Blogger: Michelle Ule
I’m filling in for Rachelle Gardner who is out of the office today because of the Colorado Springs fires. She and her family are fine.
Don’t you wish I could come up with a better description than the bland, antiseptic, flat, “fine?”
Obviously, I need to punch up my verbal dexterity.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Russian intelligencia often gathered together to savor poetry.
You can envision them drinking weak tea from a boiling samovar, huddled around a single candle wearing fur hats and coats with the chill Siberian wind blowing outside across the frozen steppes. Someone might pluck a balalaika, but most likely one of the party would stand and recite from memory poetry he or she had written.
While words and images rolled off the poet’s tongue, those listening would be mentally transported through the rich phrases and luxurious metaphors. When the meeting disbanded, they took those words and images away with them, to meditate over and relish. Their understanding of word usage expanded with their imaginations.
That’s one way to increase your vocabulary: spend time with highly literate word lovers.
As writers, words constitute our tools–they provide us with the flexibility to express our thoughts, tell our stories, and impress our neighbors.
My father read a great deal and during the years I had only small children in the house, my vocabulary often grew stunted: “Do you want Cheerios?”
When I knew my parents were coming to visit, I deliberately spoke in multi-syllabic words to those same young children: “We need to impress your pater familias with the extensive vocabulary you have mastered in their absence.”
(My Rhetoric-major sister-in-law and I once spent a delightful afternoon using all my niece’s vocabulary words in sentences while the fourth grader’s mouth hung open in surprise. “That’s how you use sublime in a sentence?”)
So a second way to improve your vocabulary is to deliberately use stronger, more vivid language.
I love to borrow books from my friend Julie because she underlines words she doesn’t know, looks them up, and then writes their definitions in the margin. I, however, impatiently read over words I don’t recognize, figure out their meanings from the sentence, and then add them to my working vocabulary as appropriate.
I remember the day my mother gave me permission to look for a book in the adult section of the library. “I think you can handle bigger words now,” she said. I tiptoed into those taller stacks and marvelled at all the choices. The books were fatter, the print smaller, and much wider words marched across the pages. I had to sound out the syllables, figure out the meanings, and my vocabulary increased.
(It also meant I could read words I may not necessarily know how to pronounce. For years, I thought the pronunciation for lingerie was lean-gur-ee, not lon-gher-ray.)
Reading “harder” books, of course, is the ultimate inroad into expanding your vocabulary.
The Gardner family has observed harrowing situations from their home ten miles from the fires. Ash and smoke fill the air and Mr. Gardner, a firefighter, is battling the blazes at the front lines. As Rachelle posted on Facebook, “It’s impossible to think of anything else.”
But they really are fine.
We thank you for your prayers.
Meanwhile, back to the subject at hand, what methods do you use to increase your verbal dexterity? Or, what words would you use to describe that photo?
Your method of reading widely and appropriating words has usually been my style. BUT, I’m teaching a college reading class right now and it’s been fun to solidify words I already knew. After a while, I found words like “gregarious” and “venerate” creeping more regularly into my standard conversation — whereas they may have lived only in my head before — reserved for reading and writing.
Good morning Michele.
First, a cannot believe the devastation of the fires!! Those poor people! Many prayers for the people on the front lines and those who have lost their homes. When it comes down to such a visceral level of survival, all are equal in their desire to make it through.
*****
When #3 was a toddler and I could wax poetic on the benefits of the humble CHeerio,I was speaking to my neighbour. I was trying to explain my point when I had a brain implosion and stodd there, slack jawed and Cretinous.
“I’m so tired,I can’t put a sentence together, it drives me nuts,I used to be… so…so…”
“Articulate?”
“Yeah…ar…ti..cu…late.”
He roared laughing.
I did not.
Now that I’m in a world sans baby wipes and naps, I feel much better.
Why?
Because I can reed buks with big werds.
😉
Yes, reeding buks wid (my family’s from Brooklyn, N.Y.) big werds is fun. LOL! 🙂
Yo. Sup?
Nuthin much. ‘Bout chew?
I love highbrow literary discourse. It’s so refreshing to rise above pedestrian patter, ain’t it?
My ponderings exactly, my dear girl. Escaping the confines of blather and babble can be so…so…off dah hook!
Studying foreign languages, especially Latin and Greek. I know the benefits first hand and am going to inflict Latin on my kids (pity them).
I know, it sounds snooty, but it’s true. Not only does language-learning build vocabulary, it also sheds light on grammatical structure. The logic and precision of Latin; the power and expressiveness of Greek — these all seep into one’s English.
Cogito, ergo sum and all that.
I know someone who knows a bit of Spanish and inflicts it at hockey games when the ref calls a really bad penalty on #18. No one in the stands has a sweet clue what that person is saying.
*AND* that person is helping to expand the vocabulary of the ref.
But that person never uses “loco” because that’s kinda universal.
Half my children took Latin . . . just saying. Studying the vulgar versions–Spanish and Italian–has helped me with English grammar issues, too! 🙂
I learned more about English grammar from taking two semesters of French in college than I had garnered from twelve years of English classes. I’m not sure what that says about me or the public school system, but it’s true.
Christine, that was my experience, too, in a couple years of Latin. Excellent observation.
I think a foreign language forces you into learning the vocab of grammar itself: what is a subject? an object? an indirect object? etc. Learn it or flunk, when taking Latin or French or anything.
I agree completely with you. Thanks, Bill.
A fine post indeed, Michelle. 🙂 I think, being in the throes of mothering young boys, I haven’t actively sought to increase my verbal dexterity. I enjoy reading books in various genres and reading magazines discussing a variety of topics.
As for trying to put words to the picture, I can’t. Living through it has robbed me of words to describe it. Still praying for Rachelle and her family.
I was blessed to have parents who read voraciously and taught my sister and me to devour words as well. Also, my mother never spoke down to us. She told my sister and me that she didn’t know how to say things in “little words,” so she used the same vocabulary with us that she used when speaking to adults. If we didn’t understand a word, we would ask her what it meant and she would explain. Ultimately, we expanded our vocabulary through conversing with her.
Although I don’t write the definitions of unfamiliar words in the margins of my books, as your friend does, I do look up new words in the dictionary and then try to find ways to use them in conversation until they become a natural part of my vocabulary.
I love dictionaries and thesauruses and cannot write without them at hand. When I consult a thesaurus in order to find a synonym for a word, I look up the definitions of all of the synonyms listed since not all of them will be accurate substitutes for the word I am trying to replace. This practice has helped to increase my vocabulary. In addition, I actually enjoy reading dictionaries and thesauruses–just to peruse them for the fun of it. Strange pastime, I know, but then again, when I was young, I used to amuse myself by reading encyclopedias. I love words and delight in learning new things.
I’m glad that Rachelle and her family are safe. They continue to be in my prayers, along with all who are affected by the wildfires (and the people here in Florida who have been impacted by Tropical Storm Debby).
Have a great weekend, Michelle.
Thanks for letting us know that Rachelle and her family are safe. I’ve been thinking of and praying for so many people I know in tht area. Some of our towns haven’t recovered a year later from the major storms we had, and the destruction wasn’t a quarter of what they are experiencing.
In addition to reading a great deal, I enjoy listening to my husband speak. Sounds corny, but he has a superb vocabulary. He’s always coming out with a word I don’t know. After 23 years together, I’ve grown out of being afraid to ask what the word means. 🙂
He’s a lucky man . . . 🙂
I remember in grade school when I asked the teacher how to spell something and she told me to check the dictionary. She wouldn’t buy my argument that if I knew where to find it, I’d know how to spell it. Thus, I flipped through the pages, guessing how I thought it ought to be spelled until I found the right one. I use that lesson almost every day for so many things in life.
As for increasing my vocabulary, I’ve always done the Word Power page in Reader’s Digest whenever I found one. My average is 17 correct with 2-3 guesses. Some I guess because I don’t know, and some I get wrong because I haven’t been using the word correctly. Once I got 16. And once I preened at
reaching 18 correct. I’ll probably faint if I ever get 20/20.
Thanks for helping Rachelle out and keeping us updated. Praying for her family, Brian and the other firefighters, and everyone else involved.
I don’t read Reader’s Digest often enough to remember the name of their vocabulary page, so I’m glad you included it Anita Mae. I have friends who get a word a day sent to their e-mail box and others who have a calendar with a new word each day. Whatever works best. Hmm, I wonder when I last learned a new word–I know it was last week on FB, but what was it? Something to do with e-mail . . . 🙂
Okay, so I didn’t learn it. You have to use them to make them stick, er, adhere.
To answer your question, Michelle,”horrific.” That’s the first word that came to mind as I looked at the picture. Others are “nightmarish,” “chilling,” and “gripping.” I’ve seen my share of wildfires here in SoCal, and it’s hard to turn away from them. Such power and devastation, such uncontrolled fury. In many ways they remind me of the ocean. Odd comparison, I know. But both are just so other, so out of our control. They make Man look small. I guess, what I’m actually saying is, they remind me of God. Not the way we usually think of Him, though.
Good post. Thanks for pitching is for Rachelle.
Becky
Picture is stunning.
My native language is Spanish, as you know Michelle. I learned to speak English as a four and five year old attempting to make friends in my all English speaking neighborhood. In second grade–would have been about seven–our teacher Ms. Fuller routinely hosted in-class spelling bee contests. I was a champion–until the day I invited my mother to class to watch me compete. That day, I was disqualified with the very first word. Moral of the story: If you want to expand and master your vocabulary, don’t invite your mother to participate.
Seriously, I studied language including SIGN and recently Japanese. But my favorite tutor of the English language by far has to be William Shakespeare and in performance Sir Lawrence Olivier or Richard Burton is a toss-up. 🙂
Thanks for the post. Praying for Rachelle and her family. C
That was just nerves, I’m sure. I’m curious, though, if you find yourself leaning toward Latinate words as you write–words that spring from the romance languages rather than the gutteral stops of English and the Germanic kin.
I had the reverse experince of yours Carmen. My dad is from FAR away and I spent from the ages of 12 to 40 correcting his English. Idioms were his downfall. He’s an engineer. When my mom got a cochlear implant 8 years ago, she took over trying to teach him proper English. And then was mortified. And thankful for all my vain attempts at correcting him. Personally, I think he does it just to get a rise out of us. He’d only been this side of the pond for 48 years.
When I was in college and learning new words by the fistful, I underlined in the dictionary every word I looked up. This morphed into a desire to read the entire dictionary. I am saddened to inform you that this hasn’t been accomplished yet, although it does remain a very real goal.
I also like to read the classics, including books that should be classics but not many really know about, like anything by R.M. Ballantyne.
Thank you for the update on Rachelle. I was thinking about her and praying for her this morning.
I’m too impatient to look words up in the dictionary, which is why I’m pleased to have one on my computer. I have, however, really enjoyed learning about the roots of some words in the Oxford English Dictionary–OED–and used it often when in college. Definitions are important and we all probably could stand to be more informed on what words specifically mean.
(I’m raising my hand here)
Good tips!
Reading books and articles with challenging vocabulary boosts my own word usage. I love your story of using more complicated vocabulary around the kids. Hah!
Like Christine said above, using a thesaurus reveals new words for me, too.
I’ve also found reading articles on topics out of my normal reading (say, architecture or woodworking) introduces new (and possibly more challenging) words.
I am definitely praying for Colorado right now.
A few words I might use to describe that fiery photo: stifling, thick, transforming, destructive, depriving.
That’s an excellent way to stretch your vocabulary, reading outside of your comfort area, or at least your knowledge base.
I’ve always been interested in language, took Latin and German in High School and French in college. I even took Linguistics electives just for fun and became fluent in American Sign Language. Now I enjoy A Word A Day and Goodwords and get their daily messages. English is difficult for foreigners to learn for the same reason it’s so rich; it contains pieces from hundreds of other languages.
My mother is 95% hearing impaired, both my in-laws are profoundly deaf. So thank you, thank you for NOT saying you “speak” sign language!!!
🙂
Thanks for the update about Rachelle.
My dad’s old friend John always practices the unfamiliar words in the Reader’s Digest Word Power until he has mastered them. It can make for a funny or awkward visit when some odd word keeps popping up in the conversation. (I remember being puzzled as a child until I learned what he was doing.)
My Chinese friend made a habit of learning a new English language idiom each week and practiced them enough that if he misused them someone was bound to set him straight. His mastery of the English language was really enhanced by that habit.
By the way the Word of the Day is MONISH, verb tr. to warn, to admonish. Not terribly useful, is it?
Unless you you play Scrabble.Then it’s a great word!
Ooh, yes! I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll spring it on my brother-in-law when next we play. (If I remember by then; he’s not getting back from Canada until November).
Thanks for the idea, Jennifer 🙂
Crossword puzzles help me expand my vocabulary — at least I think so.
I used to enjoy crosswords, until I got addicted to Scrabble. Both games are a great way to learn and new word, retain it …and then use them to whup your older brother.
Actually, one of the ways to not only increase your vocabulary, but to also bring diversity to your sentence structures, is to listen to great literature. I use Librivox, which is a free audio depository of public domain works. When children do this, they add language patterns on in their brains. They unconsciously dip into these patterns when writing later on, and generally find writing easier than kids who just read and don’t also listen to great works.
I think it’s worth trying for adults, too.
Very interesting, Beth, thanks for the suggestion.
Glad to hear a report that Rachelle is ok.
I like it when I come across words in books that I don’t know. I come across new words in even the simplest writing, which I like. The book I’m reading now is by an Australian author, so she uses some words that are common there. I put a sticky note, then go and look it up. I also try to look up the “word of the day” on dictionary.com Phew, some of the words that come up on that are tough!
I read “old” poetry to jolt my need-for-speed brain into richer pastures. I like to introduce “big” words into my children’s book writing and play with showing the word rather than dumping it into the text.
I also read nonfiction that is lyrically written.