Sesquipedalian: (of a distinct element of communicative locution) Superfluously multisyllabic, protracted, and characterized through utilization by apparently-enlightened individuals in both attempts at genuine intellectual discourse as well as in circumstances of simple supercilious bloviation. Or, (of an individual or linguistic medium) characterizing an indelible propensity toward an overwhelmingly-significant utilization of such elements of a grandiloquent lexicon. Carries a Latin etymological origination approximately paraphrased as "a foot and a half long."
Loquaciousness: That would be garrulousness, verboseness, effusiveness. How about "chattiness"?
A predilection by highbrows or intellectuals to engage in the fastidious manifestation of prolix exposition through unnecessarily-complex phraseology and parlance, utilizing complex jargon with a disposition frequently comprehensible exclusively to equivalently specialized individuals; notwithstanding the incontrovertible availability of more familiar, equivalently applicable, yet nevertheless unexceptional alternatives. In layman’s terms this is occasionally referred to as "gross verbosity" or "verbal diarrhea". Related to this trope is the concept colloquially identified as "inkhorn terms": neologisms originating from foreign systems of communicative locution such as Medieval Latin or Old French; as opposed to words carrying Anglo-Saxon etymological origins, which are ostensibly more straightforward for American English comprehension.
Indeed, "intelligent" characters preferentially utilize multisyllabic, grandiloquent vocabulary in situations where simpler locution would have been indubitably more socially advantageous; especially when such characters hold prominence for being motor mouths. Characters afflicted with sesquipedalian loquaciousness frequently make perceptible attempts to overcomplicate their communicative elocution, presumably because the average writer surmises that such tangible verbosity is the sole and exclusive manner in which to display the erudition and perspicacious proficiencies of a character in contrast with, for instance, that of the average writer. This could moreover be an attribute of a particularly anal-retentive, obnoxious character who perennially endeavors toward impeccable correctness on the basis of personal pride; and, furthermore, having such consequential implications on the character's elocution inasmuch as to influence the character to incessantly seek unerring utilization of the most precise word — for instance, never describing chromatic appearance as "blue", when "azure"; "indigo"; or even "royal blue" would be more appropriate terms.
Occasionally, such characters may provisionally cease their utilization of sesquipedalian loquaciousness, if presented with particularly climacteric circumstances — to emphasize the sheer unpropitious manner in which events are unfolding (in sooth, reminiscent to Sarcasm Failure). Alternatively, their precipitous hysteria might potentially exacerbate their fastidious verbosity, leading to increasingly-detailed but ultimately incoherent fulminations that perfunctorily become commensurate with wangst. Frequently, another character will verbalize a riposte synonymous to: “Wouldn’t it be easier to just [whatever the brainy person said, in layman's terms]?” or, alternatively, “And [layman's terms version], too!” In The United States, when a person genuinely finds the elocution of another person to be unintelligible, they will articulate their confusion in a statement akin to: “Could you repeat that in plain ol’ Galveston English?”
Ironically, Williams Syndrome
can potentially lead to this manner of behavior. Additional observation has recurrently concluded that neurodivergent individuals upon whom the autism permutation designated "Asperger Syndrome" is afflicted may adjust their verbal and textual conduct to this manner of communication, seemingly as an attempt to convey information with precision raised to the maximal level, ironically making their oratorical sonorities too pleonastic to be expeditiously assimilated.
One of the frequent symptoms of Spock Speak. Is typically a Motor Mouth. Is fitting if one has an accent originating from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Often known for taking an advantage of the fact that Talking Is a Free Action. Related trope articles are the following: Techno Babble, Expospeak Gag, Antiquated Linguistics, Sophisticated as Hell, and Department of Redundancy Department. If one attempts this and can not seem to use the right lexicon, they're perpetrating Delusions of Eloquence. If the author is guilty of this, it is Purple Prose. The word Antidisestablishmentarianism is typically common, as well.
Popularized and associated with Steampunk and its related genres, and it is a correct assumption that the Victorians would speak in such a manner, as the English of the time was far more complicated than that of today.
It may also be worth noting that there is, in fact, a word for the irrational fear of long words; ironically, the word is "sesquipedalophobia", which is oft exaggerated by some as "hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia".
The exact antilogy of Buffy Speak and Layman's Terms. "Big Words" redirects here, for those who might not understand certain long words. Contrast with the Laconic Wiki. Also of note is the apparent similarity, and possible relation, to Techno Babble. May require one to possess a Translator Buddy.
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