The Severely Limited Vocabulary of the Current Generation

[Angrboda]

I don't know. I think global arts, electronic communication, and the internet have done far more to change language than any of the above.

But to me, language is organic. Things don't evolve to a higher life form, or devolve into a lower one; they just change.

The same with language. One hundred years from now, we may have only one word to express they're, there, and their — it will all be the same word. So what?

[Rayaan]

As apo mentioned above, I also agree that electronic communication and the internet these days may have influenced the way we use language a great deal.

I myself do not have a highly sophisticated English vocabulary/lexicon, but I am still able to write coherently, influence others, and use proper grammar and all using whatever limited amount of words that I know even though I don't know a lot. So, the vocabulary thing doesn't really bother me.

And just because someone may know a greater number of words doesn't necessarily mean that he or she is more intelligent than a person who knows a lesser number of words. Language is not all about how many words you know.

[KichigaiNeko]

Your understanding is though Rayaan. The more words you know the greater your understanding will be.

I miss my Thesaurus!

[Autumnlicious]

Google is my thesaurus.

And I love reading papers from the American Medical Association when I search differing terms.

I'd say I've picked up more vocabulary from voluntarily reading dense, difficult reads for my own pleasure.

I'm certain that if we could more positively engage youth into difficult subjects and topics, they'd work to improve their own repertoire without our control.

[Whateverist]

Your understanding is though Rayaan. The more words you know the greater your understanding will be.

I miss my Thesaurus!

Oh I don't think Rayaan's understanding is through. (Don't give up Rayaan!)

I think you meant "thorough" (and I agree). I think your understanding need not be diminished by a limited vocabulary. As for the ability to communicate, there is a direct trade off between the number of 25¢ words you use and the number of readers who can (or will) follow what you have to say. So words which give you fine shadings of meaning are fine and good but they come at a cost.

There was a book I read some time ago called "Mother Tongue: English and how it got to be that way" which was loads of fun.

[Angrboda]

This is apropos of nothing, but my problem was the exact opposite. I had such an immense vocabulary that I spent years learning to moderate my diction and vocabulary to tone it down.

[KichigaiNeko]

Your understanding is though Rayaan. The more words you know the greater your understanding will be.

I miss my Thesaurus!

Oh I don't think Rayaan's understanding is through. (Don't give up Rayaan!)

I think you meant "thorough" (and I agree). I think your understanding need not be diminished by a limited vocabulary. As for the ability to communicate, there is a direct trade off between the number of 25¢ words you use and the number of readers who can (or will) follow what you have to say. So words which give you fine shadings of meaning are fine and good but they come at a cost.

There was a book I read some time ago called "Mother Tongue: English and how it got to be that way" which was loads of fun.

How about I insert "Language is not all about how many words you know."

Does that make it read better?

{Sorry...touch of sleep deprivation there. Mea culpa}

[frz]

Yeah my grammar and vocabulary sucks, and I'm not young. Shit happens.

[RonaldReagansGhost666]

Oh I don't think Rayaan's understanding is through. (Don't give up Rayaan!)

I think you meant "thorough" (and I agree). I think your understanding need not be diminished by a limited vocabulary. As for the ability to communicate, there is a direct trade off between the number of 25¢ words you use and the number of readers who can (or will) follow what you have to say. So words which give you fine shadings of meaning are fine and good but they come at a cost.

There was a book I read some time ago called "Mother Tongue: English and how it got to be that way" which was loads of fun.

How about I insert "Language is not all about how many words you know."

Does that make it read better?

{Sorry...touch of sleep deprivation there. Mea culpa}

Many of the children who suffer from low vocabularies tend to also have a poor knowlege of proper grammer and other essentials of a proper command of the English language.

[Autumnlicious]

Are their parents mumbling idiots without the ability to string together coherent sentences?

School education does squat when the home life actively encourages not speaking fluently.