People's vocabularies.

pbradley · 01.20.2009, 12:40 AM

Over this last weekend, I've come across people who did not know what the words pithy or transgression meant. I understand this is kind of an condescending complaint, but I don't consider these tough words at all and these people in question are the kinds that I would expect better of.

What is the deal?

hevusa · 01.20.2009, 12:45 AM

It IS a very condescending complaint. Those words are not used in everyday language often. Especially pithy.

What is the deal? Hate to be the bringer of the news but the deal is you! Smoke some pot and just relax dude.

Sheriff Rhys Chatham · 01.20.2009, 12:48 AM

I've never heard the word pithy in my life.

atsonicpark · 01.20.2009, 12:49 AM

I hear the word trangression pretty often. I've only heard pithy a couple times in my entire life...

pbradley · 01.20.2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheriff Rhys Chatham

I've never heard the word pithy in my life.

It means tersely cogent.

atsonicpark · 01.20.2009, 12:50 AM

What a pithy.

gualbert · 01.20.2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbradley

Over this last weekend, I've come across people who did not know what the words pithy or transgression meant. I understand this is kind of an condescending complaint, but I don't consider this tough words at all and these people in question are the kinds that I would expect better of.

What is the deal?

How do you react when someone talks to you and uses one or several words that you don't know?

pbradley · 01.20.2009, 12:51 AM

Curious.

hevusa · 01.20.2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

How do you react when someone talks to you and uses one or several words that you don't know?

I usually ask what the word means.

atsonicpark · 01.20.2009, 12:52 AM

Personally, I jus' be usin' dem dere context clues!

Sonic Youth 37 · 01.20.2009, 12:53 AM

If everyone were forced to read 19th century novels, there would be no vocabulary complaints.

This Is Not Here · 01.20.2009, 01:05 AM

I'll happily claim I have no fucking idea what either mean, but I'm still probably more intelligent than the lot of you.

deflinus · 01.20.2009, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by This Is Not Here

I'll happily claim I have no fucking idea what either mean, but I'm still probably more intelligent than the lot of you.

\m/

pbradley · 01.20.2009, 01:41 AM

I really don't consider vocabulary necessarily indicative of a person's level of intelligence. And smart idea can be expressed in fifteen or five words but will still be smart. A dumb idea in the same way will still be dumb.

But I really am surprised by what I consider high school level vocabulary.

This Is Not Here · 01.20.2009, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbradley

I really don't consider vocabulary necessarily indicative of a person's level of intelligence. And smart idea can be expressed in fifteen or five words but will still be smart. A dumb idea in the same way will still be dumb.

I agree with you this far.

uhler · 01.20.2009, 02:13 AM

i don't remember anyone ever using pithy. but i come from florida, so that can be a reason why.

alteredcourse · 01.20.2009, 02:16 AM

I've noticed over the past several months that my own vocabulary has slipped dramatically. Sometimes, I get annoyed when I settle with expressing myself as being very, totally this or that, when contextually I can tell that with more effort I probably could have come up with another way. Etc. I do loooove when I hear someone throw in a word Im not familiar with, though it usually takes me several attempts to actually cement it into my slow-ass brain.

I dont really judge others on something like this at all though.
Maybe linguistics is just not a major part of their communication. Maybe they just want to get the point accross - people can still connect thru that. People that are so simple as to measure their intelligence by comparing their vocab to others' are just plain dicks.

I really just get annoyed when people talk like they have never even tried to think before speaking, like when words are coming so fast out of some bitches mouths about cute pants cute dogs cute shoes that you cant help but drop words altogether and wish you just had a shotgun to ram down her throat instead.

SpectralJulianIsNotDead · 01.20.2009, 02:51 AM

I've never heard the word pithy before.

Transgression, plenty of times.

✌➬ · 01.20.2009, 02:52 AM

I've heard pithy in college, but not in the public's vocabulary. Transgression on the other hand, multiple times.

acousticrock87 · 01.20.2009, 02:53 AM

a) They simply haven't come across the word(s).

b) They have better things to do than to pay attention to useless synonyms.

c) Like me, they just pretend not to know words, so they can snicker to themselves at the speaker's frustration.

d) They are unintelligent.

e) It was probably a combination of a and b, but I felt like throwing in more because I'm putting off a pithy slice of homework pie.

01.20.2009, 12:40 AM	#1
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	Over this last weekend, I've come across people who did not know what the words pithy or transgression meant. I understand this is kind of an condescending complaint, but I don't consider these tough words at all and these people in question are the kinds that I would expect better of. What is the deal?
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01.20.2009, 12:45 AM	#2
hevusa expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: rain hell Posts: 1,535	It IS a very condescending complaint. Those words are not used in everyday language often. Especially pithy. What is the deal? Hate to be the bringer of the news but the deal is you! Smoke some pot and just relax dude.
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01.20.2009, 12:48 AM	#3
Sheriff Rhys Chatham invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England. Posts: 4,027	I've never heard the word pithy in my life. __________________ My Music(grunge rock) A part of this blue shit since June 24th, 2004
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01.20.2009, 12:49 AM	#4
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	I hear the word trangression pretty often. I've only heard pithy a couple times in my entire life... __________________
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01.20.2009, 12:50 AM	#6
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	What a pithy. __________________
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01.20.2009, 12:51 AM	#8
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	Curious.
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01.20.2009, 12:52 AM	#10
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Personally, I jus' be usin' dem dere context clues! __________________
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01.20.2009, 12:53 AM	#11
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	If everyone were forced to read 19th century novels, there would be no vocabulary complaints. __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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01.20.2009, 01:05 AM	#12
This Is Not Here invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames, London Posts: 2,586	I'll happily claim I have no fucking idea what either mean, but I'm still probably more intelligent than the lot of you. __________________ http://images.google.co.uk/url?sourc...zLTl_B146tcuiw ~~Record of the moment~~
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01.20.2009, 01:41 AM	#14
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	I really don't consider vocabulary necessarily indicative of a person's level of intelligence. And smart idea can be expressed in fifteen or five words but will still be smart. A dumb idea in the same way will still be dumb. But I really am surprised by what I consider high school level vocabulary.
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01.20.2009, 02:13 AM	#16
uhler invito al cielo Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,615	i don't remember anyone ever using pithy. but i come from florida, so that can be a reason why.
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01.20.2009, 02:16 AM	#17
alteredcourse expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,503	I've noticed over the past several months that my own vocabulary has slipped dramatically. Sometimes, I get annoyed when I settle with expressing myself as being very, totally this or that, when contextually I can tell that with more effort I probably could have come up with another way. Etc. I do loooove when I hear someone throw in a word Im not familiar with, though it usually takes me several attempts to actually cement it into my slow-ass brain. I dont really judge others on something like this at all though. Maybe linguistics is just not a major part of their communication. Maybe they just want to get the point accross - people can still connect thru that. People that are so simple as to measure their intelligence by comparing their vocab to others' are just plain dicks. I really just get annoyed when people talk like they have never even tried to think before speaking, like when words are coming so fast out of some bitches mouths about cute pants cute dogs cute shoes that you cant help but drop words altogether and wish you just had a shotgun to ram down her throat instead.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

01.20.2009, 02:51 AM	#18
SpectralJulianIsNotDead invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,409	I've never heard the word pithy before. Transgression, plenty of times.
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01.20.2009, 02:52 AM	#19
✌➬ invito al cielo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: ιλ Posts: 5,754	I've heard pithy in college, but not in the public's vocabulary. Transgression on the other hand, multiple times.
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01.20.2009, 02:53 AM	#20
acousticrock87 invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,515	a) They simply haven't come across the word(s). b) They have better things to do than to pay attention to useless synonyms. c) Like me, they just pretend not to know words, so they can snicker to themselves at the speaker's frustration. d) They are unintelligent. e) It was probably a combination of a and b, but I felt like throwing in more because I'm putting off a pithy slice of homework pie.
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