$20 Words

[ElectricBlue]

You're right, these are actually sideburns. Now I remember my hair stylist correcting me on that. Thanks.

Oooo, look at TheLobster! A hair stylist, oh my .

 

[TheLobster]

What is interesting, though, is that often the more uncommon words have Latin or Greek routes, and are thus more likely to have cognates in other languages. So, by using them, you may actually make your work more accessible to non-native speakers of English.

Interesting idea. Giving it some thought, I believe that as much as it may help, it could also be a double-edged sword.

I believe It very much depends on what's the native language of your reader. Those who speak languages that borrow copiously from Latin, like Italian or French, would likely be able to decipher many English words that share the same roots. But once you move to Germanic languages, they don't borrow nearly as much, probably as a combination of bigger Norse influence and the higher ability to coin new words on the fly. Move even further out of the Mediterranean, into Finno-Ugric and Slavic areas, and the influence of Latin (or Greek) wanes even more.

The other issue is that the simple fact English and the other language borrowed the same root from Latin or Greek doesn't dictate that the resulting words necessarily mean the same thing. "luna" is a funny example; in English, it produces words associated with madness, like lunacy or lunatic. Well, can you guess what "lunatikas" in Lithuanian means, or "lunātiķis" in Latvian, or "лунатик" (lunatik) in Russian?

That's right -- a sleepwalker. Some friends are very false indeed.

 

[Writer61]

What is interesting, though, is that often the more uncommon words have Latin or Greek routes, and are thus more likely to have cognates in other languages. So, by using them, you may actually make your work more accessible to non-native speakers of English.

In my travels around Europe, I have often made sense of words from knowing English + bits of Latin, French, and Dutch.

 

[nice90sguy]

Paying attention to words in a story is like paying attention to brush-strokes in a painting. You need to get them right, but what you're creating is a story, not a bunch of words.

 

[Writer61]

Paying attention to words in a story is like paying attention to brush-strokes in a painting. You need to get them right, but what you're creating is a story, not a bunch of words.

When I first looked closely at a Turner painting, I was surprised to discover that what my mind had interpreted from a distance as a shepherd was a single squiggly brush stroke.

 

[StillStunned]

Paying attention to words in a story is like paying attention to brush-strokes in a painting. You need to get them right, but what you're creating is a story, not a bunch of words.

When I first looked closely at a Turner painting, I was surprised to discover that what my mind had interpreted from a distance as a shepherd was a single squiggly brush stroke.

And like with painting, the right combination of words can create a picture in the reader's mind without actually spelling it out.

 

[nice90sguy]

And like with painting, the right combination of words can create a picture in the reader's mind without actually spelling it out.

...and, in reference to the O.P, and switching metaphors, a "$20 word", if it's jarring, is as bad as a bum note in a piece of music.

And there's "difficult" music, and "easy" music, which can both be great, or awful.

 

[alohadave]

But, US pals, what about "Oklahoma" and "the surrey with the fringe on top", hmmm?

A surrey is a carriage. Fringe on inanimate objects is a normal usage in the US. For hair, it's bangs.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I believe It very much depends on what's the native language of your reader. Those who speak languages that borrow copiously from Latin, like Italian or French, would likely be able to decipher many English words that share the same roots. But once you move to Germanic languages, they don't borrow nearly as much, probably as a combination of bigger Norse influence and the higher ability to coin new words on the fly ...

So ... Old Norse was a Germanic language, as are its descendants like Danish.

English (another Germanic language) has a majority (!) of Latin-descended words, due to England being conquered by Old French-speaking Vikings (after finally driving out the Danes who controlled part of it for centuries). It doesn't feel like a Romance language because most common words are still derived from Anglo-Saxon.

--Annie

 

[TheLobster]

So ... Old Norse was a Germanic language, as are its descendants like Danish.

English (another Germanic language) has a majority (!) of Latin-descended words, due to England being conquered by Old French-speaking Vikings (after finally driving out the Danes who controlled part of it for centuries). It doesn't feel like a Romance language because most common words are still derived from Anglo-Saxon.

--Annie

Yup, this is all correct. I keep forgetting English is technically Germanic, because it has undergone so many shifts over the centuries that feels nothing like the other West and North Germanic languages.

I suppose what I meant when I said "Germanic" was to vaguely gesture at the imaginary, wide belt that starts in southern Germany and extends through Netherlands all the way through the majority of Scandinavian peninsula, and also catching strays like Austria and western Switzerland along the way. AFAIK all major languages that fall within this area share the German's ability to quickly make-up words (esp. nouns) on the fly, lessening the need to borrow roots from other languages.

 

[THBGato]

That's right -- a sleepwalker. Some friends are very false indeed.

Not so false: for centuries sleepwalking was thought to be a sign of madness or lunacy.

 

[AG31]

"Fringe" is way more common than "bangs" in the (Southern) UK.

But, US pals, what about "Oklahoma" and "the surrey with the fringe on top", hmmm?

We've got the word "fringe." It just doesn't usually apply to hair. But I guess you were just being funny?? Sort of??

 

[AG31]

Strange. I was pretty sure that “bangs” refer to the patches of hair encroaching down the sides of your face, along the ear, and threatening to merge with your beard if you got one. Nothing to do with the mane overhanging your forehead.

That's sideburns. Don't know why they're called that.

 

[AG31]

routes

roots... But I bet you knew that.

 

[alohadave]

That's sideburns. Don't know why they're called that.

Sideburns come from the Civil War. General Burnside wore big lamb chops and they got the name from him.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Sideburns come from the Civil War. General Burnside wore big lamb chops and they got the name from him.

Courtesy Wikipedia...

 

[Britva415]

When I first looked closely at a Turner painting, I was surprised to discover that what my mind had interpreted from a distance as a shepherd was a single squiggly brush stroke.

And that’s what employing exactly the right stroke (or word) can do.

 

[Britva415]

A surrey is a carriage. Fringe on inanimate objects is a normal usage in the US. For hair, it's bangs.

Yeah - “fringe” evokes nothing more than it evokes disco cowboy jackets.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I like to use words that fit the meaning. If you have to look it up, you've learned something.

I don't throw around big words to sound smart, but if there is a word that is above 6th grade reading level that is appropriate, I'll use it.

This! Entirely this!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Many, many years ago, I remember reading a sci-fi novel (I wish I could remember details) in which humans met an alien race. The latter had never invented paint and were interested. Now, shipping paint, the protagonist said, is impractical between stars, so we sold them the idea of paint, the building and operating a paint facotory, with all instructions. The aliens studied it all and sent it home. In seven words.

“That’s impossible!” exclaimed a listener. “Seven words could not possibly be enough, not for that amount of detail!”

“yes, it would,” he smiled. “You just have to chose the right seven words!”

I learned something from that, I like to think.

 

[Writer61]

I learned something from that, I like to think.

Um, some words convey more meaning than others?

 

[M_K_Babalon]

My stories tend to revolve around regular, ordinary folks, so no. Using big words too often makes one sound like a try hard, or putting on airs. Or in forums, the latter, or smugness.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I like to use words that fit the meaning. If you have to look it up, you've learned something.

I don't throw around big words to sound smart, but if there is a word that is above 6th grade reading level that is appropriate, I'll use it.

How erudite of you.

 

[Writer61]

My stories tend to revolve around regular, ordinary folks, so no. Using big words too often makes one sound like a try hard, or putting on airs. Or in forums, the latter, or smugness.

That implies that educated people are not also 'regular, ordinary folks', which grates a little. I consider my wife and me, both university educated, to be 'regular, ordinary folks'.

That said, neither of us would use 'big words' unless confident that they would be understood.

 

[TheLobster]

How erudite of you.

I heard there was once a library which had been built inside a rocky cave. The walls were all made of erudite.