Sorry guys; but I am perhaps one who is accused of using $10 words; but believe me it is not for any superiority ploy. I can handle my native language fairly well, but I found people in Europe who handled 4-5 languages with relative ease. In 1957, my unit was on maneuvers at North Ft Polk, LA. where we shared a mess hall with a military intelligence unit (language specialists). Eating SOS one morning, across from a young soldier (both of us about 19), I inquired how many languages he was proficient with. He replied, "if you mean read, write and speak...I have seven". I said, "you must be the best in your company, huh?" He chuckled and pointed to a chubby 'old man' (maybe 40) saying, "You see that master specialist over there...he's our tops...read, write and speak 44 languages".
So if one has a fair command of English..how does that compare ? No snobbishness here...
Often I use $10 words simply because they are so efficient, allow me to give you a couple examples;
For instance, one could use the words "be circumspect"...or they could say, "examine closely your past, present and likely future, paying special attention to influences from friends, family, environment and all other factors. Sum these up and report on them". There arer many not commonly used words which operate in just such an efficient way.
there is a German word..'gemutlichkeit" which is simply non-translateable, since it covers such a broad spectrum of thoughts, feelings, tradition, warmth etc, etc.
Now, you guys know that at times I post some lengthy, verbose missives here on Graybeard's, were I to eschew the $10 words, just imagine how lengthy my scribblings would then be !
To be fair; although TM7 and I rarely agree, I believe he uses language in the same way.. one $10 word to replace a small paragraph.
FGYI: Here's an attempt at translating 'gemutlichkeit'..it's an effort, but the whole description barely scratches the surface.
http://dictionary.reverso.net/german-english/Gem%C3%BCtlichkeit
