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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1 |
Is there a term to describe the practice of using a universally-familiar word alongside one that might not be so well-known, to 'coach' the reader into absorbing the meaning of the less-familiar word by association -- as in today's quote?
"It's the 1300s, and plague and pestilence have left those still alive in sour, dyspeptic moods."
Steven Rea; Sir Knight Nicolas in a 1300s Slog; Philadelphia Inquirer; Jan 8, 2011.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 |
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724 |
Is that an "ok" thing to do or not? If you are making the writing more reader friendly, you hide the "coaching" as multiple adjectives. Is it better to substitute the difficult word with a simpler word rather than coach?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 |
Multiple adjectives certainly can complicate things, I
think the situation would demand the single or duplicate
adjective. Classrooms, for instance.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
I know this is dodging your question, but I don't think that's what is going on here. I don't see these words as strictly synonymous: each carries its own connotative baggage, and the use of both gives a rhythm and impact that either alone would lack. Granted, there are circumstances, as Luke suggests, where coaching may be a valid technique. In general, the writer should gauge the intended readership and choose accordingly [he said haughtily].
I don't know of an established term for what you describe, but I think that coaching works very well.
Peter
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 |
As a teacher I would do that:
use a word, synonym for what I wanted, but not the exact
word. And then the student would grasp it, say the
correct word "Proudly", and I'd compliment him/her for
doing exactly what I wanted, and getting the correct
answer. Built them up in the process.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
HEY! Up until this minute, I missed the fact that you're in KY! Cool!
I don't know the answer to your question; sorry.
Somewhat related to a later post: last night, this evening, and tomorrow night the game show Jeopardy is featuring its two best human players against a specially-developed computer. Its technicians said that understanding language has proven to be unattainable by computers so far--which is the main reason they were so eager for this match-up. Here's what the notice I got about it said: "Jeopardy requires the players to suss out the subtleties of language, from jokes and puns to irony and anagrams."
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 |
Watson, the computer, has been doing an outstanding job,
if anyone has watched it. But the computer part is
less than satisfying for an old Jeopardy fan like myself.
Ken and Brad are way behind in money. Wednesday is the
last day of the competition.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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