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My wife's brother is a big city cop, and she gave him one of those word-a-day calendars. Every day, he made it a point to use that day's vocabulary word in a police report. It was hilarious. Pusillanimous, malversation, simpatico, refulgence . . . .
I think it's a good goal to improve your vocabulary - just like most self improvement
I also believe you shouldn't dumb down your improvements just to make others more comfortable
However, note that it really doesn't make you that special or that unique - just do what you do, use what you have and don't make a show about it
I wouldn't say that a better vocabulary makes you smarter or shows intelligence - I would say that for the most part being able to express a concept in a clear way will help show your smarts.
Vocabulary will help you express ideas and understand the ideas of others - that is where some intelligence improvement comes in, IMO
It can also help with comprehension, etc.
If this is your goal I'd look into books and other resources that combine vocabulary with comprehension and other conceptual ideas - make it a well rounded approach
The best ideas get diminished if you can't effectively communicate them - using words that others don't understand just for the sake of using them isn't always the best in getting your point across, although that doesn't mean you shouldn't know them or should never use them
It’s important to read with a dictionary—either print or online. Many people simply skip over words they don’t know because they’re too lazy to look them up. I’m very well read and have an excellent vocabulary, but it’s because I look up words constantly.
Also, pay attention to pronunciation. Webster online (Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online) has sound files along with definitions. I see a lot YouTube videos where the creators use words they don’t know how to pronounce.
If you want something with literary value and attention to language, I suggest reading The New Yorker.
When I was in school we learned to figure out the meaning of a word in the context of the sentence so you didn't have to stop and go find a dictionary as it takes away from the enjoyment of reading.
Fortnight was a stumper for me. But in the context it was used I figured out it was the equivalent of a long,long weekend since suitcases and what to be done while gone were used around it.
Then I went later to find out that it meant 2 weeks.
Do not let anything dissuade you from learning to speak with precision. You'll be able to deal with everyday life so much better than if you're only plain spoken.
You'll be able to deal with authorities better, understand what politicians are really talking about, and it'll put your confidence through the roof. Verbal facility will give you credibility and respect, if you have the listening skills to round out the other side of communication skills.
Vocabulary is important, but don't neglect sentence structure. When speaking, have a specific idea to communicate and stay with it. It'll make the stuttering, stammering and false starts fade away, if you're clear about where you're going. Nobody likes listening to someone try to speak who doesn't know who, what, when, where or why. It's awkward and excruciating. Not to mention slow and frustrating.
Your internal dialogue - the words you speak to yourself silently when thinking - are how one learns most everything. Good, competent, cogent language is as important to yourself when you're alone as when you're speaking to others. Language is thought: the more developed your skills are, the more intelligently you'll think.
Listen to talk radio hosts. They earn their living with words. They have to communicate clearly and succinctly, and very often in the space of a few seconds. It takes big-time skill to be as nimble and agile with language as they are. And it CANNOT be faked. They are true artists.
Last edited by tommy64; 02-14-2014 at 05:16 PM..
Reason: jus' cuz
Pretentious. Definitely not. Much better than those who are willfully ignorant and contributing to the terrible and continuous dumbing down of America.
My ultimate desire is to largely increase my vocabulary so that I can speak more eloquently, and because I want to become smarter. But at the same time, I feel like maybe my reasons are selfish and stupid? I feel that wanting to become smarter just makes me pretentious. I feel like I have something to prove? But I'm not really trying to be better than anyone. I simply want to be the best I can be. When I look at other intelligent people that have extensive vocabularies, I begin to admire them, and I wish that I could possess that level of knowledge and that I was equally as smart. I simply feel inferior to most people. I want to learn beyond what I currently know. I want to speak eloquently and be more intelligent! So does my desire to grow and learn make me pretentious, etc?
Instead of eloquence, strive for clear communications. And no this doesn't make you pretentious, it makes you ambitious. Go for it!
The best way I know to increase your vocabulary is to read literary fiction. Read a lot. It helps.
Learning and knowing words can give you perspective and perpective is the basis for wisdom.
Besides, would you rather talk to a smart ass or a dumb ass ?
There's nothing wrong with wanting to increase your vocabulary. It will increase your knowledge, though not necessarily your intelligence.
Don't forget, though, that one of the goals of successful communication is to convey information, ideas, etc. in a manner that your listener can understand. That's where context comes in. Simply peppering your conversations will just make you sound like a Word-Of-The-Day calendar and turn off the person to whom you're speaking.
My interest in increasing my vocabulary began in high school and later, in college testing, I always scored high in the verbal section. It often saved the day.
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