(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

I've read (from a dated source, mind) that our recognition vocabularies are about thrice as large as our functional vocabularies. In other words, you understand a lot more words than you ever say or write. It's pretty rare for me to think of a word that has thus far been part only of my recognition vocabulary. It's rarer still for me to think of such a word that's actually quite broadly familiar in America. But I have one such word in mind: "unforgettable."

Yes, I just used it. I've used it in quotes, especially from Nat King Cole. Doesn't count for my independent usage.

A likely reason: I hate it. Seems to me that nothing is truly unforgettable. "Memorable" is fine, but "unforgettable" implies no exceptions. My memory system doesn't have the same priorities as most. I feel embarrassed when somebody calls something "unforgettable," like the last line of Chinatown, and I've completely forgotten it. It's like failing at a foolproof method.

...
In truth, I'm not that worked up over the matter. It is trivial, like so many of my language concerns. I just thought it was worth throwing out there.

Comments

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

I'm getting that impression from the latest Steven R. Donaldson novel. It seems like in every sentence, he's using words that will never, ever come out of my mouth, like "puissance". I know what the words mean, but I generally don't speak a word unless I'm fairly certain my audience will know what it means, so that limits my speaking vocabulary to a considerable extent.

[thatcatgirl.livejournal.com]

Than you ever say or write, huh? Although I'm hard put to come up with them off the top of my head, I know there are at least a good few. (I can remember the experience of having one move from that category to "words I have used at least once, but not much more", but don't remember exactly what even.) But, the number I rarely use, but know is a great deal larger than the number I use on any sort of regular basis. Don't know how much, but three times as many sounds quite small.