A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1113

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AWADmail Issue 1113

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the Net

Official Swedish Dictionary Completed After 140 Years
The Guardian
Permalink

Alien Language: If We Met Extraterrestrials, Could We Talk to Them?
BBC
Permalink

From: Ron Greenman (rongreenman gmail.com)
Subject: Neophobia

Back in the mid-sixties when the change toward gender neutrality in language was new, I was in a small office building in Berkeley. One of the suites was empty, and posted on the door was a note that said, “Dear Post Person, we have moved to [new address].” Scrawled below that in a different hand was the message, “I do not deliver mail to people that use neologisms. The Post Man.”

Ron Greenman, Gig Harbor, Washington

From: Sue Cuttriss (suecuttriss gmail.com)
Subject: Food Neophobia

In Amsterdam, my Dutch aunt was trying to get me to try raw herring. The man behind the counter asked my aunt if I was English or American. When she said American, he said, “She will try it!” Later I married an Englishman and discovered why they have the opposite reputation.

Sue Cuttriss, Fillmore, California

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From: Judy Watten (RayjudyW aol.com)
Subject: neophobia

The Japanese have a word for this: tabezugirai (disliking without even tasting).

Judy Watten, Kenwood, California

From: Larry Israel (larry.israel hotmail.com)
Subject: food neophobia

The old joke: “I never eat any food for the first time.”

Larry Israel, Rehovot, Israel

From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
Subject: Inspiration

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness. -Brenda Ueland, journalist, editor, and writer (24 Oct 1891-1985)

Brenda Ueland has completely nailed the process of writing limericks and puns, at least for me.

Steve Benko, New York, New York

From: Steve Thomas (stype sccoast.net)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--apanthropy

In my heart’s deep core I long for apanthropy. I would gladly trade grey pavements for a bee-loud glade and evening full of the linnet’s wings. Of course, I’m stealing words from William Butler Yeats’s poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree.

Steve Thomas, Aynor, South Carolina

From: New Deep (via website comments)
Subject: apanthropy

Interestingly, in Mumbai Hindi, “apan” means “I” or “me”. How apt, apanthropy is about the desire to be with one’s own self!

New Deep

From: J.R. Nelson (nelsonmybalo gmail.com)
Subject: Stultiloquy

Looking at the etymology of today’s word, stultiloquy, I think the term Hοmo stultus would be more apt for our species than Hοmo sapiens.

J.R. Nelson, Hanoi, Vietnam

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: squandermania and apanthropy

When squandermania came across my strange-word radar, I recalled that old expression, “He (or she) is spending money like a drunken sailor.” The saying is likely rooted in the notion that young sailors on shore-leave would often get drunk, spending all their cash on women, booze... or both.

The stunningly beautiful Swedish-born actress Greta Garbo transfixed filmgoers of Hollywood cinema’s Golden Age, often taking on the role of the desirable, gorgeous, yet somewhat aloof leading lady. She’s since been immortalized for her line from 1932’s Grand Hotel, namely, “I want to be alone.” Fans assume that was Garbo’s on- and off-screen desire... solitude. She did cherish her privacy, yet she expressed that she merely wanted to be “left alone”. In playing the eponymous femme fatale in Mata Hari (1931), Garbo states, “I never look ahead. But by next spring I’ll be quite alone.”

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

Anagrams


This week’s theme: There’s a word for it 1. Neophobia 2. Apanthropy 3. Stultiloquy 4. Argentocracy 5. Squandermania	=	1. To fear change 2. Happy to sequester 3. Questionable talk 4. Rich proud administration 5. Throws her money away	=	1. Quail at the new 2. Sayonara or be isolated 3. Trump tripe, quatsch, yack 4. Oho how money reigns 5. Are spendthrift
		-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)		-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)

	=	1. Keep status quo, parity -- don’t amend it 2. Stay solo -- bar interferer 3. A hogwash 4. A rich caliph, queen 5. Throw money	=	1. Afraid to risk the new 2. Happy in quiet areas at home 3. Arrogant queries 4. Control by wealthy 5. Spends too much
		-Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com)		-Josiah Winslow, Franklin, Wisconsin (winslowjosiah gmail.com)

Make your own anagrams and animations.

Limericks

neophobia

Neophobia? Too avant-garde.
I like old-fashioned fears. I regard
All things new as taboo,
Which is why I eschew
This so modern neurosis -- it jarred.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes54 outlook.com)

Peanut butter he’ll pack for his trips,
For the local cuisine my friend skips.
Neophobia’s why
No new foods will he try --
What’s exotic will not pass his lips.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Eating out with Diane was no breeze.
Took so long! A strange dish made her freeze!
Neophobia caused
Every meal to be paused
‘cept at restaurants named Mickey D’s!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

He fears all the things that are new.
A luddite you’d call him, it’s true.
Neophobia’s why,
He’s an old-fashioned guy.
I think that he’s missing a scrεw.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“For Speakers we have neophobia,
So the House is now quite a dystopia,”
Explained the Repubs.
“We throw out the old schlubs,
But try running - we’ll throw crαp all over ya.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

apanthropy

Desert island, and me on my own?
Sounds like Heaven. I love all alone!
I think solitude’s cool --
I’m apanthropy’s fool --
It’s where writers and poets are grown.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes54 outlook.com)

Mister Crusoe, he lived on an isle.
Apanthropy, that was his style.
I believe he once said,
“I’ll ne’er be caught dead
In London. All cities are vile.”
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

Of Hollywood this actress tired;
Apanthropy’s what she desired.
Since this fact was well-known,
Folks left Greta alone --
This Swede from afar was admired.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

I’ve a penchant for privacy, yes!
It’s the way some of us decompress.
We’re not really rude --
It’s apanthropy, dude,
When company leads to distress.
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

There’s nothing quite like the catastrophe
Of loud parties for those with apanthropy.
I’d rather go hiking;
Though more to my liking,
I even approach the trees bashfully.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

stultiloquy

After one or two glasses of beer,
When my thinking’s been muddled -- Oh, dear! --
I admit, to my shame,
I will stand and declaim
My stultiloquy oh, so sincere.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes54 outlook.com)

I just love it, to hear myself talk.
Many people do stop and will gawk,
Deeming my great soliloquy
Mostly stultiloquy;
But never will they make me balk.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

All rules of decorum Trump flouts;
Stultiloquy he often spouts.
His speeches are drivel
With language uncivil --
His sanity one sometimes doubts.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

I can write, but somehow I can’t think!
All the rhymes I come up with just stink!
Stultiloquy rules;
Mine’s the effort of fools!
It’s enough to make one turn to drink!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

The speaker would talk way too long.
I thought that his premise was wrong.
Stultiloquy, see,
It did annoy me.
I thought they should get out the gong.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

Said Hamlet, “Alas, more stultiloquy?
Mr. Shakespeare, they’ve all had their fill of me.”
“Read each line on the page;
When you die on the stage,
They’ll enjoy that.” (So true, found out Hillary.)
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

argentocracy

Argentocracy will have its way.
Once it knows what it wants, it will pay.
We can vote and campaign,
But the money will reign --
When you’ve got the big bucks, you hold sway.
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes54 outlook.com)

We’re proud of our cherished democracy,
Though it’s buried in tons of bureaucracy.
But the great Mammon rules,
And we are no fools.
We prosper in our argentocracy.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

There are all kinds of -ocracies, no?
Some we like, but of some we’d ask, “Oh?”
Argentocracy’s one
That does not sound like fun,
Though I’d choose to be rich over po’.
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

Today it does reek of hypocrisy,
The rise of a real argentocracy.
So those who are wealthy
Now rule. It’s unhealthy.
You lose any hope for democracy.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Send me money! We’ll have argentocracy!
No more of that nonsense democracy!
My guys Bannon and Flynn
Say more cash means you win!
Re-elect me for more kakistocracy!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

squandermania

The political answer, my friend,
Is to dazzle the small guys -- attend!
Squandermania will
Blind the voters until
We run short of their money -- let’s spend!
-Tony Holmes, Launceston, UK (tony_holmes54 outlook.com)

Like a wild drunken sailor he spent
On doodads, ignoring his rent.
To buy miscellanea
Was sheer squandermania.
To the poorhouse one day he was sent.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

My credit card I use a lot.
I tap it, and new stuff I’ve got!
Squandermania’s fun,
Although when I am done,
My savings account may be shot.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Every store lured her in; she’d emerge
Without having resisted a splurge.
Squandermania hit;
Didn’t hurt her a bit!
Till the bills came -- and with’em, a dirge!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

“Vot Americans spend eez insane o’ ya;
Een my country zere’s no squandermania.
For I bite on ze neck
Anyvun who buys dreck;
Eet’s our law here in old Transylvania.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Puns

“Roman soldiers wear no athletic cups. If you can neophobia-ssured they will double over in pain,” read the barbarians’ field manual.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

She just wanted to be by herself and read about the adventures of Peter and Wendy. Her doctor called it apanthropy.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“As the enemy climbs the walls of our castle, drink beer and coffee until your bladders are full,” said the general. “Then fill apanthropy over the ramparts and watch the cowards run.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“I’m finding your entire ge-stultiloquy-n,” the royal psychologist said to the depressed monarch.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“This boot camp is a total drill s-argentocracy,” complained the Army recruit.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

The play Evita tells the story of Juan and Eva Perón, and their argentocracy.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

Why squandermania on Taylor Swift when you can order Julie Benko’s new single, and in just a few weeks her whole Christmas album?
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it. -James Boswell, biographer and lawyer (29 Oct 1740-1795)

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