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Comment by vova_hn2 | Hacker News Reader

I think that the author is doing it deliberately, to put the reader in the shoes of someone who has a hard time understanding some of the words, and reinforce his point.

As a non-native English speaker there are 4 words in this article that I had to look up, which is significantly higher than a typical article from HN frontpage (usually it's 0, occasionally 1).

If anyone curious, the words are: pellucid, fusillades, pram (idk, why I never heard it. I knew the word "stroller", of course, but I never thought about different kinds of strollers), octogenarian (this one I could have guessed from Latin roots and context, was lazy).

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As a native English speaker; pellucid was new to me.

Fusillades specifically was unfamiliar but I inferred if from context and knowing fusilier.

There's also “lexiphanic” and “denuded” (uncommon but clear from context in this case).

Pram is common in British English. I'm guessing you learned US English, which doesn't use it.

Yes, as slang for ‘perambulator’, which is basically ‘stroller’

Not really a stroller is a pushchair.

A pram is a kind of mobile bed for babies.

Fair enough.

In my defence, I was coming at it etymologically, where (according to the OED), a perambulator is 'A person who walks or travels through or about a place' (hence 'walker') OR 'A carriage for a baby or young child, which may be pushed along by a person on foot. Now usually shortened to pram [...] a cradle mounted on four wheels'.

So 'mobile bed' is a perfect description

The word pram doesn't exist in American English, true, but you'll learn it anyway if you ever read Peter Pan.

Though even in the UK I think it has a slightly old fashioned feel -- I feel like parents are more likely to have a pushchair than a pram.

My understanding was that a pram is used for a younger child, they are laid flat. A pushchair/buggy for an older child, they sit. Language is often used incorrectly however.

A ring-sling suited us better.

I think the modern style is a multi-hundred pound (£) infant travel system. https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/baby-and-nursery/travel/trave... - up to £1500 in this relatively down-market UK shop.

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