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View Full Version : Intelligence...judged by grammar and vocabulary?



Markass
11-28-2007, 03:06 AM
Is it wrong to judge an individual's overall intelligence based primarily on their grammar and vocabulary? I mean, isn't that the basic indicator?? I know it's only a part of overall knowledge, but to me for some reason it really seems to say a lot depending on how well someone can spell and speak..

thoughts, anyone?:stoned:

greenhorngrower
11-28-2007, 03:10 AM
It is the most basic indicator of an educated person.. but education and potential intelligence are two different things.. many people can solve sophisticated mathematical equations in their head, but cannot spell if thier lives depended on it.. and so goes the opposite..

Markass
11-28-2007, 03:16 AM
hmm...this is why I wanted to post this...good way of looking at it...

DaZeDShAdOw
11-28-2007, 03:27 AM
A lot of geniuses have a lot of speech impairments, I would think that it would not be a good way of telling if you are educated, or have intelligence. More like ignorance to the person that judges. But that's just my opinion.

WEsmokeED
11-28-2007, 03:32 AM
Intelligence should be based on the ideas contained within a persons' words.
Not how these words are spelled.

DaZeDShAdOw
11-28-2007, 03:34 AM
Agreed, wesmokeed.

Markass
11-28-2007, 03:39 AM
but how I compare spelling and intelligence is moreso I guess the ability to be able to read through an article of something and be able to understand it without wondering what those 'big' words mean...those big words being things like reputable, scrutiny, malicious, resistant...when someone twice my age asks me what those words mean, it kinda draws a flag to me for some reason..

snowblind
11-28-2007, 03:56 AM
i think in written it is slightly different as there is a chance to look back on it, correct words, alter grammar and structure. but all this does contribute to the presentation of someones intelligence. whilst its true you shouldn't judge a book by its cover as it were, if it looks like a book, smells like a book and can be read, it probably is a book.

i think it is more important though in spoken words, its ok if your hanging out with your mates as most groups have there own language or adjectives for certain things. but often people can apper to me completely stupid by the way they talk, anunciate and the colloquialisms they use.

i judge people all the time on how they speak.

if your a retard and you give me any prove of this ill tear you to pieces for it.

i hate stupid people. uneducated is fine aslong as you have common sense. stupid is unforgivable.

my 2 cents though

greenhorngrower
11-28-2007, 04:06 AM
i hate stupid people. uneducated is fine aslong as you have common sense. stupid is unforgivable.

my 2 cents though

no offense snowblind, but that in it self, is a stupid comment...

j4k3z
11-28-2007, 06:35 AM
I was going to type a response but this sums it up for me:


Intelligence should be based on the ideas contained within a persons' words.
Not how these words are spelled.

Sometimes people can get pretty wild with their posts (newbies) and I either think english obviously isn't their first language or they don't understand that ghetto slang doesn't make it's way onto the internet lol. But I always try to understand every post at least and base their intelligence on what their trying to say..

birdgirl73
11-28-2007, 06:40 AM
I see people's grammar and vocabulary as more of a statement of their level of education than their native intelligence, really. There are plenty of very smart people who don't have much formal educational training. Just as there are some really dumb ones who do. I think many of us probably do judge people's intelligence based on superficial things like grammar, spelling and vocabulary, but I'm not at all sure that's a fair judgment to make.

Gandalf_The_Grey
11-28-2007, 06:44 AM
I've always had a firm grasp of vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation and don't have much education in the field. I think it is an indicator of one type of intelligence, but I also think the original question is flawed because there's really no such thing as a singular "intelligence". There's many, many types of intelligences, different "muscles" in the brain; some stronger than the other. I never liked the idea of an "IQ" for this very reason.

CultureCherryPopper
11-28-2007, 06:51 AM
I think it is a good way to begin to assess someone's intelligence. Language use is the basis of education today. What good is it to have the best idea ever if you cannot convey it into words? I find for the most part that you can judge someone's intelligence by their speech, except when people post here blitzed out of their skulls. However, it is true that there are some people that are gifted in others areas of intelligence, and that is why I only use those early language judgments as a litmus test until I can truly absorb that person's ideas and make my final decision. I suppose I should say though that I am typically one to judge early, and often.

beachguy in thongs
11-28-2007, 07:04 AM
If I had judged by this method, alone, I would not be living with a great cook. It just so happened to be that the person, with the poor spelling and grammar, will willingly call herself stupid as a result of slower-learning classes.

HinduKushIndica
11-28-2007, 07:14 AM
of course. language holds the universe together. everything and anything comes from language. nubmers are right there too. :hippy:

beachguy in thongs
11-28-2007, 07:15 AM
I know. It kind of pisses me off when I have to stop and correct the writer.

Breukelen advocaat
11-28-2007, 07:20 AM
Language, no matter how skilled the writer, thinker or speaker may be, is not refined enough to enable the putting into words of everything. At best, it only touches on many ideas, feelings and emotions. This is why disciplines like the fine arts are important. Artistic talent can't be measured by IQ, or any other, tests. This is not to say that language skills are unnecessary. Good writing is an art, as well as a means of communication.

HinduKushIndica
11-28-2007, 07:27 AM
Language, no matter how skilled the writer, thinker or speaker may be, is not refined enough to enable the putting into words of everything. At best, it only touches on many ideas, feelings and emotions. This is why disciplines like the fine arts are important. Artistic talent can't be measured by IQ, or any other, tests. This is not to say that language skills are unnecessary. Good writing is an art, as well as a means of communication.

Pass me some of that she it! great post mate. :rastasmoke:

CultureCherryPopper
11-28-2007, 07:42 AM
What's to say that someone with an amazing gift for words couldn't put into words an artist's ideas better than the artist could? Is it not the point of most art to convey an idea or expression? And if the art is purely to evoke emotion, it is almost impossible to convey an emotion in art that you could not put into words with a skilled hand. I think you put too little faith in the power of language and how it can be woven into intricate and amazing ideas. If it were not for language, civilization would never have developed or flourished, and is the essential mortar keeping it together because it keeps us all connected.

zero0ne
11-28-2007, 07:51 AM
mathematics is the ONLY universal language.

Breukelen advocaat
11-28-2007, 07:52 AM
I certainly consider writing, as a means of artistic expression, just as valid as the other arts. Depending on the medium, what the artist is trying to convey, and the audience' perceptions, how much can get through varies. It can't be done universally, or at least it hasn't yet - but what many of them do is very commendable and worthwhile.

CultureCherryPopper
11-28-2007, 07:52 AM
And it's still a language....

S.R.H.~BUDSMOKER~S.G
11-28-2007, 07:57 AM
correction geometry is the only universal lanuage im trying to be a mason gotta waite another year

CultureCherryPopper
11-28-2007, 08:03 AM
Um, geometry....? I don't see how that trumps math as the universal language because it seems to me that geometry is merely an extension of mathematics, but you are studying to be a Mason, so maybe you could explain at least a little bit more. I've thought looking into the masons because several of my fraternity brothers are members.

HinduKushIndica
11-28-2007, 08:37 AM
Um, geometry....? I don't see how that trumps math as the universal language because it seems to me that geometry is merely an extension of mathematics, but you are studying to be a Mason, so maybe you could explain at least a little bit more. I've thought looking into the masons because several of my fraternity brothers are members.

geometry can be seen in nature and all around you. you can look in a forest and find a circle, you can't find a 4 or a 7 unless you meditate on that.

CultureCherryPopper
11-28-2007, 08:50 AM
Right, but we're talking about mathematics as a means to convey an idea from one to another. Everything in our known world can be put into mathematical terms. Perhaps the only thing that can't be into mathematical "words" is the range of human emotion. But everything else is fair game.

beachguy in thongs
11-28-2007, 10:49 AM
Perhaps the only thing that can't be into mathematical "words" is the range of human emotion.

I wake up at 80% and decrease until herb puts me at 120%. All my other emotions start from those points.

Nation_1ne
11-28-2007, 11:23 AM
Brilliant thread idea, there are some really nice debates going on here.

cm8883
11-28-2007, 11:25 AM
I think the grammar/spelling thing may just come down to what subjects held your interest when you were younger. I can write anything pretty well, and I actually love doing research papers. However, I have terrible trouble with basic algebra, and I only passed geometry in high school because the teacher felt sorry for me.

Nation_1ne
11-28-2007, 11:32 AM
I think the grammar/spelling thing may just come down to what subjects held your interest when you were younger. I can write anything pretty well, and I actually love doing research papers. However, I have terrible trouble with basic algebra, and I only passed geometry in high school because the teacher felt sorry for me.

I absolutely love writing, yet sadly I'm pretty crap at it.

slipknotpsycho
11-28-2007, 12:05 PM
spelling, yes (unless of course it's things like ez, cuz, etc etc) grammar? no... take me for example, i very well know correct grammar.. i'm just too lazy to use it.

beachguy in thongs
11-28-2007, 12:15 PM
It just makes more sense to put it all together and keep the fluidity going.

mashleylad27
11-28-2007, 12:51 PM
if intelligence is grammer and vocab, surely a lot of todays youth are doomed by email, instant messaging and texts. How many people do you know who call text messages 'tex' or the plural 'texes'?? is 'texts' to hard to say or something?

surely, being able to get your ideas across and understood shows more intelligence than spouting (and spelling) large words.

There has to be more to intelligence. check out IQ and EQ

Emotional Intelligence (EI), often measured as an Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ), describes an ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one's self, of others, and of groups. As a relatively new area of psychological research, the definition of EI is constantly changing.

jagarr
11-28-2007, 02:47 PM
i type moderately shitty on internet message boards on purpose. for some reason i have this strange fixation with capitalization and perfect grammar online... every post i read that looks like someone had it proof-read just comes off sounding really arrogant in my head. especially if it is a little arrogant. but i suppose you could say the same for my sloppy looking bullshit, im sure its just as annoying to others if not moreso.

maybe i should see a shrink about it?

fasterspider
11-28-2007, 03:22 PM
I passed my 12th grade English class with an A+ which gave me my diploma.
To get that A+ I had to attend summer school because I attendance failed the regular class 17 days before graduation.
My teacher, a former catholic priest turned English teacher and most likely child molestor kicked me out of his class because he said I was late 163 times. What is funny about that class is I aced every test or quiz I ever took in his class but, failed anyway because I was not sitting in my chair as the bell rang. Technicalities:(
A guy had to finish getting high before class started for the day and English class was 1st period.
I sit here and proof read my post before hitting the submit button to make sure I spelled everything correctly, crossed all my t's and dotted all of my i's.
I look stupid enough with the content of my post's and do not need to look even more stupid by mis-spelling words or using poor grammar.

SimplyMee
11-28-2007, 04:26 PM
Ding Dang Y'all.......

Innominate
11-28-2007, 05:01 PM
Adequate vocabulary and grammer use only makes verbal communication more effective, as opposed to struggling with words incoherently.

I don't believe better communicators are more intelligent, but valued highly because people need someone that has extensive understanding for communication, the most important human aspect of our lives.

burnable
11-28-2007, 08:13 PM
To me, intelligence is not measured by an ability to do certain academic tasks, it is marked by the net awareness of a person. The ability to transmute what is perceived into language that can simultaneously be understood and elevate others is also a great indicator of intelligence. It's obvious that there are those in the world that either by choice or circumstances, have serious mental limitations. Those types are doubly infuriating when they are either proud of their oblivion or they change the subject or are otherwise dismissive when the topic of personal intellect is at hand. Or when they use your intellect to deride you, thinking that a heightened ability to speak and perceive is somehow 'faggy'. I think they grope for anything that will make them feel better than you.

The intrinsic ideas contained in a text indicate intelligence. the choice of words and manner of phrasing is an art. I always strive to be prolific in both.

I think we ought to have patience with those who struggle to write coherently online. We're slowly extricating ourselves from the destructive TV age. The internet is a new flagship for balanced interaction and unfiltered information. If we encourage those with language deficiencies to continue writing online, they will get better, and they will see the way other people write online. It's tempting to dismiss someone because it takes 3x the effort just to get through their crappy typing, but if we receive them well and don't treat them like an outsider, it helps them get to the point where they can type with precision and ease. hopefully

thcbongman
11-28-2007, 11:40 PM
You can judge organizational intelligence by grammar and vocabulary.

Think about it. Someone can use perfect grammar, and knows a lot of words. If the person doesn't effectively deliver their points, vast knowledge in these two areas are useless. None the less, it only indicates that the person is an effective communicator. It's not a full grasp on total intelligence.

burnable
11-28-2007, 11:50 PM
^nonetheless, no one can really overstate the importance of good communication. most conflicts in common life come about due to poor communication. Many international conflicts are caused or compounded by poor communication. Good productivity in virtually all endeavors is dependent on communication. If there is power in numbers, there is an invincibility in a group that has perfect communication. Depending on how you define intelligence, communication seems to create more of it.

snowblind
11-29-2007, 12:01 AM
no offense snowblind, but that in it self, is a stupid comment...

how so ?

it may be offensive, but it is differenting that whilst people can be uneducated, they are not nessecerily stupid. where are stupid is unforgivable, in that it can be changed. there is no excuse, education comes in a mass of forms. to ignore all and remain stupid is unforgivable

thcbongman
11-29-2007, 12:04 AM
Indeed communication is important to have thoughts deciphered by others coherently. However I don't think intelligence is such a clear-and-cut subject based on how effectively communicates. Someone could ineffectively communicate, but could do advanced calculus from his head. Someone who builds machines. One who is analytical in nature. I liken it to a window. You see a glimpse, but you don't see everything in the room.

snowblind
11-29-2007, 12:08 AM
on another note one of the reasons i got fired from a job was that over the company im, i used internet speak and my team leader couldnt understand it and was too pround to ask what it meant.

in intelligence, it is widely regarded that there are 7 types of intelligence. these are;

1. Linguistic

Enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.

2. Logical-Mathematical

Interested in patterns, categories and relationships. Drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.

3. Bodily-kinesthetic

Process knowledge through bodily sensations. Often athletic, dancers or good at crafts such as sewing or woodworking

4. Spatial

Think in images and pictures. May be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing, building things or daydreaming.

5. Musical

Often singing or drumming to themselves. Usually quite aware of sounds others may miss. Often discriminating listeners.

6. Interpersonal

Leaders among their peers, who are good at communicating and who seem to understand others' feelings and motives.

7. Intrapersonal

May be shy, but are very aware of their own feelings and are self motivated.

so whilst you could be a brilliant speller and linguist, this could be your only peak and the others may lack. so overall intelligence is low.

the best would be a good rating in all, with personal tendencies leaning towards certain types that are your best.

but our only way to convey information is through text, speech, anunciation, phrase, etc. so it may well be a good grounding for basis of the others.

not true in all cases, but a good way to start to asses someone

greenhorngrower
11-29-2007, 05:49 PM
how so ?

it may be offensive, but it is differenting that whilst people can be uneducated, they are not nessecerily stupid. where are stupid is unforgivable, in that it can be changed. there is no excuse, education comes in a mass of forms. to ignore all and remain stupid is unforgivable



I was just thinking that a lack of education is unforgivable, but a lack of coherency and understanding of the education itself is forgivable, in that the person may not have the intellectual ability it requires.. for instance someone who is feeble minded, aka retarded.. They dont really have a choice in the matter, therefore their lack of intellect is out of thier control.. To me, that is forgivable.. for anyone else who chooses to remain uneducated.. well they're just plain ignorant.. I am not one to talk though, I dropped out of highschool..:smokin:

Innominate
11-29-2007, 07:11 PM
for anyone else who chooses to remain uneducated.. well they're just plain ignorant.. I am not one to talk though, I dropped out of highschool..:smokin:
Not speaking for myself, some people have invited too many opportunities into their lives to have time to go to school, which is difficult to manage. I've known mothers and fathers with a husband or wife that were in their mid 20's and in the military working, raising children, and taking courses in college. There are those with interests that exceed a vulnerability they would rather not believe.

DAY-DREAMER-MAN
11-29-2007, 07:19 PM
why do people care about other people Intelligence who cares :stoned:

Innominate
11-29-2007, 07:58 PM
^ :D

jagarr
11-30-2007, 01:38 AM
why do people care about other people Intelligence who cares :stoned:

haha, yeah come to think of it i dont really. i know some dumb ass dummies that i totallylove like brothers and sisters. dumb is cute kinda :D

Innominate
11-30-2007, 02:23 AM
The English language is not so easy, that's alright. :(

Markass
11-30-2007, 03:15 AM
why do people care about other people Intelligence who cares :stoned:

because I'm a stoner and have grown quite curious how other people judge an individual's intelligence...on a separate note, lol...well nevermind...some people may get what I mean...or I'm just really high :stoned:

When someone comes up to me and says "I don't have nothing that will work for this" It sets a different first impression than would "I don't have anything that will work for this"

greenhorngrower
11-30-2007, 04:19 AM
"I don't have nothing that will work for this"


lmao.. "oh so you DO have something that will work for it"

Narf!
11-30-2007, 09:35 AM
People with a larger vocabulary use less body language. They can get their points across with words, because they know more of them (words). This is an easy way to tell someones level of education. When people come to a point they cant describe with a word they start tossing their arms around. I always like to watch peoples body language when they are talking on the phone. I used to work with a cook that would be holding a knife and talking to her husband at the same time. Needless to say she would swing that knife all over talking to him.

snowblind
11-30-2007, 07:41 PM
I was just thinking that a lack of education is unforgivable, but a lack of coherency and understanding of the education itself is forgivable, in that the person may not have the intellectual ability it requires.. for instance someone who is feeble minded, aka retarded.. They dont really have a choice in the matter, therefore their lack of intellect is out of thier control.. To me, that is forgivable.. for anyone else who chooses to remain uneducated.. well they're just plain ignorant.. I am not one to talk though, I dropped out of highschool..:smokin:

sorry i thought that was a given. i was talking about people of sound body and mind. not people with bran related learning difficulties. thats a different matter all together.

GraziLovesMary
11-30-2007, 10:18 PM
Is it wrong to judge an individual's overall intelligence based primarily on their grammar and vocabulary? I mean, isn't that the basic indicator?? I know it's only a part of overall knowledge, but to me for some reason it really seems to say a lot depending on how well someone can spell and speak..

thoughts, anyone?:stoned:

You have to truly understand intelligence, before you are able to accurately judge it. As a species, we have not reached that achievement yet. Some have come close... very close. One day.

MadSativa
11-30-2007, 10:46 PM
well what about rappers they have the best grammer, but their not space ship scientist

GraziLovesMary
11-30-2007, 10:51 PM
well what about rappers they have the best grammer, but their not space ship scientist

I think you mean vocabulary. Their grammar is atrocious. But thats the beauty of the art.