Bigwords bug people

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My brother has been telling me all the time to stop using big words,
he says it a big turn-off for people, why would that be? I thought big-
words are flattering. Why would we need to use ebonics to make
friends? Why would we speak like idiots to speak to people? Why would
we need to relax?

we don't need to relax.

I am attacked frequently for using "big" words in a large group chat setting...where people think "UR kewl!" is proper speech. I feel they attack people who use "big" words (who knew that "literate" was a "big" word? ) because they feel insecure about their intelligence.

speech....represents us...much as a picture would.

I certainly wouldn't be caught dead with someone who couldn't spell or use "normal" speech....because it offends me, and makes them stupid.

just be yourself, and speak as you will. bugger anyone who thinks you should talk "more dumber, dude!"

Little more clarity.
Big words don't bug people. Big words bug people with small vocabularies and/or small minds.
Pay them no mind, as they have none.

There is a HUGE chasm between "ebonics" and "big words". The typical spoken vocabulary is something like 3000 words. Use those, and only the dumbest will accuse you of being elitest etc... "Ebonics" is a name given to, what I see anyway as, a NEW type of massive butchering on the english language. It certainly isn't a creole, and seems worse than any pidgeon. I have NO idea what we should call it. It combines ethnicentric usage, odd conjugations and verb usage, shortened words, odd word combinations, etc...

I USED to use the words. Then I used them, but explained them. Then I removed them from my spoken vocabulary, and that even affected my writting. I really wish I just kept the big words, and shruged when people didn't understand. 8-( Almost a couple years ago, some words pop up every now and then. I guess since I've been here some more pop up every now and then. Anyway, I figure if I am going to see groups, etc... I should get that back, so I am going to force it a bit.

You can do what you want, but comparing basic English to ebonics is very insulting to the entire English language.

Steve

Anyone who insults you over the use of big words has no mind. IF they honestly do not understand, they deserve help. If they don't understand and are also calling you varios expletives, well... Then they deserve a life in a gutter.

I try to rein myself in sometimes - and actually I generally don't say much at all with people I don't know very well - because it is a common misconception that people using big words are just trying to show off. It couldn't be because reading the dictionary was a childhood obsession (lol). Really though it is just natural and sometimes if I am replying to someone quickly without thinking I also have a tendency to use very formal language which can freak people out too. I was bullied about that when I was kid because it was thought I was being a snob. One thing though I found kind of amusing was when a NT parent wanted "slang" as part of their kid's social skills classes to help them fit in. How far society has come when parents choose to promote the use of slang in order to be popular (sarcasm).

I don't use much slang at all... When I refer to a fight, I might say "He throttled him!" (That means to basically beat to a bloody pulp around my area), but I don't use slang much in formal speaking or in general speaking really-- I mean, look at my posts. This is how I speak in my actual life, minus any grammatical errors my sometimes clumsy fingers make.

yeah.

I use big words occasionally, as an English Major, you sorta do have to sound smart every once in a blue moon, and I prefer to lacitate my friends, with my vocabularium.

What irritates me is when people get uptight about using words that they do know. I can understand how someone using a lot of words that they don't know might get annoyed, though you'd think they could learn.

Then again, I've never understood why you can use a word in polite society, but another word that means exactly the same thing is perfectly fine. It's bull excrement.

my greatest foible

What I don't like is when people repeat catchphrases as if it were spontaneous. Like no one used the word "decimated" until the Gulf War and then everyone (who watched CNN) used it all the time. Those same people then get mad if you use a word they don't understand.
Online there are people who use words and phrases they don't even know. How many times have you read, "For all intensive purposes"?
"I could of gone"
"Your a great guy"
"There dog is over their, while their gone"

One time I was in an argument, and getting insulted (the other person was name calling and such). She used the phrase "with all due respect". I stated she wasn't showing respect. She replied with, "It's an Irish saying, I can't help it! We just talk that way!" So this person was repeating a polite phrase without really understanding how to use it.

My husband is really gifted at translating. He can speak "someone's lingo" really well, and they aren't insulted. They feel equal to him.

This is something I need to work on... because I enjoy learning new words and trying to integrate them into my vocabulary. In highschool I was pretty much forced to speak a certain way (using hestitation speech and basic vocabulary) or else risk being made fun of. I could learn a new word permanently every day, but it takes some repetition and visuals to keep the information in there . I don't think it's a big issue regarding communication on the internet, because if someone is confused about a word they can simply go to a Dictionary website and look it up.
I talk to almost everyone just the same. I went out with my family shopping on Black Friday, and a couple of times I was asked to "speak in English", or "dumb it down". My mom didn't even know what the word "article" meant. I know that's mean of me to point out, but... I just think people should know what an article is. And that it's not always my problem either, some people just need to work on improving their vocabulary.

I've not a great vocabulary (*sarcasm* what's a vocabulary? *sarcasm*) that's full of compilcated words and I do get stumped a lot, but do I complain about people talking proper? s**t, I think people with bigger vocabularies and that stuff are cool.

Catalyst,

Well even some dictionaries make it sound like it means wiped out.

You are into word origin, take a look at the following:

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
august
Septem-ber
Octo-ber
novem-ber
decem-ber

What do you notice? Septem=7, Octo=8, Novem=9, decem=10

YEP folks! DECEMber is the TENTH month! JUL(ius ceaser)y and AUGUST(us ceaser) had to come in and spoil the game! The 6 before it were named after Gods, etc..

Sometimes meanings get lost!

But yeah, it IS funny how they will do that. Misuse a word, and use it to DEATH! And I love kims examples.

The "with all due respect" isn't Irish! BTW I am part irish, and I resent her using that as an excuse. HECK, we use it HERE, in the US, to! I use it only in the way it was originally meant, or as a backhanded slight(you aren't due any more respect than I am giving you). As for the misuse of words, etc... Sometimes I do that phonetically or when I am VERY tired(I NEVER did that until like my 30s. 8-(), but I can't remember getting things THAT messed up.

Steve