Lately I have become fascinated with vocabulary. I am amused by the choice of words, both written and spoken, and the meanings they convey. More correctly I have become amused by the conclusions others draw about you by your selection of words. More so, when these same people have known you for quite some time. It is of particular amusement when these same people now reach the conclusion, ” you’re smarter than I thought you were. ” Just what does that mean anyway ?
I’ve always been a word person. Always have enjoyed the use of words to describe things. Painting the picture,as they say. I’ve also been aware of dialects. Different groups of people speaking the same language but in a different fashion. The many ways of conveying your emotions. In the ” vernacular ” of the time and place as it were. I have picked up bits and pieces of dialects from around the country and lace them into my speech. I have grown accustomed to certain mannerism in speech depending on the environment. I was in the Navy for a number of years and it is true the speech patterns and use of certain phrases differ there from society in general. At least that was true in my time. I have noticed the increased use of vulgarity in everyday speech over the years.
The really ” big ” words, those used in polite company, have traditionally been the provenance of the wealthy or learned. Often misconstrued as being arrogance. I used to think so myself until the last few years or so. Now I view them as one more way to explain my feelings. A means to more aptly describe something. Language is what separates man from man. Making our feelings and thoughts known clearly without offense.
That is the goal of any language. By choosing the correct terms,phrases and vocabulary we can enter another man’s world. The language I choose to speak on the street corner, should certainly differ from the language I use at a formal dinner party.
This fascination with vocabulary has developed since I began writing this blog. I first just wrote the words as they came to mind. In my native vernacular. Then I began to find that my vocabulary was sometimes inadequate to describe the intent. Words floated around my head I thought might apply. I confess to checking their meaning with Webster online before using them. To my own surprise the meanings were usually what I had anticipated. Must have learned more of this language than I thought. And this process continues.
I must say the interjection of some words not commonly heard can lend some credence to your thought or argument. I find it throws others off their balance. String a number of them together and one can stifle the response of others. It also lends a sense of cordiality to the conversation. Something I think we need a lot more of these days. It is my observation that our speech patterns have become “angrier”and more confrontational over the years. I do long for gentler times. Not all emotions or actions can be described with just four letters ! I grow weary of that adjective.
The truth of the matter is this, my intelligence quotient has not increased by using a larger vocabulary. It is only a perception on the part of those listening or reading these words. Some will be fooled, others will not. But I feel by careful selection of vocabulary it is possible to convey your meanings. The comprehension lies in the interpretation of the words. I just look them up.
I’ve always been a word person. Always have enjoyed the use of words to describe things. Painting the picture,as they say. I’ve also been aware of dialects. Different groups of people speaking the same language but in a different fashion. The many ways of conveying your emotions. In the ” vernacular ” of the time and place as it were. I have picked up bits and pieces of dialects from around the country and lace them into my speech. I have grown accustomed to certain mannerism in speech depending on the environment. I was in the Navy for a number of years and it is true the speech patterns and use of certain phrases differ there from society in general. At least that was true in my time. I have noticed the increased use of vulgarity in everyday speech over the years.
The really ” big ” words, those used in polite company, have traditionally been the provenance of the wealthy or learned. Often misconstrued as being arrogance. I used to think so myself until the last few years or so. Now I view them as one more way to explain my feelings. A means to more aptly describe something. Language is what separates man from man. Making our feelings and thoughts known clearly without offense.
That is the goal of any language. By choosing the correct terms,phrases and vocabulary we can enter another man’s world. The language I choose to speak on the street corner, should certainly differ from the language I use at a formal dinner party.
This fascination with vocabulary has developed since I began writing this blog. I first just wrote the words as they came to mind. In my native vernacular. Then I began to find that my vocabulary was sometimes inadequate to describe the intent. Words floated around my head I thought might apply. I confess to checking their meaning with Webster online before using them. To my own surprise the meanings were usually what I had anticipated. Must have learned more of this language than I thought. And this process continues.
I must say the interjection of some words not commonly heard can lend some credence to your thought or argument. I find it throws others off their balance. String a number of them together and one can stifle the response of others. It also lends a sense of cordiality to the conversation. Something I think we need a lot more of these days. It is my observation that our speech patterns have become “angrier”and more confrontational over the years. I do long for gentler times. Not all emotions or actions can be described with just four letters ! I grow weary of that adjective.
The truth of the matter is this, my intelligence quotient has not increased by using a larger vocabulary. It is only a perception on the part of those listening or reading these words. Some will be fooled, others will not. But I feel by careful selection of vocabulary it is possible to convey your meanings. The comprehension lies in the interpretation of the words. I just look them up.
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