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January 23, 2005
latinate
synonyms, for the most part, do not annoy me. we have them for several reasons: because english has acquired words with similar meanings from multiple languages, or because words initially meaning different things have been used, metaphorically or otherwise, in ways that have caused one or more of their meanings to slide together until they're predominantly interchangeable. we tend to like having lots of words. i'm especially fond of them when i'm writing, because i notice the rhythm of phrases and sentences, i notice when consonance and assonance is working and should be emphasized, or is detracting and ought to be avoided, and having other handy words that mean close-enough-to the same thing but sound different makes more play possible. when, as in this case, though, you have a set that are almost entirely homonymous, sharing the same meter, beginning-sound, ending-sound, emphasis, and most of their spelling, the purpose of maintaining all three of them begins to elude me.
this ramble sponsored by louise rosenblatt's use of "abnegate," my geeky obsession with & thoroughly naïve knowledge of linguistics & etymology, dictionary.com, &, of course, the letter "a."
(x-posted to lj)
Posted by ttobryan at January 23, 2005 02:39 PM