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Unintelligibly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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unintelligibly

[หŒสŒnษชnหˆtelษชdส’ษชbli ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

speaking or writing

In a way that is not able to be understood; incoherently or incomprehensibly.

Synonyms

garbled, incoherently, incomprehensibly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unintelligibly

Similar to 'unintelligibly', but often used redundantly or for emphasis.

  • The announcement was made so unintelligibly that everyone was confused.
  • He grumbled unintelligibly under his breath.
incoherently

Describes speech or text that lacks logical or consistent structure, often associated with emotions or confusion.

  • She spoke so incoherently that I could barely follow her story.
  • In his panic, he started rambling incoherently.
incomprehensibly

Refers to something that is impossible to understand, often describing complex or foreign concepts.

  • The professor's explanation was so advanced that it was incomprehensibly to most of the class.
  • He whispered so softly and quickly, it was incomprehensibly.
garbled

Used to describe speech or text that is confused and distorted, often making it misleading or difficult to understand.

  • The phone connection was poor, resulting in a garbled message.
  • The email content was garbled, causing confusion.

Examples of usage

  • He mumbled unintelligibly under his breath.
  • The witness spoke unintelligibly due to her nervousness.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Communication Theory

  • A key concept in communication is clarity; when one speaks unintelligibly, it creates a barrier to effective communication.
  • Nonverbal cues, such as body language, can help convey meaning even when spoken words are unclear.
  • In the context of learning languages, speaking unintelligibly can occur when vocabulary or pronunciation is not fully understood.

Psychology

  • People often find it frustrating to listen to unintelligible speech, which can lead to misunderstandings.
  • Cognitive load increases when trying to decipher unclear speech, making conversations feel more taxing.
  • Individuals with hearing impairments may experience unintelligibility more acutely due to background noise or overlapping speech.

Literature

  • Authors sometimes use unintelligible dialogue to evoke confusion or illustrate a characterโ€™s mental state.
  • Plays and poetry may incorporate unintelligible speech to create comedic or dramatic tension.
  • Classic literature occasionally features characters who speak in riddles or codified language, making their words unintelligible to others.

Popular Culture

  • In movies, characters might mumble or speak in a thick accent, creating scenes where they are unintelligible to others.
  • Music genres like experimental or avant-garde often use unintelligible lyrics to create a specific atmosphere or emotional impact.
  • Social media sometimes sparks memes around misunderstood lyrics and unintelligible accents, highlighting the fun in miscommunication.

Origin of 'unintelligibly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Latin roots, with 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'.
  • The prefix 'un-' is of Old English origin, meaning 'not', adding to the meaning of something being 'not understandable'.
  • It entered the English language in the late 19th century, indicating a gradual development of the concept of communication.

The word 'unintelligibly' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'intelligibly' which comes from the Latin word 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'. The adverb 'unintelligibly' first appeared in the English language in the early 19th century.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,405, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.