Dang did not know this would hit this many people.
Because fluency in your native language is a basic human skill that should be a minimum for functional adulthood, maybe? Because it’s not my job to congratulate you for existing?
Damn. People want to be coddled on everything these days.
I hate it when people stop a conversation to talk about a word I used. It doesn’t land as a complement.
Not as a complement to what you were saying, but did it land as a compliment?
No one compliments you on your big words because no one likes you.
I don’t really care for compliments tbh but to each their own. But it has become so rare now a days with the dumbing down of society people need a reminder once in a while you notice their intellect.
Yeah, I’m a word nerd, but a vocabulary isn’t inherently about intellect. It’s about putting the effort in, because even people with severe learning disorders can still amass l arge vocabularies. Now, using them appropriately rather than just collecting them does take a little more effort and thought, but it’s also not some kind of feat of genius. Anyone with reasonable capacity can use fancy words appropriately.
Don’t get me wrong, I fucking despise people that shit on the sheer joy that language can be. We don’t have to limit ourselves to “double plus” thinking or speech, and shouldn’t. And anyone trying to act like having a varied and sizable vocabulary is some kind of flaw can suck the peanuts out of my shit (or whatever varieties of legumes they prefer from my feces, if they feel so inclined).
But the only thing vocabulary really indicates about a person is that they value their vocabulary.
the use of uncommon words is not a sign of intelligence, it just means you know more words
kind of like Malcom X reading the dictionary in prison?
he definitely did know more words if that’s all he did in prison lol
I’ve been complimented on my word choices before, and I’ve complimented others as well. But it doesn’t come up often. Even when an interesting word is used, it’s not always the right time or place to explicitly compliment the speaker on it.
English is a second language for my wife, when she uses an unusual word or idiom I’m genuinely impressed, and tell her so.
I’m very proud of her <3
They do!
But it’s rare for multiple reasons.
First, both the listener and the speaker have to know the word, because otherwise there’s no reason to compliment it
Second, the listener (or reader, but I’m too lazy to type both every damn time) has to care about word usage, and it’s kinda niche.
Third, there’s a significant degree of anti-intellectual belief out in the world, so that segment is going to have the opposite response, and they’re prone to being obnoxious about it.
Fourth, giving compliments is not something everyone is good at, so there’s a segment that might appreciate it, but not know how to express it.
Fifth, a corollary to the fourth, it can feel awkward to give compliments, so it gets shoved avoided, which is partly due to sixth:
Sixth, as a culture, complimenting someone is a complicated social action. There’s all kinds of little unspoken rules around it, and that makes a lot of people just nope out entirely.
But if you hang around people that enjoy word play and vocabulary, you’ll see a lot more compliments :)
deleted by creator
My friends and I do this all the time. Someone used “deliquesce” properly the other day and we all nearly lost it!
Maybe your friends are shit?
Not to be a smart ass or something but if you and your friends talk like that then they deserve to be your friends. Hell just not your friends everyone’s friends.
Hey, great use of the word “How”. You really nailed it!
😛
deleted by creator
I think people do sometimes. More so in writing, than in conversation. But, it’s too meta. If you’re just trying to have a conversation and someone interrupts you to say, “Hey, great use of that word!”, that’s probably not what you were trying to convey and is distracting. I suggest saving that for word games.
One thing you could do is to ask what a word means. Most people are happy to explain that, and would take it as a compliment of sorts, without getting miffed.
Because people who use hyper specific words are either trying to make themselves look smart, or are using them in a specific context where saying ‘good job on knowing a common word in this area of knowledge’ is kinda patronising.
Would you congratulate your kid on saying turn ‘the spigot off’ instead of saying ‘turn the tap off’ in the kitchen? You shouldn’t, because a spigot is an outdoor thing.
I just love the correct use of the English language. That is why it is a big pet peeve of mine on the misuse of the word fuck. I believe if you can use curse words correctly at any age then they should use them. But chastise children and tell them that is not how you use that word and show them how to use it correctly. But adults I just got to the point no one respects language anymore. I just try to make it a point of pointing it out. Like someone fixing your car and their reciting poetry like a song stuck in their head. And compliment them on doing it. My opinion is we have a whole freaking world who say’s why. Why are you doing this? Why are you doing that? and so forth. Instead of say hey why not and offer assistance in the en devour
I just love the correct use of the English language.
ok, you asked for it :)
How come people don’t compliment other people on great word usage? If someone
useuses the wordletslet’s say, ecclesiastical or something like that, they do not get complimented it shows they respect English.(I can’t quite fix the last part, “it shows they respect English”…)
I never said I was a master of it or grammar. Grammar I suck at but sometimes type it just for engagement. But we compliment people on everything else. Just kind of seems we need language warriors. And if I use a word incoherently ;) then I would like to be called out on it. As long as it is an educated calling out.
