India
When we are talking about Shashi Thaoor, it will not be farrago of lies and distortions to say that he is best known for his clipped Oxbridge accent and affable smile, while speaking to anyone who cares about the ills of British Raj in India.
Updated : Dec 14, 2017, 05:50 PM IST
When we are talking about Shashi Thaoor, it will not be farrago of lies and distortions to say that he is best known for his clipped Oxbridge accent and affable smile, while speaking to anyone who cares about the ills of British Raj in India.
Tharoor's unique vocabulary where he often uses obscure words nonchalantly has become a raging Internet meme and anyone using polysyllabic words in common conversation is often accused of doing a 'Tharoor'. Saying simple things in complicated way has become a legitimate joke format too.
Now Shashi Tharoor, who enjoys a cult-like following among people across the aisle has obviously seen the funny side of the entire phenomenon. He gave a long explanation about why he doesn't use exotic words for the sake of it and words just flow in his normal vocabulary. They are the best ones for the idea he wants to convey. But as usual there was an Easter Egg in his tweet. It was the word rodomontage. which means boastful or inflated talk.
To all the well-meaning folks who send me parodies of my supposed speaking/writing style: The purpose of speaking or writing is to communicate w/ precision. I choose my words because they are the best ones for the idea i want to convey, not the most obscure or rodomontade ones!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 13, 2017
And naturally, Twitter went all crazy with it. While it didn't make as much of a splash as his 'farrago' tweet, it has got 7.8 thousand likes and over 1.6 thousand retweets at the time of writing. Even ex-J&K CM Omar Abdullah couldn't help but comment.
Here are some of the best reactions.
Learning English? Follow my friend @ShashiTharoor for words you never knew existed & will struggle to ever use in a sentence but by golly they sound impressive. #rodomontade
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 14, 2017
"Communicate" with precision.. The problem is, those words may be precise (though rodomontade) but hardly communicate, as an average person wouldn't bother googling their meaning
— Sherry (@CherieDamour_) December 13, 2017
If tge so called Avg person uses a SmartPhone to read Mr. Tharoor's writings, he/she wd obviously hav the Google App on the device. T'is good to 'invest" a moment, Google the words you don't know. Enhances your knowledge. You learn something new.
— Rajesh H Jhangiani (@JhangianiRajesh) December 14, 2017
Learn ‘Rodomontade’? what for? Gibberish farrago of @ShashiTharoor .
— arundhati lokare (@aruaugust) December 14, 2017
Dr. Tharoor, what is the difference between rodomontade and boastful, pretentious, hifalutin, grandiose? Why is rodomontade the precise word here?
— Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) December 14, 2017
Haha, this ought to have some folks pull out their dictionaries. Well played, sir.
— Mihir Misra (@MihirMisra_) December 13, 2017
For what is life if not a perennial quest for the mot juste?
— Raja Sen (@RajaSen) December 14, 2017
Communication is two way. If listener doesn't understand what you say, maybe your words won't stay meaningful. Resulting in yet another farrago. Still, your vocabulary is really praiseworthy and we look forward to achieve that.
— surbhi suman (@caninebuff) December 13, 2017
Heard one new word again-"rodomontade". I want my school fees back.
— Balendu Pandey (@balendu29) December 14, 2017
Sir, have you ever considered teaching English on Byju's?
— Suo Motu (@suo_motu) December 14, 2017
Love your choice of words and pronunciation and not just because you are a Palakkad guy like me. Helps my crossword solving skills :) Keep going Dr. There are very few like you around.
— Uday Menon (@Uday47) December 14, 2017
You are a God send for people preparing for GRE and CAT
— Jagdish Kumar (@kumar_jag) December 14, 2017
Rodomontade - Even Apple spell check doesnt have it
— ZJ (@zujalal) December 13, 2017
What we know till now
— chandan kumar (@chandan04342) December 14, 2017
F-Frog
R-rat
but u created
F-Farrago
R-Rodomontade
Still 24 alphabets r there nd we are waiting eagerly
May be Oxford also as what r words in their dictionary they dont know