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  1. #1
    Player
    Harlot's Avatar
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    Lucius Marcilus
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    Twintania
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    Astrologian Lv 73
    Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.
    (0)

  2. #2
    Player
    Krotoan's Avatar
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    Krotoan Argaviel
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    Sargatanas
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harlot View Post
    Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.
    Because those words mean two entirely different things.

    Quintessential meaning a perfect example of, essential meaning necessary.

    English isn't easy, but using very specific words is BETTER writing rather than using "very very" or "really".
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  3. #3
    Player
    Harlot's Avatar
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    Lucius Marcilus
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    Isn't ''essential'' also used for the things means important, crucial? I thought so
    (0)

  4. #4
    Player
    Krotoan's Avatar
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    Krotoan Argaviel
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harlot View Post
    Isn't ''essential'' also used for the things means important, crucial? I thought so
    But Quintessential does not mean that in any way. They are not synonyms.
    (11)
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  5. #5
    Player Lanadra's Avatar
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    Jan 2021
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    Character
    Alessia Adaka
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    Moogle
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    Red Mage Lv 90
    Quote Originally Posted by Harlot View Post
    Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.
    For the record..

    • quintessential
      adjective
      of or relating to the most perfect embodiment of something: the quintessential performance of the Brandenburg Concertos.
    • essential
      adjective
      absolutely necessary; indispensable: Discipline is essential in an army.

    While they are slightly similar, you cannot simply say 'why use quintessential, just use essential'.

    Also, it's not 'academic english', it's as others have said, older English or as people sometimes like to say.. Shakespearean English. Understanding it doesn't have much to do with 'native or non-native' English speaker. I am not a native English speaker yet I don't have much issue with it myself.. some of Urianger's dialogue excepted.

    In addition, as others have said, Urianger is supposed to be a pain in the ass to make sense of.. for us.. for others in the narrative. He is that way in all of the game's languages, Japanese included.
    (7)
    Last edited by Lanadra; 08-28-2021 at 02:23 AM.

  6. #6
    Player
    Breakbeat's Avatar
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    Billy Shears
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    Goblin
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    Summoner Lv 90
    Quote Originally Posted by Harlot View Post
    Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.
    Quintessential and essential are two different words with two different meanings, that is why. Your mistake is thinking those two words mean the same thing. They do not.

    'Essential' is when something is required, necessary or important. 'Quintessential' is when something is a perfect representation of a thing.

    Flour is essential when making pancake batter. Not quintessential.

    Rolex is the quintessential luxury timepiece. Not essential.

    So, when you see the word 'quintessential', either in this game or elsewhere, it's because someone is trying to convey that specific idea to you - that something is quintessential. It's not because they are trying to be difficult, or complicate things unnecessarily when they could have just said, 'essential'.

    "...well there's your problem."

    But seriously, though, just chalk this up to English not being your native language. You have good command of it, but some things (like old English or less-common words) might still trip you up, which is completely OK. It's just all the more reason to continue studying the language.
    (7)
    Last edited by Breakbeat; 08-28-2021 at 03:17 AM.
    "If you pay attention to the world, it's an amazing place. If you don't, it's whatever you think it is.” – Reggie Watts

  7. #7
    Player
    VelKallor's Avatar
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    Vel Kallor
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    Kujata
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    Red Mage Lv 100
    Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential

    quintessential
    [ˌkwin(t)əˈsen(t)SHəl]
    ADJECTIVE
    representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
    vs

    essential
    [əˈsen(t)SHəl]
    ADJECTIVE
    absolutely necessary; extremely important.
    Those two words have VASTLY different meanings.

    A quintessential element is not always essential.
    (2)
    Last edited by VelKallor; 08-29-2021 at 10:16 PM.

  8. #8
    Player
    Penthea's Avatar
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    Nettle Creidne
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    Moogle
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harlot View Post
    Its not just that, often times other characters using harsh words where they could have easily use simpler words. Like take quintessential as an example. Where you can easily say essential they are making them say quintessential, like what is the point of that rather then making it hard to understand.
    I know you're not a native speaker but you have access to the internet. If you bothered to use a search engine for just a few seconds you would find out those two words do not have the same meaning.

    Quintessential - representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
    "he was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained"

    Essential - absolutely necessary; extremely important.
    "it is essential to keep up-to-date records"
    I understand you may not want to google anything to understand something in a game, but perhaps you should do so before using something as an example to criticise it.

    Also quintessential is a word I came across a lot long before FFXIV was even a game. It's not an outdated or rarely used word.
    (1)