The Writers' Circle

The English Language
Have you ever noticed that as a result of the English Language absorbing so many foreign words that we frequently find that we now have several words to express the same idea. For example: 'sympathy' (Greek), 'condolence' (Latin), 'fellow feeling' (Saxon).  'rapport' (French)

Also the clear difference between words of a similar meaning? For example:  'boyish' and 'puerile', 'human' and 'humane' and between, 'hanged' and 'hung'.  

What about words that gives shape and sound to their meaning. For example: 'Ghost' looks a ghostly word, and 'phantom' gives me a sense of something transparent. 'Death' is a very dark word, full of mystery and power, ending in a shadow. 'Triumphant' is colourful and suggests a fanfare.  'Magnificent' and in its very appearance this Latin word appears 'magnificent'.   'Silver' has a distinct gleam; 'gold' soft but rich and powerful; 'lead' sounds soft and dull.  

Finally, why do we call the hippo a hippopotamus instead of a 'river cow'? Is it because this Greek word is more like the hippo itself-huge, clumsy, and ugly?  

                                            What a wonderful language.