A Grandiloquent Satire On Language

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A Grandiloquent Satire On Language

As Teenfx.com is full of very savvy teenagers, we are, of course, entitled to our own opinions. But does that always mean we’re opiniated? Or am I being overly, and perhaps its wannabe cousin "overtly," fussy about a few wrong words here and there? It's because good English is infectious. Or is it contagious?

Few verbophiles would except, no, accept the use of “opinionated” as a “good thing.” It gives a connotation of being “stubborn” and that just may be reasonable in asserting “one’s own opinion,” but holding it “unreasonably” is not. Unless, that is, you think logic is overrated, which few people do.

Now seeing it hard to imagine Ivy League graduates use a word like “opiniated” incorrectly, a LexisNexis search was not regarded with high marks in this case. But a thorough search through the teenaged remarks was taken into action and fortunately, and on the other hand, miraculously, there was only one record of “opiniated” belying as its non-evil twins such as “assertive”, “opined”, “declaritive", or "well-spoken. " Such sophistry -er- sophistication is required to receive a complaisant, oh sorry, complecent audience reaction, be your opinions however ingenuous or not. Oh wait, make that "ingenious or not."

Consider this column of Word Watch your first prophylactic, uhh. . . propaedutic (gotta get that in my head) to avoid major venalities, I mean, venialities of the English language. I am one to preserve it.

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	anita	29-Sep-07

Although this article was written about a year ago, I've just joined teen FX and seen it. Quite interestig, I should say. However, Baltazar, if you still visit this site, enjoy life! Does speaking the way you do make you happy? Go ahead if it doesn't make you feel like a freak! Live and let live, though. I just want you to consider this: If you're trying to preserve 'English' (whose English, anyway. American? British? Australian?, etc?) you're fighting a lost battle. Sorry, dude!

	Lesley	18-Dec-06

That's true. If your intended audience cannot understand you, and their understanding was your intention, then you have failed in what you tried using language for in the first place: communication. However, I don't think his intention in this article was for the audience to understand him, but for them to wonder on the meanings of the words and, perhaps, either look them up and learn, or feel uneducated. If I were him, I would focus on grammar, as grammar, not vocabulary, is, in my opinion, more important in solid communication. Although vocabulary can add subtlety, correct grammar adds certainty. However, even grammar can be loose in certain situations, such as speech. I let people get away with ending sentences with prepositions when they're talking, for instance, or using MSN.

	Bear	04-Nov-06

I hate your articles sometimes. Just wanted to point that out, and I think you are very opinionated. (Connotation meant.) Your use of the English language shows a good deal of understanding, but you've forgotten something. People use language to pass along points, ideas, emotions, thoughts...etc. If everyone had to carry around a dictionary just to understand you, you've failed (no matter what your SAT's said). Language is something that lives, it surrounds every person who uses any type to pass on a message, and you can not expect people to accept nothing but perfection. People aren't perfect, you defiantly aren't perfect, (not that I would claim to be perfect), and it's time you accept that. Also, although you use many words, your grammar is off here and there. :D Not that mine is any better, but except for my annoyance and corresponding response I'm not on a high horse about language nor am I claiming mine is better than yours or anyone else’s..

	Lesley	29-May-06

I agree completely. The beauty of the English language is that it can be specific to a very high degree. Words that appear (or are actually stated) as synonyms don’t usually mean exactly the same thing at all. Each word, however similar it is to others, has different connotations, if not a slightly different meaning. Complex writing is often only complex because it is specific. Obviously, with a strong and well-refined writing style and the eradication of useless verbosity, “complex” writing can be made easier to read, but it is not unnecessary. The use of English can be a high art form, as is evident through its long legacy of literature. (Alliteration is also f.un, and sometimes done completely by accident!) But without the wealth of words currently available to us, could such a rich, written world exist? The words you use on a daily basis are not the only ones we, as English speakers, ever need. Times call for specification. Times call for eloquence. I know that times change and that words change; that grammar changes and that meanings change. But change does not mean reduction. We don’t have to rob ourselves of the bounty of the English language in the name of the future. Not in the name of saving time and not in the name of the internet. Certainly not in the name of youth.

	Baltazar	17-May-06

Oh sorry if I want to be a little more educated than the norm. Sorry if I like to read higher leveled books and use a dictionary to look up the words I don't know. Maybe this is why I got a near perfect score on the writing section of the SAT reasoning test.

	Kelley	16-May-06

Are you really 17? Because unless youre a wannabe goody two shoes(sorry if i misspelled that!!) who the hell would know dumb words like that. I didnt even understand what the hell you were trying to say?!?! And if you dislike everyone on TeenFX misspelling words, then dont read what people right...ooops, write..

	Verummba	11-May-06

It's usually preteens who type like that, not teenagers. This site seems to be an exception, though. Before I came here, I thought there were low standards on Gaia Online - but at least on Gaia, people who use excessive netspeak are generally looked down upon.

	Baltazar	01-May-06

I was satirizing on the flexibility of the English language but you also do have a point. Because teenagers write and talk the way they do, I am quite irked. You don't have to write like a computer or android to write well or correctly. Look at Joseph Conrad or William Hazlitt, they're not even close to androids and their writing is just so full of meaning.

	kayla	27-Apr-06

you've completley let your mind go did you not?!? i understand, your whole thing... i only needed to read it twice... HAHAHA. but most people on TEENFX choose to write like teenagers... not like a computer or an android. ok buddy.

	beautifulStranger	22-Apr-06

dude, you're crazy. care to explain?

	Baltazar	13-Apr-06

Well I guess you're right. I did misspell it. Funny how my spell check didn't catch that. Well thanks, I guess spelling isn't exactly my forte.

	~Baby~Girl~	12-Apr-06

Okay, call me crazy, but I think that you misspelled "complacent", because you put an 'e' where the 'a' should have been. Maybe that's what you were going for, just figured that I would point it out.

	Caitlin	12-Apr-06

Wow you have a colassol range of words in your vocabulary. I don't quite understand what you are pinpointing to as the problem with language nowdays. All I can say is that you sound like a scientist who uses long explanations that no one understands. This is nothing against you, but I think that society over time changes.. obviously. Along with this comes changes in our language. It's alright to be opinionated, but you may be overreacting. I agree that there are people with such horrible English skills that I just feel like slapping them and telling them to read a book.