I want words smoother than silk, but little do I know.. - by 37637598
henke on 19/10/2009 at 09:48
Audiobooks man, audiobooks! That way get the pronounciation too and you can listen to em while going for a walk, or doing some menial, repetetive job/task. Of course you won't be able to look difficult words up on the fly.
SubJeff on 19/10/2009 at 09:54
He will if he has a phone with net connection to a dictionary. Spelling might be an issue.
But I definitely second henke's suggestion. Dual purpose "reading"; learns you and keeps away the boredoms when doing chores.
Thief13x on 19/10/2009 at 11:58
I've always been told reading is the best way to improve vocabulary. I however, hate reading but have a pretty good vocabulary. I credit it to the fact that my number one site is google.com and my number two is dictionary.com.
I am constantly going to the thesaurus and looking up variations of words when I feel like I need to use a word that means the same thing but is different or more accurate. I only do this when I need to, however, and I feel that it has expanded my vocabulary a lot since I started doing this when I was like 14/15.
I've always got pretty damn good grades on all my writing assignments and am generally known as a good writer. As I write this, however, I am simultaneously bracing for a shower of insults;).
hopper on 19/10/2009 at 12:51
Go asphyxiate on a dick.
Kolya on 19/10/2009 at 13:02
As demagogue touched upon, your thoughts and language are intertwined. Your current vocabulary is in all likelihood no more limited than anyone else's, it's just adapted to your daily needs. Or did you ever have a thought, that you couldn't express, and I don't mean in a way that impresses others, just pin point the essence of what you thought? Probably not.
So if you're looking for ways to "improve" your vocabulary, that is, adapt it to future situations, like a career in some field, the best way to learn is to throw yourself into these situations and make them a part of your day to day life. Or as a more practical advice: Try to get to know people that talk like you want to be able to. And watch some of Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare movies, (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIACPr5XEQM) Much ado about nothing is most recommended. They're a celebration of language.
Shug on 19/10/2009 at 13:56
In all seriousness, it looks to me like your grasp on written english is fairly tenuous. The initial post is an absolute mess, and initially appeared to be a gag about not knowing word meanings.
This really is a joke, isn't it
"Sadly, I could choose any of the longer, less prestige words and pretend I know how to use them in a sentence"
Turtle on 19/10/2009 at 16:29
And that coming form a Strine!
ANTSHODAN on 19/10/2009 at 19:25
Personally, I don't think having a vast vocabulary is necessarily important. As long as you are able to express the concepts you want to, there is no need to put it in the most elevated language you can muster.
I study English at university, and I get some pretty exceptional essay marks (not bragging, just making a point). I go to great lengths to express each point in plain English in as few words as possible. I've read over some essays that classmates have written (and not received anything special for) and an awful lot of them try to use the most obscure synonyms of any given concept just to make simple arguments. It just comes across as pretentious and lacking in substance.
Now, don't get me wrong, your intentions are great. Learning new vocabulary in order to express concepts is something to be admired. Just don't do it to sound like an intellectual prick. No one will like you. :thumb:
Put down the thesaurus and, as folks are saying, read a few novels.
demagogue on 19/10/2009 at 21:01
Yeah, I completely agree with that.
It's great to want to have a bigger vocabulary to capture your thoughts more clearly. But I think a person goes too far when they get into postmodern psychobabble and are just mindlessly using dense sentences when simple, straightforward ones would express the point better. The words should be at the service of the ideas, not the other way around. Or: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
