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Is there a word for a person who hardly knows English as in like 100 words, but pretends they are an English major?

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Do they talk gibberish? – Mohit Jan 30 at 10:25
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You can't pretend you're an English major with 100 words under your belt. You can't even pretend to be a four-year old. – RegDwighт♦ Jan 30 at 10:29
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They'd be called a liar, a fraud or if they half-believe it themselves deluded or perhaps "a Walter Mitty". Of course, they'd be doing that lying in a language other than English, unless "I am an English major" happened to be among those 100. Just like I could say right here "I am a Danish major", though I couldn't say it in Danish, though I'd reckon I might have a bit over 100 Danish words. – Jon Hanna Jan 30 at 10:32
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Spy. Badly trained spy. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 30 at 10:34
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Is this question about the limited vocabulary specifically or is it about the exaggeration of ability? – Mitch Jan 30 at 13:26

closed as not constructive by Barrie England, Jon Hanna, Robusto, tchrist, Callithumpian Jan 30 at 13:32

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3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote

I would say that person is being pretentious.

Pretentious : a. making usually unjustified or excessive claims

b. expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature

Eg: He could barely speak English, while he claimed to be an English major. What a pretentious <"expletive of choice">!

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Pretentious is rarely used the way it is defined in 1). If you were trying to insult somebody's vocabulary by calling them "pretentious" 9/10 people would misinterpret what you are trying to say. – mattacular Jan 30 at 13:29
And for exactly the reason, I have been generous enough to provide an example :) – KeyBrd Basher Jan 30 at 13:35
Haha fair enough! Have a +1 – mattacular Jan 30 at 20:15
up vote 1 down vote

They are usually called

phonies.

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up vote 0 down vote

They are an imposter

a person who deceives others, esp by assuming a false identity; charlatan

although they would not know that word (or charlatan).

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