The inadequacy of words becomes most apparent when the writer tries to express ideas and feelings that are deep and thoughtful, that touch the most intense human emotions and profound values.

At the time, words to express exactly what the author wants to convey become difficult to choose because the denotations and connotations of the words interferes with the feelings or ideas to be described, explained, or illustrated.

That is when words lack the intensity, the power, and the rigor that the author wishes to convey. That is when the writer struggles to find the right words, the precise words, and the exact words and yet cannot find them because that is the inadequacy of vocabulary.

Since the correct word cannot be found, often the author resorts to the obscure, the ambiguous, and the little know, the academic, or scholarly word to give the appearance of erudition, but which, in effect, does just the opposite. It clouds the meaning to be conveyed rather than clarify it.

Simplicity is the key. Simple word tend to be more exact, more understood, and with greater common denotations and connotations. Although inadequate, they are superior to the pretentious, elaborate, the coy and the cute as Strunk and White tell us.

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature so he writes historical novels, most based on Canadian history. He may be contacted at:

E-mail: go1c@telusplanet.net

Website: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c

Blog: http://go1c.blogspot.com

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