It’s the same concept but with a third of the amount of letters. What is wrong with a word that exist in the language being used for its intended meaning?
I guess, because it’s not necessarily known by everyone speaking the language. I didn’t know it. I’m not a native speaker, but neither are most English speakers.
I feel excited every time I find a new word, it means an opportunity to learn has just presented itself. I still semi regularly find new words, even in my native language. I love opportunities to grow and learn. I learn new languages explicitly to experience this more often.
I mean, I do, too. I love reading up on etymology. After a while, various words become self-explanatory, because you’ve seen their individual parts before.
But for actually communicating with others, obvious words are really great. There’s beauty to “shortsightedness”, because even someone who’s never heard it, will have a guess what it means. They don’t need to look up the etymology, it’s smacked right into their face.
Update: turns out myopia can also be used as describing ‘Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning.’ so i guess i was wrong from the start. Very myopic of me
Well, there you go. Today you learned something new. But now your complaint makes more sense. If myopia didn’t have this definition, I’d say you would be right. I would have perceived it a bit too “book-literary.” Like if someone qualified computers as “whimsical,” I would be like “bruh…”
Because in this instance its just a little unusual but in some cases it feels like using synonyms is gatekeeping knowledge. I think it makes it less accessible for everyone with a language barrier and is good for entertainment but bad for communicating information.
Also myopia is a clinical definition where short-sightedness is also metaphor so it makes this person sound like when jimmy neutron asked for the sodium chloride lol
The argument of gatekeeping knowledge by using synonyms is a very weak one. Using synonyms spreads knowledge because anyone who gets to learn it along the way becomes, well, more knowledgeable.
Had to say myopia, couldnt just say short sightedness
It’s the same concept but with a third of the amount of letters. What is wrong with a word that exist in the language being used for its intended meaning?
I guess, because it’s not necessarily known by everyone speaking the language. I didn’t know it. I’m not a native speaker, but neither are most English speakers.
That’s what dictionaries are for. I have merriam-webster.com bookmarked for this very reason.
I feel excited every time I find a new word, it means an opportunity to learn has just presented itself. I still semi regularly find new words, even in my native language. I love opportunities to grow and learn. I learn new languages explicitly to experience this more often.
I mean, I do, too. I love reading up on etymology. After a while, various words become self-explanatory, because you’ve seen their individual parts before.
But for actually communicating with others, obvious words are really great. There’s beauty to “shortsightedness”, because even someone who’s never heard it, will have a guess what it means. They don’t need to look up the etymology, it’s smacked right into their face.
Weird complaint.
Why did you point this out? What’s wrong with saying myopia?
Update: turns out myopia can also be used as describing ‘Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning.’ so i guess i was wrong from the start. Very myopic of me
Well, there you go. Today you learned something new. But now your complaint makes more sense. If myopia didn’t have this definition, I’d say you would be right. I would have perceived it a bit too “book-literary.” Like if someone qualified computers as “whimsical,” I would be like “bruh…”
Because in this instance its just a little unusual but in some cases it feels like using synonyms is gatekeeping knowledge. I think it makes it less accessible for everyone with a language barrier and is good for entertainment but bad for communicating information. Also myopia is a clinical definition where short-sightedness is also metaphor so it makes this person sound like when jimmy neutron asked for the sodium chloride lol
The argument of gatekeeping knowledge by using synonyms is a very weak one. Using synonyms spreads knowledge because anyone who gets to learn it along the way becomes, well, more knowledgeable.
Maybe it can help learn like it did for me in this instance but i dont think its as accessible if you’re just trying to communicate basic information.
We use jargon at work to clients who ask too many questions, to stop them asking questions and just pay the invoice. Its an example haha
Hehe oh I understand that scenario. But jargon is different from synonyms of basic words.
Maybe I’m biased, because I learned the word myopia before shortsightedness. It’s even shorter and easier to pronounce! :)