As I have established in previous posts, the advanced levels (C1 and C2) are all about semantic nuances, connotations, lexical accuracy, etc. Indeed it is essential that an advanced student be aware of the differences that exist between, for example, the verbs going from and straying from.
The unvarnished truth, though, is that only a sophisticated thinker can handle sophisticated concepts and, needless to say, not every native speaker is (necessarily) what we would call a “sophisticated” individual (nothing wrong with that, btw) but, since this blog is all about language-related issues, we should center on actual words. So let's look at a concrete example.
The beloved Merriam Webster Dictionary states that the verb to spurn means to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to. In other words, it is a synonym of the more common alternatives to reject or to refuse. Of course, the difference lies in the "extra information". To spurn conveys the idea of rejecting something "with disdain". The Cambridge Dictionary is slightly more specific: to refuse to accept something or someone because you feel that thing or person is not worth having. So it means more than just refusing. You refuse something "because it is not worth having!". That is just a shade of meaning that sets those two words apart. Other words with a similar meaning are: balk (at something), deselect, disapprove, pass up, reprobate, repudiate, throw out, turn down. Does every native speaker know how to explain their differences in meaning or usage? I don't think so. And that’s something some teachers don't like to point out: many native speakers do not feel comfortable with very accurate vocabulary. According to some rough estimates, around 40% of the native speakers would pass a C2 exam.
The beloved Merriam Webster Dictionary states that the verb to spurn means to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to. In other words, it is a synonym of the more common alternatives to reject or to refuse. Of course, the difference lies in the "extra information". To spurn conveys the idea of rejecting something "with disdain". The Cambridge Dictionary is slightly more specific: to refuse to accept something or someone because you feel that thing or person is not worth having. So it means more than just refusing. You refuse something "because it is not worth having!". That is just a shade of meaning that sets those two words apart. Other words with a similar meaning are: balk (at something), deselect, disapprove, pass up, reprobate, repudiate, throw out, turn down. Does every native speaker know how to explain their differences in meaning or usage? I don't think so. And that’s something some teachers don't like to point out: many native speakers do not feel comfortable with very accurate vocabulary. According to some rough estimates, around 40% of the native speakers would pass a C2 exam.
In the video below, Stephen Colbert tells us how Ivanka Trump, famous for her poise and sophistication (also for being Donald Trump’s daughter), proves that she does not understand words like: complicit, otherwise or birthday. She also made improper use of the expression on a relative basis (!). At any rate, Colbert’s monolog is full of hilarious jokes (that might prove to be a tad too complex for a C1 student). Still, I believe you may get a kick out of some of them... Enjoy.
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