[bksvol-discuss] Re: [bksvol-discuss]writers who use big words
- From: Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:57:41 EDT
I have no memory of where or when I learned the word penultimate, but it is
an integral part of my vocabulary and so it is available to be used
whenever I find it appropriate to do so. However, it is one of the less frequent
words in the English language and so it is also a word that I do not often
have an appropriate use for. I could, of course, make a point of using it, but
the very act of making that point would be, in fact, an act of
pretentiousness. When one is learning a new word it is a good idea to work it
into as
many conversations as possible so that it can be absorbed into one's
vocabulary, but once it has been absorbed, that effort does turn into
pretentiousness.
I do use the word penultimate unpretentiously now and then, though, and I
don't think that casual use has ever elicited the accusation of
pretentiousness.
"If you
tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine."
Che Guevara
The Militant: http://www.themilitant.com/txtindex.shtml
Pathfinder Press: http://www.pathfinderpress.com
Granma International: http://granma.cu/ingles/index.html
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Subj:
[bksvol-discuss] Re: [bksvol-discuss]writers who use big words
Date:
7/5/2009 8:18:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
rwiley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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table end
I learned the word penultimate when I was learning Braille shorthand many
many years ago. I always thought, "who in the hell is going to use that word
in
a letter?"
There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book, Books are well
written or badly written, That is all,
-- Oscar Wilde,The Picture of Dorian Gray
block quote
----- Original Message -----
From:
Cindy
To:
bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 6:51 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: [bksvol-discuss]writers who use big words
My husband taught me the word penultimate and I use it when appropriate. I
used once at supper with my daughter and son-in-law; my daughter (a
well-educated
pediatrician didn't know what it meant (of course, I was also well educated
and an avid reader but I hadn't come across it before-or if I had I hadn't
paid much attention. I told her what it meant but my son-in law, who wasn't
in a very good mood, said anyone who used it was being pretentious.. Now
I'm
careful what I say around him
When I was teaching, or when I'm talking to children, I try to speak
normally and use a good vocabulary, explaining the meaning of words if necessary
but
not "dumbing down" my vocabulary
Cindy
Wish List (i.e., books wanted added to the collection) and
books-being-scanned list available at sites below
Wish List: https://wiki.benetech.org/display/BSO/Bookshare+Wish+List
Books Being Scanned List:
https://wiki.benetech.org/display/BSO/Books+Being+Scanned+List
--- On Sun, 7/5/09, Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx <Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx> wrote:
block quote
From: Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx <Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: [bksvol-discuss]writers who use big words
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009, 8:39 AM
What gets to me is what some people consider a big word. Once, in an effort
to be facetious, I made reference to my id and then I was accused of using
a big word to impress. Id is a big word? Then, at least twice, in casual
conversation I used the word recondite. Both times the person to whom I was
talking
reached without comment for a dictionary to look up the word. One of them
then expressed surprise that I had used it in a way that I obviously knew
what
it meant.
"If you tremble
with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine." Che
Guevara
The Militant:
http://www.themilitant.com/txtindex.shtml
Pathfinder Press:
http://www.pathfinderpress.com
Granma International:
http://granma.cu/ingles/index.html
_
table with 2 columns and 6 rows
Subj:
[bksvol-discuss] Re: [bksvol-discuss]writers who use big words
Date:
7/5/2009 10:03:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To:
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table end
Hi all,
I love being able to look up the occasional word. Taylor Caldwell is one of
those writers who uses big words naturally, as if she figures her readers
will know what on earth she's talking about! I had to resort to the
dictionary for "efulgent" Anybody heard of efulgent? I also looked up "Lambent",
any takers on that one? I better retake the SAT's I could probably get a
better score now after fourty years. <smiling>
Ann P.
--
AAnn K. Parsons
Portal Tutoring
Email: akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site: http://www.portaltutoring.info
blog: http://www.samobile.net/users/akp
Skype: Putertutor
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT
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