There's a time a place for everything. You just have to know your audience.
Back in my teaching days I would use "big words" in the classroom and typically get the look of "what did you just say?" There was a reason. As a Language Arts teacher, I tried to use sophisticated words to model and promote students' vocabulary growth and word consciousness. It's never too late to start.
A little while ago this meme showed up and good ole word nerdy me got a big laugh. Loquacious was one of the words I used in the classroom frequently because, you know, 8th graders. They are a chatty bunch.
Eddie was one of my students who was very talkative. One day, exasperated me exclaimed, "Eddie, you are one of the most loquacious people I know!" He looked at me, the whole class looked at me, and this became a vocabulary moment. "OK, people, I just called Eddie loquacious. What do you think that means?"
"Goofy...rude...funny...weird...talkative."
"Yes, talkative!"
The students had learned about how some words have Latin origins. I got out the dictionary, looked up the root word. Loquacious comes from the Latin word, "loquax." I prononuced loquax..."Lo - QUAX," emphasizing quax, walking around, flapping my wings, "Quack, quack, quack. This is how a duck talks! Quack, quack, quack!"
Loquacious = quacking = talking. It worked.
I like "big words". Their etymology fascinates me 😁
ReplyDeleteHow fun, and you know they will NEVER forget how they learned the meaning of loquacious. They may not remember how to spell it, but the meaning will always make them smile.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. Those kids will remember your words all their lives.
ReplyDeleteI love this word, my vocabulary is in the dumpster haha I'm challenging myself to use it today! Thank you for sharing.
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