Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C2 - Lesson 1: Extensive, Precise & Sophisticated Lexical Repertoire

Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C2

Extensive, Precise & Sophisticated Lexical Repertoire

Listen to the examples here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to replace common "good" words (B2/C1) with highly precise, sophisticated, and nuanced C2-level alternatives, demonstrating mastery of register and collocation.

Beyond "Good" - The C2 Leap to Precision

At C2, communication is not just about being understood; it's about being impactful. You must select the *exact* word that conveys the precise shade of meaning, tone, and context you intend. Compare the following:

GOOD (B2/C1) B-

"It was a very important meeting. The team's bad mood was easy to see. The manager said the new plan was a big problem."

SOPHISTICATED (C2) A+

"It was a pivotal meeting. The team's palpable sense of unease filled the room. The manager articulated that the new strategy was fundamentally flawed."

The C2 version doesn't just describe the scene; it makes the listener feel the tension and understand the gravity of the situation.

Your C2 Lexicon: Upgrading Your Concepts

A C2 vocabulary isn't just about obscure words; it's about having the right word for the right job. Here are some common B2/C1 concepts and their C2 upgrades.

Instead of... Important

• Pivotal Nuance: Describes a crucial turning point.
  Collocation: a pivotal role, a pivotal moment, a pivotal decision.
• Paramount Nuance: More important than anything else.
  Collocation: "Safety is of paramount importance."
• Integral Nuance: Necessary to make a whole complete; essential.
  Collocation: "It's an integral part of the plan."

Instead of... Interesting

• Riveting Nuance: So interesting you can't stop watching or listening.
  Collocation: a riveting performance, a riveting story.
• Compelling Nuance: So interesting it demands your attention and makes you think.
  Collocation: a compelling argument, a compelling reason.

Instead of... Said or Told

• To Posit Nuance (Formal): To suggest or put forward an idea or theory.
  Collocation: "The author posited that..."
• To Articulate Nuance: To express an idea fluently, clearly, and coherently.
  Collocation: "She articulated her vision perfectly."
• To Concede Nuance: To admit that something is true, often reluctantly.
  Collocation: "He conceded that his opponent was right."

C2 Pro-Tip: The Collocation Trap

💡 Nuance vs. Collocation (Why C2 is Hard)

Knowing a word is B2. Knowing *how to use it* is C2. The biggest mistake is using a sophisticated word in the wrong "word partnership" (collocation).

• ❌ Wrong: "Safety is of pivotal importance." (Sounds unnatural)
• ✅ Right: "Safety is of paramount importance." (Correct collocation)

A C2 speaker doesn't just know the word `paramount`; they know it's almost always used in the specific phrase "of paramount importance." Always learn new words as part of a phrase, not just on their own.

Practice Your Precision 🎯

Practice Quiz: Choose the *Most* Precise Word

Choose the word that best fits the context, considering nuance and collocation. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. The presenter's argument was so _______ that, even though I disagreed, I had to admit he had a strong point.

• A) riveting
• B) compelling
• C) integral

---

2. His research on the topic was... _______, to say the least. He seemed to have missed all the main sources.

• A) superficial
• B) bad
• C) brief

---

3. She didn't just say she was innocent; she _______ that the evidence was faked.

• A) articulated
• B) posited
• C) conceded

Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

• Pivotal (Adjective) | គន្លឹះ / សំខាន់បំផុត
  Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something.
• Paramount (Adjective) | tối cao / សំខាន់ជាងគេ
  More important than anything else; supreme.
• Integral (Adjective) | មិនអាចខ្វះបាន
  Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
• Riveting (Adjective) | គួរឱ្យចាប់អារម្មណ៍ខ្លាំង
  Completely holding one's attention; fascinating.
• Compelling (Adjective) | គួរឱ្យទាក់ទាញ
  Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.
• To Posit (Verb) | សន្មត / ដាក់ស្នើ
  (Formal) To put forward as a fact or as a basis for argument.
• To Articulate (Verb) | បញ្ជាក់ឱ្យច្បាស់
  To express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently.
• To Concede (Verb) | ព្រមទទួល
  To admit that something is true or valid after first denying it.
• Superficial (Adjective) | ខាងក្រៅ / មិនស៊ីជម្រៅ
  Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely; not thorough.
• Palpable (Adjective) | ជាក់ស្តែង / អាចប៉ះបាន
  (Of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to be almost felt physically.

Your Mission: The C2 Upgrade ⭐

Your mission is to find a short English news article or opinion piece (from the BBC, The Guardian, The Economist, etc.).

1. Find 3-4 "good" B2/C1 words in the text (e.g., "important," "good," "bad," "said," "problem").
2. Replace each one with a more precise C2-level alternative from this lesson or your own vocabulary.
3. Record yourself or practice with a partner, explaining your changes. You must justify *why* your new word is more precise or impactful in that specific context.

Example: "The text said the economy was 'bad'. I changed it to 'floundering' because it doesn't just mean 'bad,' it means it's struggling and in danger of failing."