Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   "New SAT Won’t Include Obscure Vocabulary Words" (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/new-sat-wont-include-obscure-vocabulary-words-1011605/)

nanabee Apr 18th, 2014 12:05 PM

"...and why the SAT folks are adapting in an attempt to save their cash cow." Yes!

colduphere Apr 18th, 2014 12:08 PM

I love using impressive words. It makes me look sophisticated. Right now my favourite is narissist.

Bitter Apr 18th, 2014 12:10 PM

"I find that I sometimes use words that I can see not everyone in the room understands."

And it goes both ways. And if I remember, I try to look up the offending word, though sometimes its meaning can be gleaned from the context.

Reminds me of when Sally Struther's character on All in the Family started reading the dictionary.

Amy Apr 18th, 2014 12:24 PM

One may or may not agree with (or may argue the meaning of) Wittgenstein, "The limits of my language are the limits of my world." But I think it is safe to say that it is very, very valuable to be able to use words with precise shades of meaning and to use them appropriately. It's helpful to be able to process word meanings quickly since any job has its own jargon. (Quick, what profession would discuss botrytis, pavé, Williamsburg, and fixative in the same day, plus, say, dubonnet as an adjective?)

But I haven't seen that developed by "obscure" vocabulary. It's developed through reading, listening, conversation, observation: context. I don't think that learning or memorizing words in isolation is the most tremendously profitable use of time.

ncounty Apr 18th, 2014 09:10 PM

lol, vincenzo!

much to my dismay, my son refused to do a speck of preparation for the SAT; which is why I am not bragging on the kids thread.

princesslily Apr 19th, 2014 04:03 AM

Latin helps enormously in acquisition of English vocab travelthrowup. Hi value or lo value, lol, you act as,tho fund of knowledge isn't at all important so I guess u r fine as long as you have Wikipedia at your fingertips lol! Yr attitude towards education akin to low level technician not professional. Course that may b your job is so apologies all round not critising your station just attitude. If latter product of former then further apologies as u obv can't rise above upbringing [but praps u could there if actually educated so praps there is a value eh?]

travelgourmet Apr 19th, 2014 05:49 AM

<i>Latin helps enormously in acquisition of English vocab</i>

If acquisition of vocabulary is your be all and end all, then knock yourself out. Out of curiosity, is Latin your first language? Because your English is pretty bad.

<i>Hi value or lo value, lol, you act as,tho fund of knowledge isn't at all important</i>

Spelling is important too.

<i>I guess u r fine as long as you have Wikipedia at your fingertips lol!</i>

Well-developed research skills are probably the single most important thing you can take from your education.

<i>Yr attitude towards education akin to low level technician not professional. Course that may b your job is so apologies all round not critising your station just attitude.</i>

Ha. I'm quite certain that I have a job that involves far more responsibility and which pays far more than yours. Don't worry about my "station".

<i>If latter product of former then further apologies as u obv can't rise above upbringing [but praps u could there if actually educated so praps there is a value eh?]</i>

For the record, I was an exceptional student. And I scored over 600 on the SAT verbal section when I took it in 7th grade. When I took it in high school, I scored over 700 on both the verbal and the math.

You seem to have some unresolved emotional issues. You should seek help with that. But focus on the spelling and learning to write coherently first.

vincenzo32951 Apr 19th, 2014 06:13 AM

>>For the record, I was an exceptional student. And I scored over 600 on the SAT verbal section when I took it in 7th grade.<<

I got laid in the 7th grade.

colduphere Apr 19th, 2014 06:20 AM

But you were 21.

travelgourmet Apr 19th, 2014 06:20 AM

<i>I got laid in the 7th grade.</i>

Altar boy?

vincenzo32951 Apr 19th, 2014 06:34 AM

tg: Interesting that your mind would go in that direction first.
cold: No, but it happened in my first car.

colduphere Apr 19th, 2014 06:51 AM

Me too Vin. Datsun B210. Very cramped. Towards the end (20 seconds) I had no idea which way was up.

princesslily Apr 19th, 2014 07:24 AM

Lol travelvomit, admit my best comm is not on iPhone.sorry to have offended, usually dont point out such things to yr kind, my bad.

vincenzo32951 Apr 19th, 2014 07:47 AM

cold: Perhaps if you had scored a 700 on your SATs ...

travelgourmet Apr 19th, 2014 10:44 AM

<i>sorry to have offended</i>

No you aren't. You intended offense. Frankly, apologizing just makes you come across as even more pathetic than you already did. Nothing worse than a phony.

ira Apr 19th, 2014 12:23 PM

Hey V,

>William F. Buckley must be rapidly revolving on an axis in his sepulcher.

Three obscure words, revolving, axis, sepulcher, in one sentence.

Bad boy.
..............................................
>Reminds me of when Sally Struther's character on All in the Family started reading the dictionary.<

Doesn't everyone do that in grade school?
...................................

Hey V,

First car - age 16-17.
7th grade??????


((I))

vincenzo32951 Apr 19th, 2014 03:23 PM

Ira: I was on a learner's permit.

nytraveler Apr 19th, 2014 04:58 PM

Sorry - none of those word are "obscure". Anyone who reads at a 12th grade level should have no trouble with them.

I know a lot of people don;t read at that level - but that is NOT a good thing. And it doesn't make the word obscure.

One of my colleagues has a sweatshirt with the line

ESCHEW OBFUSCATION

which I grant is probably beyond 12th grade - but I think college students should understand. (Although most of them were probably never exposed to it by their English professors.

colduphere Apr 19th, 2014 05:02 PM

What does sneezing have to do with obfuscation?

princesslily Apr 19th, 2014 07:25 PM

Travelgormless, you sir r a hairless sheep. Jam betwixt an elephants toes. Streaky rashers gone green in t cupboard. It is not phony to give a fake apology when all r sposed to know it is fake. U r a daft bigger. Bigger. Bugger. Finally iPad learns to spell,!


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:32 AM.