I actually really like this, flowery language is used to “I’m 14 and this is deep”-ify simple concepts. Language is for communication, I wish it was used that way more.
If you are communicating visions, emotions, feelings and other mental images then flowery is exactly what you need.
I don’t agree, you can be explicit and simple while still communicating complex ideas- but it is a difficult skill. And an emotion is a generally a pretty complex idea.
I do agree that creative writing can be fun (honestly more for the reader than the writer, most of what I write on here was probably more fun for me to write than for anyone to read), but it is still just entertainment and not some sacred art form. I’ll cope next time I hear someone describe some as “X gold”. No, lithium isn’t white gold, it’s just an in-demand resource. Just say it’s valuable if you want to. Analogizing something to gold isn’t creative, it’s an overdone trope.
Thankfully it’s obvious from your comment that you are deeply familiar with the canonical works of world literature, otherwise one might think that you were denouncing thousands of years of linguistic artistry without any real knowledge or insight into the subject.
one might think that you were denouncing thousands of years of linguistic artistry without any real knowledge or insight into the subject.
Whoever would think that is correct. I don’t value “art” as anything higher than other forms of entertainment, and there are trends in some entertainment I don’t like. Of course some people is free to like them
Not really. My point is, it’s very easy to dismiss something you have no knowledge or experience of. And I try to avoid doing that because it just contributes to the noise (I’m sure I don’t always succeed). But I don’t think it’s a good thing if reading comprehension and general language skills decrease in general, do you? Do you think people think more clearly, are able to argue their case better or identify disinformation more accurately if they don’t know as many words or how to use them?
My point is, it’s very easy to dismiss something you have no knowledge or experience of.
I didn’t say I have no knowledge or experience, I said I have no expertise in it. I’ve read some of Thoreau, Of Mice And Men, Lord of Flies, etc other “classics”. I’m not an expert in movies but I can say what I don’t like, and trends I don’t like.
But I don’t think it’s a good thing if reading comprehension and general language skills decrease in general, do you?
I would prefer if English evolved to be as simple as possible, as has been the trend. (English used to have grammatical gender you know.) I would also appreciate more spelling reform(like Webster pushed for), and it is working. You see more people saying “u”, “luv”, and “kno” everyday.
Do you think people think more clearly, are able to argue their case better or identify disinformation more accurately if they don’t know as many words or how to use them?
We can test this, because some languages have more complex grammar rules and more words than others. But you should note, language is not a prerequisite for complex thought. And, different languages when spoke tend to convey information at roughly the same rate. Which indicates that the ability to conceptualize things(including complex things) is relatively independent from the language you “think in”. At a pretty basic level, if you speak a language that tends to use a base-10 system, than doing math in base-10 is more familiar, but that may just be because base-10 numbers are themselves a component of language.
Languages evolve based on whats needed, if someone is an adult and doesn’t know a word, it is probably not particularly valuable to them- and has nothing to do with their ability for complex thought. Just like languages with fewer words(or many words made up of simpler components, like Chinese) don’t limit someones ability for complex thought, it just means they’d express it a different way. For example, “hamburger” vs “beef patty sandwich”- not knowing the word hamburger says nothing about your ability to understand and think about the concept.
I actually really like this, flowery language is used to “I’m 14 and this is deep”-ify simple concepts. Language is for communication, I wish it was used that way more.
If you are communicating facts and instructions, I agree.
If you are communicating visions, emotions, feelings and other mental images then flowery is exactly what you need.
Imagine how thin lord of the rings would be without flowery words.
I don’t agree, you can be explicit and simple while still communicating complex ideas- but it is a difficult skill. And an emotion is a generally a pretty complex idea.
I do agree that creative writing can be fun (honestly more for the reader than the writer, most of what I write on here was probably more fun for me to write than for anyone to read), but it is still just entertainment and not some sacred art form. I’ll cope next time I hear someone describe some as “X gold”. No, lithium isn’t white gold, it’s just an in-demand resource. Just say it’s valuable if you want to. Analogizing something to gold isn’t creative, it’s an overdone trope.
Thankfully it’s obvious from your comment that you are deeply familiar with the canonical works of world literature, otherwise one might think that you were denouncing thousands of years of linguistic artistry without any real knowledge or insight into the subject.
Whoever would think that is correct. I don’t value “art” as anything higher than other forms of entertainment, and there are trends in some entertainment I don’t like. Of course some people is free to like them
I see. And why should we care about your uninformed opinion?
You don’t have to. But I do wonder if you do value uniformed opinions you agree with it.
Not really. My point is, it’s very easy to dismiss something you have no knowledge or experience of. And I try to avoid doing that because it just contributes to the noise (I’m sure I don’t always succeed). But I don’t think it’s a good thing if reading comprehension and general language skills decrease in general, do you? Do you think people think more clearly, are able to argue their case better or identify disinformation more accurately if they don’t know as many words or how to use them?
I didn’t say I have no knowledge or experience, I said I have no expertise in it. I’ve read some of Thoreau, Of Mice And Men, Lord of Flies, etc other “classics”. I’m not an expert in movies but I can say what I don’t like, and trends I don’t like.
I would prefer if English evolved to be as simple as possible, as has been the trend. (English used to have grammatical gender you know.) I would also appreciate more spelling reform(like Webster pushed for), and it is working. You see more people saying “u”, “luv”, and “kno” everyday.
We can test this, because some languages have more complex grammar rules and more words than others. But you should note, language is not a prerequisite for complex thought. And, different languages when spoke tend to convey information at roughly the same rate. Which indicates that the ability to conceptualize things(including complex things) is relatively independent from the language you “think in”. At a pretty basic level, if you speak a language that tends to use a base-10 system, than doing math in base-10 is more familiar, but that may just be because base-10 numbers are themselves a component of language.
Languages evolve based on whats needed, if someone is an adult and doesn’t know a word, it is probably not particularly valuable to them- and has nothing to do with their ability for complex thought. Just like languages with fewer words(or many words made up of simpler components, like Chinese) don’t limit someones ability for complex thought, it just means they’d express it a different way. For example, “hamburger” vs “beef patty sandwich”- not knowing the word hamburger says nothing about your ability to understand and think about the concept.
Your choice to care or not, I generally value the input of others- but it’s your life