Those usage and style books always say to use words from Anglo-Saxon origin rather than latin derived words. Why is that? The first thing that comes to mind, and I’m speaking somewhat out my arse, is that latin root words often sound pretentious. What’s the real reason, and would you mind citing some examples? Thanks alot…KC
The Latin derivation of most English comes from the Norman period, and represents the assimilation of the Norman tongue, that of the ruling class, by the common tongue, which at the time was Old English, or Anglo-Saxon. The language of scholars of the period was Church Latin. To sound more urbane, the practice of using French and Latin words and phrases became common, and remained common for most of the second millennium. In the popularly democratic republics of the twentieth century greater honor was accorded to the vulgarities of common speech, and the practice was soon labeled pretentious.
Pretension is in the ear of the pretender. Using Anglo-Saxon words to express oneself is no more inherently clear or understandable than doing so in Urdu, unless the audience speaks Urdu. Quoting Attic Greek to a steamfitters union meaning isn’t pretentious, it’s stupid. But addressing a literary club discussion group studying romantic period poetry is certainly an appropriate venue for using Latin derived words, or even Attic Greek.
What the style Nazis really want to get across is “speak plainly.” Small words and simple syntax make for clear statements of ideas. Anglo-Saxon words are the plainest for many mundane matters; we walk, talk, sleep, and fuck in Anglo-Saxon. Of course we really don’t talk about those things all that much, and write of them even less often. But perambulation, conversation, somnolence, and fornication do not convey the same verbal message. If you mean a fire, call it a fire, and save immolation for more specific use.
Do not fear the Latin origins of English, for nearly half our vocabulary comes from Latin.
Tris
“If a person feels he can’t communicate, the least he can do is shut up about it.” ~ Tom Lehrer ~
Thanks Trisk, good answer.