Comments on: Little people use big words, big people just say whatever the hell they want to say. Because they’re big, yo?

By: Marie Matols

Marie Matols — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:06:56 +0000

I totally loved this… It truly tickled me. Being from the south I encounter folks all the time using $5 words…. when there is absolutley no reason for it…. I love to use “slang” southern words… My vocabulary base is pretty good. However,I choose NOT to use my $2 words…because I find it more fun to surprise people of my intelligence. Especially, when they use there words as a sign of their intellect. which in my opinion a lot of the time using “big” words is a sign of insecurity. I CAN PLAY DUMB even though I am very intelligent… lol

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:07:13 +0000

After reading that “ch” in chutzpah is silent (or “h” sounding) I had to go look it up because I’ve never pronounced it that way. Imagine my relief to learn it’s not silent. I don’t know what the linguistic notation is but the “ch” is similar to the “j” in spanish (and how I’d been pronouncing it). Have no idea how/where I learned it. I don’t feel all superior-like, closer to relieved after the reliving the memory of being told that “irregardless” isn’t a word. kwim?

By: mosi

mosi — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:02:58 +0000

It would have been nice if you gave the definition of “hootspha” or chuztpah…I think it means “balls” or guts???

By: Big Words, Little Impact « The sky’s the limit…

Big Words, Little Impact « The sky’s the limit… — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:34:17 +0000

[...] To read the entire article from Britt Raybould’s blog, Bold Words, click here. For a little fun reading regarding the use of big words, check out an old article from the Desperate Working Momma blog titled, “Little people use big words, big people just say whatever the hell they want to say. Because they’…” [...]

By: A Logophile PSA « Adventures in Divorce

A Logophile PSA « Adventures in Divorce — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:38:41 +0000

[...] audio pronunciation feature in case you actually ever want to use the word in conversation, and so THIS doesn’t happen to you. It’s all about educating yourself, loved ones, so don’t be afraid to use [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:35:00 +0000

I said lay-pells once for lapels (you know, like on a jacket). And another time I said, out of nowhere because I totally knew how to say it, “Pass the parm-ee-shan cheese”.

And you are awesome. Done.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:15:00 +0000

Salmon balls…

By: Circus Kelli

Circus Kelli — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:36:00 +0000

Oh, Cat… you had me at dipthong.

By: mrtl

mrtl — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:37:00 +0000

Bonus of being a middle school teacher is that most of the kids didn't know what the heck I was saying, anyway. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Remember to vote for Wave of Modulation for The Best of Blogs - Blog as Art starting January 10!

By: Nessa

Nessa — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 02:42:00 +0000

i pronounced it her-me-own (like with a long o sound at the end) – so i’m with you!!

By: Cat

Cat — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 22:17:00 +0000

OMG Ladybug! I always say "whores deVORS," too! I am not even kidding. I do! We totally rock. William, you hunted her down after the party and kicked her snooty ass, right? Right?! Gosh, Kalki, poignant's an EASY one! Poyg-nent! DUH!

By: kalki

kalki — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:39:00 +0000

That’s it – we’re officially the same person. When I was student teaching, the substitute teacher (who didn’t have a teaching degree, much less one in English) corrected my pronunciation of poignant. There have been many mortifying moments, both before and after that one.

Sometimes I stumble over words that I’m sure of, just because I’m worried I’m wrong. Which I’m not, but my lack of confidence makes me trip all over the word anyway. That’s the worst.

By: WILLIAM

WILLIAM — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:36:00 +0000

I so totally get this. Although I have no grasp on English, or vocab, or grammar, or anything else…but my best friend went to Yale, I was there visiting fo rthe first time and there were all these snobby educated kids there and I pronounced trilogy, TRY LOGY with the with the “O’ Sounding like “OH”. Like “here TRY this LOGY, it’s delicious”-
I will never forget the girl at this snooty party, she looks down her nose and says me, “DOn’t you mean trill-ogy” (you know pronounced the right way).And I said, “Well Whatever. I am an idiot (pronounced EYE DIE OT).” because I was trying to make a joke.

And she said. “Yes. You are.” And she walked away. Bitch.

Thanks for letting me vent.

By: LadyBug

LadyBug — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:17:00 +0000

I totally pronounced it “HER-me-on-ee” until I saw the movie.

I love you and your hootspah, Cat.

Oh, and P.S. I always, always pronounce hors d’oeuvres, “whores deVORS” when I read it. (And yes, I DID have to check dictionary.com for the correct spelling.)