Most advocates of clear, simple writing recommend that an author avoid Latinates–longer words drawn from Latin that end in -zation, or -tion, or -ize–and employ the Anglo-Saxon instead. Lie instead of prevarication; kill instead of termination; use instead of utilization. George Orwell cautions against Latinates in his essay “Politics and the English Language”; Strunk & White fall in the keep-it-short Anglo camp as well.
So it was interesting to come across this quote the other day from translator and poet Robert Fitzgerald: “In fact, eloquence in English will inevitably make use of the Latin element in our vocabulary.”
Yes, writers should “make use of the Latin element,” but sparingly, and only when it fits the tone or cadence of their prose. Latinates should be thought of as a condiment, not a main course.
Why? Consider one example, that of repetition (ah, a Latinate!). Repetition is a marvelous tool for the writer in English. Consider the King James Bible: filled with simple, lyrical language, repeating and echoing in our minds. Latinates, because of their multisyllabic weight, often sound officious or bloated when repeated.
Consider also how little we actually use Latinates when we talk about the essentials in our lives. Short and sweet words. Love. Kiss. Work. Feel. Drink. Friend. Go. Run. Laugh.
Got it?
Writing; Latinates; Robert Fitzgerald; George Orwell
Copyright © 2006 J. Flanders
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2 Comments
December 2, 2008 at 12:14 pm
family is a latinate as well.
December 12, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Dear Daniel,
You are right! So I’m substituting “friend,” an Old English word, for “family.”
JF