Have you ever encountered a word so long and complicated it felt like a challenge just to pronounce it? Or perhaps you’ve come across writing that seems intentionally filled with unnecessarily lengthy words? If so, you’ve likely stumbled upon the literary device known as sesquipedalianism, the practice of using long words. The adjective form is, naturally, sesquipedalian.
What Does Sesquipedalian Mean?
At its core, sesquipedalian (pronounced ses-kwi-peh-DAY-lee-uhn) describes words that are characteristically long. It implies an ostentatious or affected use of these lengthy words, often for humorous or rhetorical effect. The word itself comes from the Latin sesqui (one and a half) and ped (foot), literally meaning “one and a half feet long.” It’s a wonderfully ironic etymology, given the word describes long words.
Simply put, a sesquipedalian word is a long word. A sesquipedalian style is the use of many such words.
Simple Examples of Sesquipedalian Words
- Antidisestablishmentarianism: Opposition to the disestablishment of a state church.
- Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis: A lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silica dust. (Often cited as the longest word in English dictionaries)
- Floccinaucinihilipilification: The estimation of something as worthless.
These examples demonstrate the extreme end of the spectrum, but even moderately long words, when used deliberately and conspicuously, can contribute to a sesquipedalian style.
The Purpose of Sesquipedalianism in Writing
Why would an author deliberately use such long words? It’s rarely about clarity. Instead, sesquipedalianism often serves several specific functions:
- Humor: Long words can be inherently funny, especially when used in unexpected or absurd contexts.
- Characterization: A character who speaks in a sesquipedalian manner can be portrayed as pedantic, pretentious, or highly educated.
- Emphasis: The sheer length of a word can draw attention to it, emphasizing its importance (or the author’s desire to appear sophisticated).
- Satire: Authors can use sesquipedalianism to mock the use of complex language or to critique those who affect a scholarly air.
- Creating a Specific Tone: A sesquipedalian style can create a formal, archaic, or deliberately convoluted tone.
Exploring Sesquipedalianism Through Examples
Let’s delve into more detailed examples to illustrate how this device operates within texts.
Example 1: Mocking Bureaucracy
Consider this fictional sentence: “The procrustean regulations of the municipal authority rendered the implementation of the project utterly impossibilistic.” Here, “procrustean” (imposing uniformity regardless of natural shape) and “impossibilistic” (making something impossible) aren’t necessary to convey the meaning. Simpler language would suffice. The author uses these lengthy words to satirize the overly complex and inflexible nature of bureaucracy. The effect isn’t to enlighten, but to ridicule.
Example 2: Establishing Character
Imagine a character described as follows: “Professor Eldridge, a man of prodigious intellect and equally prodigious verbosity, launched into a circumlocutory explanation of the theorem, replete with esoteric allusions and hypercalifragilisticexpialidocious pronouncements.” The words “circumlocutory” (using many words where fewer would do), “esoteric” (intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest), and even the famously long “hypercalifragilisticexpialidocious” aren’t chosen for their precision. They are chosen to establish the professor as a verbose and possibly pretentious character.
Example 3: Creating an Archaic Tone
“The superfluousness of his pronouncements and the obsequiousness of his demeanor were most displeasing to Her Majesty.” This sentence, evoking a bygone era, utilizes less common, longer words (“superfluousness” and “obsequiousness”) to create a formal, archaic tone. The goal isn’t to be modern and direct, but to suggest a different time and manner of speaking.
Example 4: Highlighting Intellectual Pretension
“He attempted to intellectualize his base instincts, cloaking them in a veneer of sophistication and ratiocination.” Here, while all three words are legitimate, their deliberate use suggests the character is trying too hard to appear intelligent, perhaps to mask a lack of genuine substance. The words become a tool to reveal character flaw.
Distinguishing Sesquipedalianism from Mere Vocabulary
It’s important to distinguish between a large vocabulary and a sesquipedalian style. A writer with a broad vocabulary might choose the most precise word, even if it’s long, for clarity. Sesquipedalianism, however, involves a conspicuous and often unnecessary use of long words, emphasizing their length over their clarity or necessity.
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Large Vocabulary
Choosing “ubiquitous” because it’s the most accurate term for “present everywhere.” |
Sesquipedalianism
Using “ubiquitous” instead of “everywhere” simply to sound sophisticated, even if it doesn’t add to the meaning. |
The Nuances of Effective Use
While often associated with pretension, sesquipedalianism isn’t inherently bad. When used skillfully, it can be a powerful literary tool. However, it requires a delicate touch. Overuse can make writing cumbersome and difficult to understand. Effective sesquipedalianism is often employed sparingly, for a specific purpose and with a clear understanding of its potential effects.
Ultimately, understanding sesquipedalianism allows you to not only recognize it when you encounter it but also to appreciate the author’s intention and the stylistic effect they are trying to achieve. It’s a reminder that language is not just about conveying information but also about shaping perception and creating impact.