Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity:

[CivilDiscourse]

Turns out, using deliberately large (and obscure) words to convey meanings that are better understood using simpler words doesn't make you look smart, it makes you look stupid.

Source: https://www.ucd.ie/artspgs/semantics/ConsequencesErudite.pdf

SUMMARY
Most texts on writing style encourage authors to avoid overly-complex words. However, a majority of undergraduates admit to deliberately increasing the complexity of their vocabulary so as to give the impression of intelligence. This paper explores the extent to which this strategy is effective. Experiments 1–3 manipulate complexity of texts and find a negative relationship between complexity and judged intelligence. This relationship held regardless of the quality of the original essay, and irrespective of the participants’ prior expectations of essay quality. The negative impact of complexity was mediated by processing fluency. Experiment 4 directly manipulated fluency and found that texts in hard to read fonts are judged to come from less intelligent authors. Experiment 5 investigated discounting of fluency. When obvious causes for low fluency exist that are not relevant to the judgement at hand, people reduce their reliance on fluency as a cue; in fact, in an effort not to be influenced by the irrelevant source of fluency, they over-compensate and are biased in the opposite direction. Implications and applications are discussed.

© Copyright Original Source

[Maranatha]

I think the problem is in the person thinking they are more intelligent than their fellows, they simply will not accept that is not the case, so they double down and expatiate on their sagacity. Otherwise, what you posted.

[Bill the Cat]

[Bill the Cat]

Moderated By: Bill the Cat

More appropriate here in Psychology

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[Ronson]

Gee, I wonder who you might be thinking about.

[CivilDiscourse]

Gee, I wonder who you might be thinking about.

Nobody in particular....I have no idea why you might think that.

[Sparko]

I findeth yond speaking in shakepearian english maketh me soundeth cunning'r than thee clotpole peasants

[Ronson]

Nobody in particular....I have no idea why you might think that.

Well, I immediately thought of a certain pusilanimous interlocutor.

[rogue06]

I findeth yond speaking in shakepearian english maketh me soundeth cunning'r than thee clotpole peasants

Normally we have to translate your various "Arrrs" to figure out what you mean. Fortunately that's easier than it sound since 90% mean "bacon" and 5% mean "rum."

[CivilDiscourse]

Honestly "big words" aren't so much an issue with me so much as "big and obscure" words. After all, why use words you know people won't know because it's not commonly used.

After all, why call someone a "Morosoph" when "Pretentious" has pretty much the same meaning, and is better understood.

Or, "Pusillanimity" when "coward" or "timid" works just as well.

[Ronson]

Maybe it's more common when English isn't the person's primary language.

One nice feature of Google (I hate complimenting them) is if you enter a word and synonym ("pusillanimous" and "synonym") and click on one of the alternates, it shows you how common the word has been over time during the past 200 years.

sample.jpg

The word "spineless" was most commonly used around 1910-1920.

[rogue06]

Maybe it's more common when English isn't the person's primary language.

One nice feature of Google (I hate complimenting them) is if you enter a word and synonym ("pusillanimous" and "synonym") and click on one of the alternates, it shows you how common the word has been over time during the past 200 years.

sample.jpg

The word "spineless" was most commonly used around 1910-1920.

This will count as my trying to learn something new every day.

[Ronson]

This will count as my trying to learn something new every day.

Here's a favorite of one of TWeb's interlocutors.

sf.jpg

I believe she is visiting us, via time machine, from the middle of the 19th century.

[rogue06]

Here's a favorite of one of TWeb's interlocutors.

sf.jpg

I believe she is visiting us, via time machine, from the middle of the 19th century.

Could be

jocular.jpg

[Faber]

This reminds me of listening to some people praying out loud. Lots of theological jargon and archaic language. Supposed to sound pious, I guess. But then, I shouldn't be critiquing other peoples' prayers.