Vocabulary

[CelestialBody]

 

[riff]

Maybe because it is not "words art" and maybe because it is "word smart" instead? Makes sense to me. Vocabulary is power. Vocabulary expresses thought, but what is so cool is that the more words you have to choose from the more adroitly you can express yourself.

What is a minion? Listen to one talk. Now, enough buffoonery and on to the art of pecuniary gain.

[these are all 8th grade vocabulary words, at least in Jacksonville, FL- and my parents kicked my ass if I didn't make good grades... So I studied. I learned words and what the words meant and how to use them in sentences because I wanted to go roller skating with my friends.)

And all of this has made me the pompous idiot that I am today. Got a damned good vocabulary though...

 

[SimplySouthern]

I learned many "fifty cent" words in college. (most by force). The vocabulary sections were at best demanding and at worst grueling. What hurts? The fact that I now am unable to use any of this in my dialy life. As a general rule, the people you come in contact with don't learn the same words your professors deemed to be so important...and you end up making yourself look like an egotistical idiot.

If I attempted to use "big words" with the people I deal with I would be in one mell of a hess. Not only would they not understand what I was saying, but I would lose their trust. So...moving on to my point. I am happy to know these words but sure could have made better use of the time I spent learning them. How about a class on communication skills instead?

 

[riff]

I learned many "fifty cent" words in college. (most by force). The vocabulary sections were at best demanding and at worst grueling. What hurts? The fact that I now am unable to use any of this in my dialy life. As a general rule, the people you come in contact with don't learn the same words your professors deemed to be so important...and you end up making yourself look like an egotistical idiot.

If I attempted to use "big words" with the people I deal with I would be in one mell of a hess. Not only would they not understand what I was saying, but I would lose their trust. So...moving on to my point. I am happy to know these words but sure could have made better use of the time I spent learning them. How about a class on communication skills instead?

Yes, so drop down to their level. (NOT AN INSULT!!) Smart people talk in language appropriate to the situation. This is not a reason to drop improving your vocabulary. I can have all of my needs met with less than one hundred and fifty words. Hmmmmm.... now, a nation of 150 word vocabularies makes for interesting literature! Besides, if you can't say what you mean, who can you mean what you say. Don't cop out. No arrogance intended- I simply detest mediocrity some of the excuses we make for it.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Because Robot's beget Robot's beget Robot's.

And it keeps your folks happy.

Ah the business of education and higher learning.

When will they learn?

I would of course suggest playing their game and self-educating yourself on the side.

But I think you're doing that allready. And doing it very well I might add.

Later my dear.

 

[riff]

Re: Because Robot's beget Robot's beget Robot's.

And it keeps your folks happy.

Ah the business of education and higher learning.

When will they learn?

I would of course suggest playing their game and self-educating yourself on the side.

I tend to agree. I note your disdainwith some agreement; and yet, without discounting it, such a categorical dismissal of higher ed is foolish.... Sparky, malign higher education all that you want- you are justified. Praise higher education all that you want- you are justified too.

Cost an issue? Well, forgive me, I am one of those commie pinko liberal idiots who believes that higher education should be available to everyone. I won't say free- but damnit, if someone has demonstrated academic achievement then they should be able to go to college REGARDLESS of money. And I don't mean some 1000-point-of-light PR type of $1000 scholarship; nor do I mean a free lunch.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

It's.....

Kind of a damned if you do - damned if you don't sort of thing.

Like all things involving lots of money - lots of bullshit goes along with it. The trick is to recognize it and not to step too square into it. And even if you may - know it and deal with it.

It's simply too bad that all things seem to be this way - nothing seems to be pure - all is tainted.

But these are the time in which we live - you either accept that as fact or.......

Go live in Williamsburg, or find a hobby in Civil War reenactments. Or.....

Spend a lot of time on this board griping about things you can not change.

 

[riff]

Re: It's.....

Kind of a damned if you do - damned if you don't sort of thing.

Like all things involving lots of money - lots of bullshit goes along with it. The trick is to recognize it and not to step too square into it. And even if you may - know it and deal with it.

It's simply too bad that all things seem to be this way - nothing seems to be pure - all is tainted.

But these are the time in which we live - you either accept that as fact or.......

Go live in Williamsburg, or find a hobby in Civil War reenactments. Or.....

Spend a lot of time on this board griping about things you can not change.

Amen, amen....

 

[RonG]

Oh, ye of little faith. Go to any museum on a Sunday just before opening and you will see dozens of art critics doing the New York Times Crossword Puzzle in ink. The extra vocabulary is just part of the preparation for looking down your nose at the swells who have to use a pencil.

 

[riff]

COPOUT

Oh, ye of little faith. Go to any museum on a Sunday just before opening and you will see dozens of art critics doing the New York Times Crossword Puzzle in ink. The extra vocabulary is just part of the preparation for looking down your nose at the swells who have to use a pencil.

So easy and so hip. Can do the same with any opinion you have too..... brother...

 

[Whispersecret]

You make a lot of sense, riff. I like what you have to say.

I, too, think vocabulary is important. If you look at how many more people are going to be communicating via words on a screen now because of email and boards like this, then the ability to communicate becomes even more important than it ever was. So, SS's suggestion about a communication class is a good one, but won't take the place of a course on writing.

Also, don't assume that college freshmen can write. 'Tain't true.

Gosh, Sparky. You sound like a bitter, cynical man.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

If there's one thing I hate........

And there ain't too many...... It's the fucking New York Times. A bigger journalistic stick up the collective ass of so many primadona (how do you spell that?) hacks - I've never seen.

Sorry - but USA Today communicates to the masses better and quicker.

I mean, what the fuck is a newspaper for? Pure, simple, easy to read news. Not some "thing" egos begin to mistake for an art form. Journalism is not art!!!! It's a fucking vocation.

And that's exactly what's wrong with Journalism today - everyone's forgotten that fact. Apparently except for the young'uns - they know it's a vocation - all they have to do is look at the entry level salaries - when the do, they know it's a vocation.

So what do they decide to learn instead? The fucking law!!! Another vocation that currently is mistaken by its practitioners as an art form. Ah - but it pays so much better than responsibly reporting the news. So why not? Why not be a lawyer. Fact is most of'em (the students) are majoring in law and minoring in Journalism.

Oh - God help us!!!

And all this from a guy who lives in Manhattan and actually works in the newspaper business.

 

[RonG]

Re: COPOUT

So easy and so hip. Can do the same with any opinion you have too..... brother...

I'm sorry. I hadn't seen the notice where you were appointed prolocutor of appropriate jocularity.

The point I did intend to make was not that vocabulary (really just the raw material for diction) was unimportant. Rather the placing of said mnemonics exercise in an Art History class is more for the intellectual elitism that constitutes the art discussion industry and not Art itself.

I liked it better when no one read my posts

 

[riff]

SPARKY!!!!

THE USA TODAY IS TO THE NEW YORK TIMES WHAT MCDONALDS IS TO.... Well... hmmm... Picadilly Cafeteria?

It's tit for tat. The pot calling the kettle black....

Ah, call me Black Kettle.

NOT NEWS: People. The news is not the product! YOU ARE!!! The networks and papers do not sell to YOU! The sell to advertisers that want to sell to you! People of such and such profiles (demographic, socio-economic detritus) watch such and such profiles and these profile match your market segment profile, so please place an ad.

It ain't ads that is for sale is is YOU! And you respond so sweetly. Business is good. People are beautiful. Life is terrific.

 

[R Nitelight]

Sparky Kronkite

Primadonnas.
2 n's.

 

[Amadeus]

How about to try to help you avoid buzzing past terms you only half understand and don't have time to look up.

Without clear and precise communication there is nothing. No art, no science, no erotic writing, no thought.

 

[riff]

RON G.

Maybe I should apologize- dunno.

BUT- so much of our popular culture is promulgated on the premise that "what is ain't cool." It reminds me of a statement I once read though I cannot remember who said it, but here it is: "Contempt for wealth is a trick of the rich to keep the poor from becoming rich." Or something like that, but the idea stands.

The point being that people will use their good intelligence, their good looks, in short, all of the gifts that life, luck, and social station have given them, they will use all of these for the purposes of vanity. WE ALL DO IT! But they will also use them for other purposes. Noble purposes. And not-so-noble but simply human purposes... like when inside something tells you that you must grow? tells you that you have a higher calling?

Nobody made me the censor of jocularity. And forgive me if I have sounded too true to myself, the pompous horses ass that I am. But I will not apologize for encouraging other people to improve their ability to express themselves and I don't give a damn if this is CNN or jerkyourbrainsoff.com An intelligent man you are, I know you understand. Subnote: I am an educator. I do not teach English, I teach IT shit; but goddamned if I don't light up when I meet a student who knows how to express him or herself with words.

Damnit, words are all we have sometimes.

Peace-... I am man enough to admit I have had a couple of bourbons and dinner is in the oven. The food will smooth me out.

 

[Bs]

Oh how I long for the days gone by, with Micheal, Slut-boy, Deborah --- Expounding the virtures of higher education... Those fifty cent words are worth every dollar you, your parents, and my/our goverment paid for them.

riff - you call yourself a liberal --- your views are more those of a moderate conservitive leaning to the right..

and this is....

 

[RonG]

That's cool, riff. I have a vocabulary that reflects my channeling Dr. Johnson (the lexicographer, not the dildo manufacturer).

However, a joke once in awhile is a good thing. And there is little in this world as funny as college discussions of Art and Art History. Now back to our discussion of Bas Relief to Bah Humbug, Artistic Metalworking in Pre-Industrial Revolution Europe.

 

[CelestialBody]

Re: If there's one thing I hate........

 

[riff]

Oh how I long for the days gone by, with Micheal, Slut-boy, Deborah --- Expounding the virtures of higher education... Those fifty cent words are worth every dollar you, your parents, and my/our goverment paid for them.

riff - you call yourself a liberal --- your views are more those of a moderate conservitive leaning to the right..

and this is....

Sir, you insult me. Like I could give a shit. Just don't ever call me a compassionate conservative or associate me with republicanism.

hmmmm could it be you lean to the left? Liberals don't believe in handouts! But we don't believe in demogogary (ain't got time to check spellin- u know what I mean) either!

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Unclebill]

Originally posted by riff
...hmmmm could it be you lean to the left? Liberals don't believe in handouts! But we don't believe in demogogary (ain't got time to check spellin- u know what I mean) either!

It's demagoguery. And if you're referring to Liberals of the mainstream today, to say they don't believe in handouts is like saying there is no collectivism legislated into today's America, like saying Clinton is an honorable man, like saying Waterloo was a triumph for Napoleon, etc.

The lifeblood of America's political Liberals of the past 40 years has been handouts. Lyndon Johnson was the first great instigator of most of today's runaway collectivist entitlement programs under which the only people not entitled to property and income are those who have actually earned it.

And they have elevated demagoguery to an art form which they practice with such finesse and consistency as to be thoroughly impressive. And it never ceases to amaze me that the American populace at large is either so gullible or so malserved by the public education system that it eludes them.

And part of their success I believe is their infiltration of the public education system over half a century and undermining it by the requirements for all the extraneous bullshit which does nothing to inform, educate or equip for anything but bare survival if that. If anything, it seems the schools now are teaching kids to NOT THINK (sorta' like religion)!

It is little wonder that the competency of Americans at large relative to other industrialized nations has been steadily declinintg for half a century. It is the pursuit of social promotions, whole language (vice phonics), multiculturalism, outcome based education and the pursuit of pseudo-self esteem that has contributed to that decline.

Theirs is not an intellectual philosophy, it is anti-intellectual.

 

[Closet Desire]

What an interesting thread...

...I love it!

I'm fascinated to hear that non-language disciplines are putting so much emphasis on vocabulary. For some strange reason I changed from engineering and took three degrees in English literature. It was eye-opening. I expected to spend years having to diagram sentences and other such nonsense, but, no, never saw them again.

Getting to the point. I don't recall ever having a class where it was thought important to use $25 words where a dime word would do. Sure, there are lots of words that are appropriate to the topic and they could be considered high falutin words, but they have their place.

I had a prof from Oxford whose most frequent comment on papers was "don't overstate" which he applied to those horrible, long, sentences with words of three or more syllables. I learned to write academic papers, and publish them, by using mostly day-to-day language. How refreshing. Now, when I pull a journal off the shelf and begin reading it I immediately check to see if the scholar is using language to communicate or to impress. If it's the latter it goes back on the shelf.

I guess that what I'm saying is that in both the US and the UK my professors in English lit were emphasising the skills to communicate clearly and simply with a minimum of jargon and complex words or structure. Using language to isolate yourself from others is pretty foolish when what you set out to do in the first place is communicate with others.

My favourite quote on this comes from Blazing Saddles when Slim Pickins says "Golly...you use your mouth prettier than a $20 whore."

 

[Whispersecret]

CB, I hope you don't think I was insinuating that you couldn't write. I wasn't.

I took a lot of Art History in college, and I agree with you. I don't think a general requirement for vocabulary is necessary, UNLESS you're talking about a list of words relevant to the course. Chiaroscuro, bas-relief, fresco, etc.--those types of words are necessary so that the class has a common base on which to base its discussions. But I gather you were talking about general vocabulary, not art vocabulary.