Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C2 - Lesson 4: Mastery of Specialized & Low-Frequency Vocabulary

Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C2

Mastery of Specialized & Low-Frequency Vocabulary

What you will learn: At the C2 level, vocabulary mastery is about wielding the perfect word for the perfect moment, using low-frequency vocabulary with precision and impact.

A Curated C2 Lexicon 🧠

The key to C2 vocabulary is not just knowing a word's meaning, but deeply understanding its nuance, connotation, and appropriate context.

Words to Describe Situations & Problems

Pernicious (adj.): Having a very harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
Nuance: More insidious than 'harmful'. Ex: "The spread of misinformation has a pernicious influence on society."

Untenable (adj.): (of a position or view) Impossible to maintain or defend.
Nuance: Stronger than 'wrong'; implies a logical impossibility. Ex: "After the new data was revealed, his theory became completely untenable."

Words to Describe Actions & Processes

To eschew (verb): To deliberately avoid or abstain from something.
Nuance: A formal word for 'avoid', suggesting a conscious, often moral, decision. Ex: "We should eschew single-use plastics."

To elucidate (verb): To make something clear; to explain.
Nuance: More academic than 'explain', used for complex topics. Ex: "Allow me to elucidate my position."

Words to Describe Qualities & Characteristics

Salient (adj.): Most noticeable or important; the main point.
Nuance: An academic way to say 'main' or 'key'. Ex: "Let's focus on the most salient points of the report."

Quixotic (adj.): Extremely idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.
Nuance: From Don Quixote. A noble but perhaps foolish effort. Ex: "His plan to solve world hunger in one year was ultimately quixotic."

Scenario: A University Debate 🏛️

Listen to this high-level academic debate. Notice how the speakers use precise, low-frequency vocabulary to articulate their arguments.

Moderator: Dr. Chen, what is your view on the proposal?

Dr. Chen: Frankly, I find the proposal's central argument to be untenable. It ignores the most salient data from the last five years. To adopt it would be a quixotic quest that is doomed to fail.

Moderator: Dr. Soriya, your response?

Dr. Soriya: My colleague seems to eschew any data that doesn't fit his theory. Let me elucidate the matter by presenting the full dataset. It shows that the pernicious effects he's worried about are, in fact, insignificant.

Advanced Usage & Cautions

⚠️ The Danger of Misuse (Malapropism)

Using a powerful, low-frequency word correctly is a sign of mastery. However, using one incorrectly—a "malapropism"—can make you sound pretentious and damage your credibility.

The C2 Rule of Thumb: Never use a word like this unless you have an intuitive "feel" for its context and connotation. Your receptive vocabulary (words you understand) should always be much larger than your productive vocabulary (words you use).

Practice & Application 🎯

💡 Practice Quiz: Choose the Perfect Word

1. The two concepts of economic progress and social well-being are __________ linked; one cannot be achieved without the other.

A) arguably
B) inextricably
C) ostensibly

→ Answer: B. `Inextricably` means in a way that is impossible to separate, which perfectly fits the context.

2. After the scandal was exposed, the CEO's position became __________, and he was forced to resign.

A) untenable
B) quixotic
C) salient

→ Answer: A. `Untenable` means a position that cannot be defended, the precise word for this situation.

Key Vocabulary

• Low-Frequency Vocabulary
  Words that are not common in everyday speech but appear in formal, academic, or literary texts.
• Pernicious (Adjective)
  Having a very harmful effect, especially in a gradual or not easily noticed way.
• Salient (Adjective)
  The most noticeable, important, or main point.
• Untenable (Adjective)
  (Of a theory or argument) impossible to defend.

Your Mission: The "Deep Dive" Challenge ⭐

Your mission is to truly master one new, sophisticated word, moving it from your passive to your active vocabulary.

1. Choose ONE word from this lesson that you find useful (e.g., `pernicious`).
2. Deep Dive: Use online dictionaries and sentence example sites to find at least 5-10 real examples of the word in context. Get a feel for its "flavour."
3. Activate: Write two of your own example sentences that are relevant to a topic you know well (your work, your country, etc.).
4. The Final Goal: Try to find one opportunity this week to use your chosen word in a real conversation or piece of writing. This active learning process is the key to building a true C2 lexicon.