Here are some lazy Sunday night links to bloggers who know the power, and the pleasure, of words.
Starting with singer/songwriter Christine Kane (who so many other bloggers have mentioned, I just had to go and visit), we have 13 cool words. There are some great words here, including a made up one, and my personal favourite from her list: gubernatorial. (As Christine says, you can choose words not for the meaning but for the feeling of them in your mouth – like candy.)
I already knew that Brad Shorr loved words from his word nerd test at Word Sell. He warms up with words at his Scrambled Toast site, and I loved his invention (I think?!) and definition of “swiposuction”. Check out the post to find out what it means.
There’s a link to another word power challenge from Nancy Friedman at Away With Words – together with a link to another level of challenge, to provide your definitions before you see the multiple choice options. (I have to confess I do cheat and look at the multiple choice options at Word Sell, mainly because Brad’s possible definitions are so much fun).
Matthew Stibbe at Bad Language has a rant about what happens when words start to lose their meaning - in this example calling airline pilots “flight service professionals”. I particularly liked his extension of this to other fields – like the translation of “brain surgeons” to “cranial re-engineering specialists”
Last but not least, we had a 4th July reminder from Laura at Writing Thoughts that words matter – that ideas, dreams, concepts and the words we use to describe them can shape the history of a nation. As she writes,
“Words are important. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Thanks to everyone for writing such great stuff last week. I look forward to being bowled over by more word power in the 7 days that follow.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow Joanna!
What a great roundup of links! I think Matthew Stibbe’s post is particularly thought-provoking.
Thanks for including me in with this bunch.
Hi Joanna, thanks for the mention & these fascinating links. I enjoyed Christine Kane’s word list. Gubernatorial sounds like it should have something to do with peanuts.
Hi Laura
Well your words made me stop and think – so well worthy of the link
Joanna
PS Help! Comment almost turned out as a poem!
Hi Brad
I thought of you when I found Christine’s word list
Gubernatorial and peanuts – hmmm… is there an unconscious pretzel connection there I wonder?
Joanna
A nice collection of interesting links here.
One thing that especially caught my eye was a link from Nancy’s blog, 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know. There can be found a list of some pretty obscure words, and I have to wonder just how people can be expected to know ALL of them.
And socialising online with a fair number of American people who’ve recently graduated High School, I’m fairly certain that list is a little too optimistic.
Thanks for the list, though – Gave for some nice reading.