Words and phrases

soontobe As someone has already said, it isn't being suggested that you spend each evening poring over books in earnest study. But surely it is natural, when you come across a word or phrase that you don't understand, to want to know what it means?

Sometimes gransnetters include a Latin phrase in their posts and I know only the most commonly used Latin phrases. I would find it frustrating not to look up a phrase that I didn't understand because I want to know what the poster is saying (though I probably don't retain such information as well as I might have done when younger!).

We don't need such words in everyday language, this like so many similar little used words are of Latin origin.

According to one source most adult native English speakers have a vocabulary of 45000 - 60000 words.
The 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words
So most of us only use about 30% of our language, hence we don't use words like nidification.

I appreciate that I may be hard work.

Ashtree - no my curiosity is not much piqued. I may be standing still, but I feel I have already arrived at a station, and dont wish to go much further, study wise.

No I am not a grannie. Hence, part of the soontobe. But I think it will be a bit longer yet it seems.

If I want more buzz, I read actually. But not that highbrow.
I cant make head nor tail of poems for instance. They are way over my head.
I can do maths though!

I still dont get though why some posters are convinced that I am brighter than I am.
Weird really. Normally that would be flattering. But on gransnet, I find it a nuisance. It is like people want me to give more than I am able.

Those foreign students are going to think the English are seriously weird.
I am pleased to find out that nidification is what I thought it was, but why do we need such a word when a phrase sounds so much better?

pompa, soontobe informed us early on that she was not a grandparent. I wasn't making any assumptions.

Gasp!! pompa
However, you can relax, I have realised it is the second glass of which is making me hot and bothered!

Nidification is very sweet, though.

I am going to test these words on DD2 who teaches foreign students English!!

I think we can confidently believe they've been involved in a bit of concupiscence as well phoenix, but perhaps best not include that in any wedding speeches

concupiscence -- there's a word RQ could use

"concupiscence", now there's a word for you, and I'll throw in "nidification" as well!

Nidification is a very good word to use in a wedding/best man speech, as in "having known Mary & John for many moons, I can confidently say that they have been involved in frantic/earnest/serious nidification for some time!"

LOL, you would have to be seriously weird to get excited about me with my shirt off.

You can't tell from a GNers profile if they are a GP or not, because I did not put my GC's names on my profile, it says I have none rather than 3 1/4

pompa I hope you kept your shirt on I am getting a bit hot and bothered here

But STB it's not about 'exams and studying'. It's about having a healthy interest in the world about you. If that world sometimes pops up words or concepts with which you are unfamiliar, isn't your curiosity piqued? Don't you wish to know what they mean?
I don't know whether you are a reader, but if so then you must surely, on occasion, come across an unfamiliar word in a book. Do you really just skip past it, with no interest to know the meaning? I find that really rather odd.
If you come across an obstacle in your life there are options: you can go round it, over it, under it, or you can simply stand still.
I think you're standing still.

RQ , no I was just bored

I'm not quite sure why you're on Gransnet at all really, soontobe. You aren't a grandmother (not that you have to be), you're only in your early fifties and don't want to learn anything new unless it's spoon-fed to you.

You are quite hard work.

STB, you are still young, at your age I was still having to study to keep up with new developments in my profession.
Learning new things keep the brain active and gives life a buzz. Even now I still study things related to my hobbies, In order to design new competitive gliders, I need to stay aware of aerodynamic developments otherwise I would just be designing and building models I fly back in the 60's. Learning is fun.
Most of us also need to learn every time Microsoft etc update their products.

I do tend to look things up - such as those two words which absent posted: entoptic imagery and chthonic
and pandiculates - are you tired pompa?

I will never remember them to be able to use them in everyday conversation (and how do you pronounce the second?), but I will know for the next day or so .....
I think I am still curious but past long-term learning!

I want to learn ^ a bit^ Lona.
But I wont be asking quite as many questions in future, as I wont be on as many threads in future. And only if I can be bothered to look something up first.

When I was a school, I studied and studied. Then I worked for a financial institution and did some more exams there.
At about the age of 24, I decided I was heartily sick of exams and studying.
I havent changed my mind since. I do a bit, but nothing like I once did. There is no way for instance that I would be at evening classes.

(to stb)

Thought so.

"Personally I dont come on gransnet to learn all the time"
If that's the case STB, then why do you ask so many questions? Sometimes it seems as though you think Gransnetters are only here to simplify things for you.

I fail to understand how you can participate on threads for 5 months and not learn something new. I learn something every day, not always useful stuff, but interesting.

Nearer 5.
Look it up.

How about a thread similar to "Increase your Word Power" that was in Readers Digest ?

Six months? It is that long...?