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[Language and Communication] How much import do you place on a large vocabulary?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Caltex2, Jun 30, 2013.

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  1. Caltex2

    Caltex2 Member

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    I think it's important to be articulate and have an extensive vocabulary that no one can stump easily with. But at a certain point, you turn into a snob and it becomes a [bleep] measuring contest because knowing a lot of big words doesn't necessarily make you smarter, it just means you know how to communicate in more ways.

    I place more emphasis in being able to talk to people on their level in ways they can understand, even if I still know some big words myself and if they don't understand a few things I say, I don't turn my nose up at them and instead politely explain to them what I mean, usually in a humorous way.

    Is anyone idiosyncratic to that?:grin:
     
    #1 Caltex2, Jun 30, 2013
  2. DwightHoward13

    DwightHoward13 Member

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    I think having a good vocabulary is important. That is why I am so smartical!
     
    #2 DwightHoward13, Jun 30, 2013
  3. Caltex2

    Caltex2 Member

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    If you were going to make up a word, at least say that using big words in a conversation is funtastic.
     
    #3 Caltex2, Jun 30, 2013
  4. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    I have a pretty good vocabulary but I rarely use it in conversation or when I write. It's more important to convey a precise message in a way that everyone can understand. You don't hear uncommon words during Presidential debates or political hearings.
     
    #4 Ziggy, Jun 30, 2013
  5. Tom Bombadillo

    Tom Bombadillo Member

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    I am indefatigable...
     
    #5 Tom Bombadillo, Jun 30, 2013
  6. CCorn

    CCorn Member

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    Since I graduated my vocabulary has become terrible. If bothers me at times, and I know I need to read more, it just becomes difficult when you work all the time.
     
    #6 CCorn, Jun 30, 2013
  7. Blake

    Blake Member

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    Schools can learn you to speak gooder english
     
    #7 Blake, Jun 30, 2013
  8. dmenacela

    dmenacela Member

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    In a business sense it's almost imperative to be sensitive and capable to speak at all levels of vocabulary depending on who your audience is.
     
    #8 dmenacela, Jun 30, 2013
  9. rimrocker

    rimrocker Member

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    #9 rimrocker, Jun 30, 2013
  10. No Worries

    No Worries Member

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    English is a language cesspool. Think of all of the invaders to the British Isles and all of the language that they theft behind: Brythonic Celtic languages (Welsh, Cornish, Breton), Goidelic Celtic languages (Irish, Scottish, Manx), Pictish, Latin, Anglo Saxon languages (Angles, Jutes, Saxons), Norse, and French.

    The Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use [link].

    You need about 4,000 word vocabulary to read a newspaper [link].

    IIRC college educated Americans have about a 20,000 word vocabulary.
     
    #10 No Worries, Jun 30, 2013
  11. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title

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    It ain't no thing
     
    #11 Haymitch, Jun 30, 2013
  12. DudeWah

    DudeWah Member

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    It's pretty important, but only so that I never feel like i'm unaware of anything in any given situation.

    When it comes down to it, the average person has the vocabulary/reading ability of an 8th grader. So, communicating effectively is more important than efficiently conveying a point with a word that half your audience cannot comprehend.
     
    #12 DudeWah, Jun 30, 2013
  13. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
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    Having a limited vocabulary is an easy indicator of an individual with a low IQ -- this is typically demonstrated by ungood speech patterns and the use of words (they) have created in order to sound intelligent.
     
    #13 KingCheetah, Jun 30, 2013
  14. pippendagimp

    pippendagimp Member

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    not so much, i consider it exportant
     
    #14 pippendagimp, Jun 30, 2013
  15. dandorotik

    dandorotik Member

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    I think having a large vocabulary is something that the government (e.g. our school system) advocates. It can have the opposite effect in that it may cause people to support antidisestablishmentarianism.
     
    #15 dandorotik, Jun 30, 2013
  16. Caltex2

    Caltex2 Member

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    And thanks to the British, English is spoken around the world and new words enter the language all the time for various reasons (slang, influence of language from a nearby culture, catch phrases, etc...) and each region has a unique dialect (American English, British English, Indian English, Australian English, etc...).

    Like I said, sometimes it can get to the point where it's like people comparing their girth, as if knowing a bunch of different words makes them smarter and superior to those who don't.
     
    #16 Caltex2, Jun 30, 2013
  17. GraingerGuy

    GraingerGuy Member

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    Fixed that for you.

    I think it's important to have an adequate vocabulary for your career and social circles. But, I think is more important to be able to "code switch". Basically being able to switch from the language you use at work to the language you use with friends.
     
    #17 GraingerGuy, Jun 30, 2013
  18. Lurch

    Lurch Live Wilder.

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    My acquaintances refer to me as Spock.
     
    #18 Lurch, Jun 30, 2013
  19. Jontro

    Jontro Member

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    I show people pictures.
     
    #19 Jontro, Jun 30, 2013
    1 person likes this.
  20. Win

    Win Member

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    Words dissemble
    Words be quick
    Words resemble walking sticks

    Plant them
    They will grow
    Watch them waver so

    I'll always be
    a word-man
    Better than a birdman

    by James Douglas Morrison
     
    #20 Win, Jul 1, 2013
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