What’s in a Word?
posted in The Slightly Deeper End, WOTWIFLI |I wonder how some words are born and where they go to die? I can see the birth of slang and the birth of new words to describe new phenomenons, but what about variations of words to describe common concepts? For example, there are multiple means of describing people with great or varied learning. Among other things, one could have had an “eclectic education.” One can be “well-rounded,” “erudite,” “learned,” or a “Renaissance man” (or woman). All these are different ways to describe what is essentially the same idea, so why do we have (recently discovered WOTWIFLI) polymath? Were the distinctions between these terms important enough to merit the creation of another word entirely? When did the English language decide that no pre-existing description, either singularly or in some combination, sufficed?
Do obscure words add to or take away from our ability to communicate? Words can be snapshots of complicated concepts and ideas, but if they’re so far from common parlance that no one understands them, what’s their purpose?* (Even in writing this, I’m wondering: Is “parlance” understandable? Would the phrase “common speech” have been just as good? Am I just being pretentious?)
Okay, I’m done rambling about words now. Sorry, it’s late and I’m obviously delirious. We’ll see how long this post survives before I read it and go, “Huh. What was I on?” =) Night all.
* Not to be presumption and assume that if I didn’t know a word, it must be obscure.