What is the different between loquacious and talkative? I don't see much different in their definition:
Loquacious: tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
Talkative: fond of or given to talking.
Regarding M-W Dictionary, they are different as follow:
Talkative may imply a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation .
Loquacious suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly
But I don't see the different. Isn't that anyone who is talkative is also having an ability to talk fluently, therefore matching the description of talkative? Is it true that loquacious has the same meaning of talkative?
Best Answer
Since no one has yet addressed your question about the Merriam-Webster's explanation, I will.
To repeat, the Merriam-Webster says this:
Then you ask,
Well, no.
It is perfectly possible for there to be a person who tends to enjoys conversation (so is talkative) but who has no power to express themselves either articulately, or fluently, or glibly (and so is not loquacious). In fact, I'd wager that most of us know people like that! They jump at every chance to strike up a conversation, but are by no means skilled at expressing themselves, and we may have trouble understanding half of what they are trying to say.
Conversely, it is also possible that someone is very articulate (or fluent or glib) when talking, but who actually usually doesn't talk to people for mere enjoyment of conversation. On the contrary, this person usually approaches people with a particular goal in mind, such as convincing them to support some cause or participate in some action or form a certain belief. Such a person we wouldn't necessarily call talkative, but we might call them loquacious.