other cognitive functions.
The act of attending; paying heed to; steady application of the mind; act of courtesy.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word attention has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word atten(t)sio which is derived from the verb attendere. Attendere is a combination of the prefix ad meaning to and tener meaning to hold. Thus, attention originally meant to hold or direct one's mind or focus towards something. The word entered the English language in the 14th century through the Old French term atencion.