General Question

Your_Majesty's avatar

Will different kind of ‘words of the same purpose’ have different outcome in a sentence?

Asked by Your_Majesty (8235points) August 21st, 2011

Sometimes we’ll come across a sentence where it’s written in different fashion than the ones we used to know, and it could also be suspected that such combinations of unusual words have the same purpose with its more common version.

Examples:
(Common version)
1. She will return to her home to do her personal affairs. Before that she wants to sniff the smell of a flower so she stops by a florist. On the way to her home she feels so hungry because of her depression problems so she buys some sandwiches along with some soft breads from an old man that runs a vendor. The man speaks some French that beyond her understanding so she feels confused for a moment. She sees a mouse is running below her feet so she spontaneously screams out loud. Eventually, her strength is seeping away from her body, she feels weak for a while and pass out.

(Another version)
2. She shall go back to her home to tend own business. Before that she intents to smell the fragrance of a flower so she drops by a florist. On her journey to her home she feels so famished due to her stress issues so she purchases some sandwiches along with some smooth breads from an elderly man that operates a vendor. The man says some French that beyond her comprehension so she feels puzzled for a moment. She witnesses a rat is rushing under her feet so she automatically yells out loud. In the end, her power is ebbing away from her body, She feels fragile for a while and faint.

I must apologize if I made some mistakes in my examples, I’ve tried my best to compose what I meant to say. So, if we compare example 1 with 2, do you think it will make any differences? Will both examples still serve the same purpose?

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6 Answers

marinelife's avatar

Yes, in the case you described, they do. However, they do not always say the same thing.

For one thing, word choices can make a scene more evocative.

For another, word choices can make a paragraph stronger.

I am afraid that your example suffers from English being your second language.

Jaxk's avatar

The difference is the imagery. A good writer will use words that create the image they want you to envision. Even though the events may be eactly the same.

wundayatta's avatar

It’s called style, and it can make an enormous difference. Try having Hemingway and Faulkner describe the same scene. You’d see right away. Anyone who even knows merely the reputation of these authors can intuitively guess how those descriptions will differ.

Hemingway have a very straightforward, businesslike tone. You’ll see things bright and clearly. He’ll dispose of the matter and move on in an instant.

Faulkner with take his time in describing the scene at leisure. There might be many more details. Where Hemingway will be frugal with his language, Faulkner will act as if language was so much gold, he needed to try hard to spend it if he hoped to get through even a small amount of it.

Two completely different feelings will emerge from the different author’s pens, but the thing they describe will be exactly the same. Word choice and syntax make an enormous difference.

linguaphile's avatar

We use different tones and styles for different purposes.

If we wanted to come across as friendly and upbeat, we would use one style. If we wanted to seem professional, a different tone. Most people use very few tones (personal, formal, angry, conversational) but some writers actually practice and expand their ability to share many different tones/styles in their writing (lyrical, cold, wooden, lofty, academic, childlike, etc etc) All have different connotations.

JLeslie's avatar

They serve the same purpose but each speaks to a difference audience. The second example uses words that the average American may not commonly use. Shall, journey, fragile, words used by someone speaking to people with a more advanced education probably. The second paragraph seems more descriptive.

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