"Why do you always use big words?"

[bemused]

Is it just me or do Americans need to expand their vo-cab-u-lar-y? I mean, seriously. If a colloquial, laid back slacker like myself is continuously posed that question, something is terribly wrong. Just the other day I had a woman say that to me after I used the word 'proverbial'. Apparently that is much bigger than the RIDICULOUS word that she generously tossed around.

I don't give a shit about grammar and I speak in a very conversational style using a lot slang. I am genuinely perplexed at folks who will misinterpret adjectives theyre oblivious to as being 'big' or 'snobby' or 'intellectual'. It is just strange to me.

Oddly enough, it's mostly women who are the most vocal about it. Aren't women supposed to be the verbal ones? Aren't they supposed to have the higher verbal IQs? Did they not grow up watching Dawson’s Creek? or Cruel Intentions? What about Frasier?

I jest. But seriously, people need to either read more material written in the English language or at least glance over a thesaurus from time to time. I assure everyone that generically using 'kismet' as a replacement for 'destiny' doesn't make kismet the bigger word.

I guess using the German word ‘weltanschauung’ in conversation may be a bit pretentious though. Haha.

 

[Pizzabeak]

People tend to think you're going for something instead of that just being one's first inclination concerning word choices and what not.. Apparently manner of speech should be directly correlated with how well one does on exams, and if there seems to be a discrepancy then it's time to speculate! alls fair n love n war

every now and then people that typically don't "use big words" get to use one and the result is generally satisfactory all around.

there's also a difference between using big words & saying stuff like 'by golly" because one wishes to 'speak properly'...

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

One specific word can safe a lot of breath or sentences and reduce the risk of digression.
The answer is precision.

I don't want to describe the attributes of a chair each time when i could simply use the word "chair" as a reference to its attributes.

 

[BigApplePi]

I'd favor using words that communicate. After all, words express what you want and if you want them to be received, both. I look up words anyway even simple ones if I have an idea and can't quite find the right one.

I'd be careful about using too much slang or unknown acronyms. They may not communicate. On the other hand, some people want to restrict their audiences. Doctors and lawyers use jargon but should be careful who is listening.

Sometimes though I am self-involved and struggle so I might not use the right woids. Ain't it da twut!

 

[bemused]

People tend to think you're going for something instead of that just being one's first inclination concerning word choices and what not.

Yeah, that's true. but you can usually tell when someone is being a pretentious douchebag and forcing words in a pathetic attempt to sound smart, and those who use words that come naturally to them. I think people who are avid readers will assimilate all the unfamiliar words they come across and naturally incorporate them into their own lexicon.

I habitually use the word 'insipid' rather than 'uninteresting'. Insipid is actually the smaller, more robust word and it just flows off the tongue more naturally for me.

But to my surprise, it doesn't translate well in conversation, because a lot of folks apparently don't know what it means. This is frustrating because it erroneously is labeled as a 'big' or 'intellectual' word simply because the average Joe doesn't know the meaning.

Please read more, America.

 

[pernoctator]

it's literally ironic how often I randomly use epic words, I'm such a nerd

 

[BigApplePi]

I habitually use the word 'insipid' rather than 'uninteresting'. Insipid is actually the smaller, more robust word and it just flows off the tongue more naturally for me.

Interesting is the base word for uninteresting. This means uninteresting suggests a contrast. Insipid captures the meaning directly. This means they have different meanings. Also, as you say, uninteresting is a more common word. I'm not sure how to say it, but insipid carries more punch because is it direct. Uninteresting is more laid back. Uninteresting almost becomes the meaning. Insipid is more interesting.

 

[Cherry Cola]

In linguistics there are the terms overt and covert prestige. Women make more use of the former and less of the latter.

Overt: proper speech, less profanity, less swear words, follows the norm more, less slang, tonality also more according to norm. Ex: English as it is spoken by teachers in school.
Covert: more individualized, more profanity, slang, more powerful expressions, more peculiar vocab, follows subcultural norms. Ex: chav slang, Big word speech

Generalizing Ofc, but that may be why more women are annoyed by your big words (lol). I share the same experience. My explanation of the terms is probably lacking but I cba to look up sources as I'm omw to work writing by phone.

 

[doncarlzone]

I don't give a shit about grammar and I speak in a very conversational style using a lot slang. I am genuinely perplexed at folks who will misinterpret adjectives theyre oblivious to as being 'big' or 'snobby' or 'intellectual'. It is just strange to me.

I am myself perplexed by the fact that you're perplexed by this. I mean, what did you expect? If you're an avid reader, you can't just expect everyone else to be so too, in fact you should know that this is not the case. If you use adjectives that are never used in popular media, then don't expect people to understand them in a casual conversation. In my native language we don't have nearly as many words as in English but we get by just fine intellectually, I'm sure other Americans do too.

 

[redbaron]

"I'm attempting the discombobulation of your person."

 

[Brontosaurie]

"proverbial" is actually a lame word. stop using it unless the context really calls for it.

i'll explain if you request that but hopefully it's not necessary.

 

[Jennywocky]

"Lame" is just a proverbial word that cannot move anywhere under its own power, and I'd appreciate you not using it.

 

[redbaron]

This thread is a proverbial clusterfuck. I wonder whom might be responsible.

 

[Brontosaurie]

"Lame" is just a proverbial word that cannot move anywhere under its own power, and I'd appreciate you not using it.

that's the point

This thread is a proverbial clusterfuck. I wonder whom might be responsible.

i'mma keel joo

 

[redbaron]

Pls no

Whom will support my family?

 

[BigApplePi]

Why get so discombobulated over some proverbial clusterfuck? No sense in being so lame over some insipid douchbag when this is not so perplexing as it could be.

 

[Base groove]

I'm sure other Americans do too.

What makes you sure of this? Are you generalizing some aspect of a non-American culture with the assumption that it will generally apply to American culture as well?

I wonder about the link between diet-mental health-intellect

 

[doncarlzone]

Are you generalizing some aspect of a non-American culture with the assumption that it will generally apply to American culture as well?

Yes that is prescisley what I just did

 

[Brontosaurie]

Pls no

Whom will support my family?

who'mma keel joo

 

[bemused]

Lol this is thread is hilarious.

Anyway - to the person that defined the overt covert thing. That was actually kinda fasinating. Never heard of that before.

I must say tho, women are better at grasping my metaphores and pop culture references. They just get all pissy with the usage of adverbs and 'big words' they don't know.

it's literally ironic how often I randomly use epic words, I'm such a nerd

Jesus, I like literally hope that you didn't read my post in the voice of some Williamsburg hipster chick.

or Lena Dunham.



Phone post

 

[redbaron]

I utilize Brobdingnagian terminology with extraordinarily supplementary incidence than does yourself.

 

[TimeAsylums]

I want a car; I want sex

I desire a motor vehicle; I desire/need sexual intercourse/interaction

The reasons for me acquiring a method of transportation...; Certain impulses, whether biological or not...

Clearly, these sentences do not necessarily have the same im/explicit meaning, but with enhanced vocabulary and understanding, one furthers the ability to explain.

etc

vocabulary is important; the better one understands and comprehends the language that others around them share, the better one can explicate, extrapolate, or explain their meaning to both self and others.

weltanschauung

sometimes "world-view," isn't good enough

Other useful german words - because sometimes fuck english.

einfühlung
sehnsucht
enantiodromia

The beauty is that in one word, they encapsulate and embrace a far more larger meaning (both denotation and connotation) than their directly translated counterparts.


So, no, I don't go around attempting to speak antiquated language (somewhat pontificating), but I do attempt to formulate the most formal understanding of my words, so that comprehension can be both attained and then furthered.

note: almost, but NOT to be pedantic, and not pompous, all for understanding

 

[Absurdity]

Yeah, that's true. but you can usually tell when someone is being a pretentious douchebag and forcing words in a pathetic attempt to sound smart, and those who use words that come naturally to them. I think people who are avid readers will assimilate all the unfamiliar words they come across and naturally incorporate them into their own lexicon.

Yes, I can tell.

 

[Jennywocky]

I utilize Brobdingnagian terminology with extraordinarily supplementary incidence than does yourself.

My terminology runs the scintillating range of Brobdingnagian ponderousness to Yahooish crapola.

 

[BigApplePi]

Insouciant panoplies of indiscreet and disproportionately hedonistic debaucheries with fatuous indicatatory timorous and niggling litigiousness can terminate in indisposable granulometric aggrandizement which would empower the epitome of this thread notwithstanding and in spite of the parturition of a hurried riffle of a succes de scandale or else.

Would you or would you not abstain from bringing yourself to a state bordering on scintillating disagreement or would you hide under the guise of dissimular crappola?

Edit: I said it once and see no reason to edit unless you can bring yourself to divulge an unnecessary urge to edit what fails to meet the minimum need to edit.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Close, BAP.

indisposable

not a word

perhaps you were looking for "indispensable?"

 

[Hawkeye]

not a word

perhaps you were looking for "indispensable?"

Indisposable is a word, it literally means not disposable. It is not an official word though. Just like alot is not an official word.

 

[TimeAsylums]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indisposable?s=t
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indisposable

I need to get a subscription to the OED.

Indisposable is a word, it literally means not disposable. It is not an official word though.

"official word"

Go fucking die

Just like alot is not an official word.

That's why it's fucking "A LOT"

"I have a lot of..." [check]
"I have alot of..." [not a word, misspelling]

 

[BigApplePi]

I can do without editing. Didn't I say NO EDITING ... unless you have the urge to do so.

 

[TimeAsylums]

I can do without editing. Didn't I say NO EDITING ... unless you have the urge to do so.

The rest of the post gets an A+, but "indisposable" knocks you down 1 point

 

[BigApplePi]

Stop it right now. In fact fuckin' stop it. Word play can border on commencing to start the beginning of initiating a word fight.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Stop it right now. In fact fuckin' stop it. Word play can border on commencing to start the beginning of initiating a word fight.

ok lol u get A+ for this one

 

[bemused]

Stop it right now. In fact fuckin' stop it. Word play can border on commencing to start the beginning of initiating a word fight.

LOL

I'm so glad I started this thread.

 

[BigApplePi]

You would have gotten a good grade for editing but for its niggling pusillanimous content. I could live with that knowndown if only there were a point to start with. Remove the niggling pusillanimousity and you're okay. Peace bro. Can I meet your little friend?

 

[Hawkeye]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indisposable?s=t
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indisposable

I need to get a subscription to the OED.


"official word"

Go fucking die


That's why it's fucking "A LOT"

"I have a lot of..." [check]
"I have alot of..." [not a word, misspelling]

You do realise that words are regularly added to the dictionary, not only that, their meanings can also change.

Literally can now mean figuratively because so many people use it incorrectly.

Learned is an adjective, not the past participle of learn. Yet Americans still use it incorrectly to the point where it has become officially accepted as a past participle... The same goes for spelled.

So it is you sir who should F.O.A.D.

 

[BigApplePi]

You and I and others may be glad but I'm not glad I'm glad until I hear the powers that be are glad. They do not like word fights I hear ... or do they?

 

[TimeAsylums]

Literally can now mean figuratively because so many people use it incorrectly.

officially accepted.

"Can now mean," jesus fucking christ. The reason you had to italicize "officially" is the reason here.

Because even if us ~300 million fucks in our small corner of North America misuse and abuse literally for figuratively, that doesn't actually change the meaning, it just means the fucks are too stupid to know the difference.

There is reason the word is "in"ane, and not "non"ane or other prefixes , there is reason something is not "in"disposable or "non"disposable

 

[Hawkeye]

"Can now mean," jesus fucking christ. The reason you had to italicize "officially" is the reason here.

Because even if us ~300 million fucks in our small corner of North America misuse and abuse literally for figuratively, that doesn't actually change the meaning, it just means the fucks are too stupid to know the difference.

Except the dictionaries now say literally can mean figuratively...

If you are going to berate me with dictionary definitions, you're going to have to accept that the meaning of literally can now mean figuratively because it says so in the dictionary...

Boom Bitch ^^

 

[Variform]

Why get so discombobulated over some proverbial clusterfuck? No sense in being so lame over some insipid douchbag when this is not so perplexing as it could be.

I think it should be made illegal to use discombobulated and clusterfuck in one sentence.

 

[BigApplePi]

P is different from J. P observes; J directs.

We can recognize each is a morality and just because (1) some of us favor one doesn't mean we don't do the other and (2) others do it more than we happen to.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Except the dictionaries now say literally can mean figuratively...

I hope you realize we are arguing fundamentally different points (different pages)

your argument:

• Because the accepted authorities on language say so
  • Because the dictionaries are malleable, as is language (and the respective definitions)

that is, I understand your argument, but that's not what I'm saying

Me:

The solid, formal, actual definition, as if it were empirical is x, and if y =/= x, then it's(y) not fucking x

 

[Hawkeye]

I hope you realize we are arguing fundamentally different points (different pages)



that is, I understand your argument, but that's not what I'm saying

Me:

You've literally just changed your argument. Bye.

 

[TimeAsylums]

You've literally just changed your argument. Bye.

If you are going to berate me with dictionary definitions, you're going to have to accept that the meaning of literally can now mean figuratively because it says so in the dictionary...

I linked the two search definitions of "nondisposable" once (to prove that it wasn't a word), I didn't come near to berating you with links or dictionary definitions, dude.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Clarification​

We generally go by the dictionary to see if what we say is an "actual*" word

*actual = generally accepted as to be in the dictionary

Words can be subtracted, added, or changed to the dictionary by whatever means (e.g., the large misuse of literally->figuratively)

We both understand and get this^

BUT, what I was saying is that, taking the "accepted**" value(definition of a word, the denotation), concretely, empirically, and working with that definition.

**actual = static and concrete, tangible

Except that this seems utterly retarded to you to do because taking the "static-concrete" from just a "perpetual intangible malleable" doesn't register to you

 

[Jennywocky]

I think it should be made illegal to use discombobulated and clusterfuck in one sentence.

You know, that really narrows my options for how to describe this thread...

 

[TBerg]

There is really no difference between neologisms and the words asserted by linguistic authoritarians except for the fact that inventors of neologisms usually uproot the language they claim to use while traditionalists show more fidelity to the roots of their own language. When you uproot something, it loses connection to what came before and gradually we lose all ability to know how we got here at all. Neologisms are mostly used by people who don't care about what anything means.

 

[TimeAsylums]

There is really no difference between neologisms and the words asserted by linguistic authoritarians except for the fact that inventors of neologisms usually uproot the language they claim to use while traditionalists show more fidelity to the roots of their own language. When you uproot something, it loses connection to what came before and gradually we lose all ability to know how we got here at all. Neologisms are mostly used by people who don't care about what anything means.

This is essentially Hawkeye's argument...

except that I don't disagree with either of you...because I'm not arguing against that, although you might think that what I'm saying contradicts that,

different pages, as i explained in [clarification], I was speaking on a meta-use of definitions/language

 

[TimeAsylums]

OP

congrats you not only get big "length" words, now you also get "depth" meta.

wot moar dimensions can we reach

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

indisposable

not a word

word noun \ˈwərd\ : a sound or combination of sounds that has a meaning and is spoken or written

A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed:

I would say that it is a word in the BAP dictionary, that is also understood by others.

Understanding of the meaning validates the sound/text as a word in this case.

 

[TimeAsylums]

A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed

This would be excellent satire

EXCEPT

I already gave a pre-definiton to "word," in a previous post

:P