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I think that the author is doing it deliberately, to put the reader in the shoes of someone who has a hard time understanding some of the words, and reinforce h
by vova_hn2 2mo ago
I think that the author is doing it deliberately, to put the reader in the shoes of someone who has a hard time understanding some of the words, and reinforce his point.
As a non-native English speaker there are 4 words in this article that I had to look up, which is significantly higher than a typical article from HN frontpage (usually it's 0, occasionally 1).
If anyone curious, the words are: pellucid, fusillades, pram (idk, why I never heard it. I knew the word "stroller", of course, but I never thought about different kinds of strollers), octogenarian (this one I could have guessed from Latin roots and context, was lazy).
- hn_go_brrrrr 2mo agoPram is common in British English. I'm guessing you learned US English, which doesn't use it.
- KineticLensman 2mo agoYes, as slang for ‘perambulator’, which is basically ‘stroller’
- ninalanyon 2mo agoNot really a stroller is a pushchair. A pram is a kind of mobile bed for babies.
- KineticLensman 2mo agoFair enough. In my defence, I was coming at it etymologically, where (according to the OED), a perambulator is 'A person who walks or travels through or about a place' (hence 'walker') OR 'A carriage for a baby or young child, which may be pushed along by a person on foot. Now usually shortened to pram [...] a cradle mounted on four wheels'. So 'mobile bed' is a perfect description
- thaumasiotes 2mo agoThe word pram doesn't exist in American English, true, but you'll learn it anyway if you ever read Peter Pan.
- pm215 2mo agoThough even in the UK I think it has a slightly old fashioned feel -- I feel like parents are more likely to have a pushchair than a pram.
- pbhjpbhj 2mo agoMy understanding was that a pram is used for a younger child, they are laid flat. A pushchair/buggy for an older child, they sit. Language is often used incorrectly however. A ring-sling suited us better. I think the modern style is a multi-hundred pound (£) infant travel system. https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/baby-and-nursery/travel/travel-systems/c:29043/opt/page:1/sort:price/ https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/baby-and-nursery/travel/trave... - up to £1500 in this relatively down-market UK shop.
- ErrantX 2mo agoAs a native English speaker; pellucid was new to me. Fusillades specifically was unfamiliar but I inferred if from context and knowing fusilier.
- sltkr 2mo agoThere's also “lexiphanic” and “denuded” (uncommon but clear from context in this case).