By William R. Jones
"I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me. It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words." (Chapter 4, Winnie-the-Pooh). Gomdori Pu stories, translated by Cho Kyung-sook, help both Korean speakers learn English and English speakers learn Korean.
English writer A.A. Milne's very much-loved teddy bear character, soon to be a centenarian, crossed cultural boundaries and has been introduced in no less than 18 languages, and I am sure by this writing that it is not silent in others. Children need to learn to read at an early age and experts deem that Milne's creation is within the 10 most popular children's books worldwide, thus, promoting it as the most famous bear in literary history. Children around the world laugh when they read and see the naive, friendly and thoughtful Winnie-the-Pooh saying and doing silly things.
When we are learning a new language, we don't wish to wrestle with the "many-syllabic" words, however, later we must. Those words can jar one's pronunciation and understanding. "Words of long length, and thund'ring sound" are impressive, but do complex the language and are used by those who wish to show knowledge and authority. However, in fun, I present to my students the 14-syllable word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." It is something to say when you have nothing to say or you are at a loss for words. It is considered a nonsense word, used especially by children, typically to express excited praise and appreciation or approval or to simply represent one of the longest words in English. Synonyms for it are fantastic, fabulous, great, splendid, superb and wonderful.
I am really like Winnie-the-Pooh except when I blot paper I usually use elaborate language. I prefer hypernyms (generic terms) to hyponyms (specific terms). To know that any specific canine is a dog (hypernym) is quite enough for me. I need not know that it is a Jindo, toy poodle, English cocker spaniel, etc. (hyponyms). However, I am subject to the queries and quizzes of English language students who have great expectations that I am an enlightened wordsmith serving as a fruitful source of describable and serviceable use of mature English.
Hyponyms are very common across languages, so a lexical database such as Princeton’s "Wordnet" or Korea’s “KorLex” maintained at Pusan National University could be particularly relevant to teachers and language learners. There are WordNets in 200-plus languages that serve “as a combination and extension of a dictionary and thesaurus.”
Yes, I think simple words are timeless and effective for easy and clear communication. In fact, Sir Winston Churchill did say so in a London speech: “Broadly speaking, the short words are the best and the old words best of all.” For your language learners, don’t give them more information than they require or need, give them words that they don’t expect! Short and strong words endure; the artillery of "many-syllabic" words sedate them to sleepiness. Short words and sentences are easier to digest than long ones.
Consider the following adaptation from advertising firm executive Arthur Henry Kudner: “Long words name little things. All big things have little names: life vs. existence, death vs. cessation, peace vs. civil tranquility, war vs. civil disturbance, night vs. nocturnal, love vs. adoration, home vs. residence. Learn to use little words in a big way. They say what you mean.”
The author ([email protected]) published the novella “Beyond Harvard” and presently teaches English as a second language.
English (United States) ·