This is a bit tangential, but I think a lot of what you‘ve discussed is doubly important for writers of English. Other languages make use of more complex grammatical structures and word order to carry meaning and to layer on additional subtleties. But English doesn’t have this, and it compensates by offering a vast vocabulary (about twice the size of French). Versatile, poetic writers of English almost by definition have to be people who know and deploy a lot of great words.
Wonderful points here! I didn't know that fact about English versus French. I think this is a great jumping off point to discuss how English language writers can consider words beyond their denotative meaning to create layered implications, affecting something similar to what you discussed in other languages.
Rather than just their definition, we can consider the connotative associations of a word. For example, a rhetorical criticism I often see given to writers is to select "stronger verbs." But what does that really mean? Is there really a difference if you say someone ran, sprinted, or charged across a field? Of course! Depending on the context, run might be more suggestive of fear, sprint of athleticism, and charge of aggression or passion. The "stronger" verb is the one who's connotative meaning fits the plot, characterization, intensity, and tone of a moment within a piece.
Then, because English is such a hodgepodge language, we can think about the etymological and cultural implications of an English word. Who (either narrator or character in dialogue) would we envision calling something a trinket versus a tchotchke versus a knickknack versus a curio?
My god, I love this crazy language of ours! Maybe I should start a personal encyclopedia of words rather than my dictionary!
Thank you for this comment. You have my brain racing with thoughts.
Hey, I do the same thing! I have a personal dictionary of my own since grade 10. Nice to meet a fellow personal dictionary holder! It's really helpful. Also, festoon is one of my favorite words :)
Very useful advice! I’m commonly compelled by a need to use “stronger verbs”, too, and I never quite know where to look for them in moments of need. Even when I know the words, I fail to recall them at the right time. And there’s really no way to reverse-search for a word, where you describe the meaning and ask the Internet to give you the word. Or maybe there is (now even more so with chatgpt, I’d imagine?).
The idea of the personal dictionary notebook is great. Thank you!
I love this idea of a personal dictionary! I have notes and snippets all over but this dictionary idea intrigues me. Thank you for writing about it. I have to ponder how I will incorporate it in my own notebooks.
This is a bit tangential, but I think a lot of what you‘ve discussed is doubly important for writers of English. Other languages make use of more complex grammatical structures and word order to carry meaning and to layer on additional subtleties. But English doesn’t have this, and it compensates by offering a vast vocabulary (about twice the size of French). Versatile, poetic writers of English almost by definition have to be people who know and deploy a lot of great words.
Hi, Kevin!
Wonderful points here! I didn't know that fact about English versus French. I think this is a great jumping off point to discuss how English language writers can consider words beyond their denotative meaning to create layered implications, affecting something similar to what you discussed in other languages.
Rather than just their definition, we can consider the connotative associations of a word. For example, a rhetorical criticism I often see given to writers is to select "stronger verbs." But what does that really mean? Is there really a difference if you say someone ran, sprinted, or charged across a field? Of course! Depending on the context, run might be more suggestive of fear, sprint of athleticism, and charge of aggression or passion. The "stronger" verb is the one who's connotative meaning fits the plot, characterization, intensity, and tone of a moment within a piece.
Then, because English is such a hodgepodge language, we can think about the etymological and cultural implications of an English word. Who (either narrator or character in dialogue) would we envision calling something a trinket versus a tchotchke versus a knickknack versus a curio?
My god, I love this crazy language of ours! Maybe I should start a personal encyclopedia of words rather than my dictionary!
Thank you for this comment. You have my brain racing with thoughts.
Love what you’ve said here!
Hey, I do the same thing! I have a personal dictionary of my own since grade 10. Nice to meet a fellow personal dictionary holder! It's really helpful. Also, festoon is one of my favorite words :)
Very useful advice! I’m commonly compelled by a need to use “stronger verbs”, too, and I never quite know where to look for them in moments of need. Even when I know the words, I fail to recall them at the right time. And there’s really no way to reverse-search for a word, where you describe the meaning and ask the Internet to give you the word. Or maybe there is (now even more so with chatgpt, I’d imagine?).
The idea of the personal dictionary notebook is great. Thank you!
I love this idea of a personal dictionary! I have notes and snippets all over but this dictionary idea intrigues me. Thank you for writing about it. I have to ponder how I will incorporate it in my own notebooks.
Thanks for your comment, Tammy. If you do start a personal dictionary, please feel free to stop back here and share some of your shiny words!