sesquipedalian \ses-kwuh-puh-DAYL-yuhn\ (adjective) - 1 : Given to or characterized by the use of long words. 2 : Long and ponderous; having many syllables. (noun) - A long word. "Because my father was a professor, I early picked up a sesquipedalian way of speaking." -- Damon Knight, 'A Science Fiction Argosy' Sesquipedalian comes from Latin sesquipedalis, "a foot and a half long, hence inordinately long," from sesqui, "one half more, half as much again" + pes, ped-, "a foot." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is it always desirable to use large, complicated, obscure or technical terms? While having a large vocabulary is important for good communication, it isn't always effective to use. Here are a list of circumstances in which it is NOT effective...
Puerile: pu·er·ile adj \ˈpyu̇(-ə)r-əl 1 juvenile 2 childish, silly <puerile remarks> Example I told the teenagers that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony First Known Use: 1652
I'm 49 years old, but I've never lost my sense of silly. In fact, when I get frustrated, my silly takes on a life of it's own. Said silliness happened last week whilst Gundar, my technology gremlin, was on my last nerve. This was the result.
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Home, home on the range.... Where the deer and the antelope play... Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. What is it about our home that makes it special? It's safe, secure and supportive...or it should be. When your home is filled with discouraging people (or your life is), it can be difficult to become rejuvenated, rested and ready to take on the day. The rest of the world can be against you, but if those who are supposed to support us are negative, challenging and difficult, it can make life more stressful. Do you have people in your life who are discouraging? Do you have to deal with them on a...
June is Effective Communication Month so, to celebrate, Art of Eloquence is hosting a contest here on the blog where you could win free Art of Eloquence studies of YOUR CHOICE! Here's how it works: CONTEST RULES/HOW TO ENTER: 1. Submit a family-friendly, funny or sweet story of miscommunication. The story could have happened to you in "real life," you could have heard about it happening to someone else OR you could write one out of your own imagination. It can be funny like a Foot in Mouth Man episode or a sweet and inspirational story. Preferably just a few sentences or a paragraph, but there is no limit to the length if it's a good story. 2. Post them...
Those of you who remember my weekly internet radio show on the Communication Comedy Network will remember my character Professor Wordsmith. She (I) did the Word of the Week segments. In 2011, I'm going to be bringing back some of the old characters I played on the show as YouTube videos. I thought I'd bring her segments here to Communication FUNdamentals for Word Wednesday. This week's word is something most people do associate with communication: speech! But as we'll see, speech is much more than a formal recitation of gun control or abortion rights. According to Merriam Webster, speech is: "1a : the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words b : exchange of spoken words : conversation 2a...
