Posts with the label crazy language
Showing posts with label crazy language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crazy language. Show all posts
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Word of the Day - Kinkered
"Word of the Day" is...
Does your family make-up or change words? And then use them in every day conversations? We do! Kinkered is my Dad's substitute word for "canker" or "cankered". Yeah, you know... the necrotic fungal disease that grows on the barks of trees or an ulcerous condition such as ear cankers! The word is multi-talented. Kinkered can be used as a noun or a verb.
I thought of this particular word of the day from our crazy made-up language our family uses. The other day when my Dad was eating a Cadbury egg. Yes, from Easter 2014, way back in April. He was carefully peeling the foil paper from the edges of the egg and experiencing great difficulty as the foil refused to let go of the old chocolate. I said "You know that egg is from Easter. It's only 4 or 5 months old." My mom coaxed him on "Candy don't ruin!" I continued with a worried look saying "It's got a spot on the side of it." My Dad wielded his handy dandy pocket knife to investigate the spot. He said "That thang goes all the way through!" I said laughing "Don't eat that thang. It's KINKERED!"
He ate it. Every bite. He also licked the chocolate off his fingers. He said "I've eaten older things than this and I'm still here." It's been five days since he ate the egg and all is well. I guess kinker won't kill ye.
Put the word to work in your vocabulary. It's fun and functional! Have you ever heard of it or used it? Leave me a comment. :)
Crazy talk 365,
Tammy
Saturday, August 9, 2014
CAUTION: May have fishy smell!
- We eat them - BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato), PBJ (Peanut Butter & Jelly)
- We tell time with them - PM (post meridian), BC (Before Christ) EST (Eastern Standard Time)
- We swing by them and need an acronym to use - ATM (Automated Teller) PIN (Personal Identification Number)
- We drink them - OJ (Orange Juice), BYOB (Bring you own bottle)
- We even talk dirty with them - SOB, SOL
Acronyms are a standard in our language usually consisting of three letters. They are easy to use. They are simple to understand. I expect folks know the meaning of acronyms of their era. I ask my kids the meaning of some social media acronyms. They know the younger ones while I know the older ones. Sometimes, acronyms become more familiar to us than the actual name of something. Heard anyone say something like this lately? "Yeah. I'll be there around 5 post meridian. I've got to run by the Automated Teller. I can't remember my Personal Identification Number." I didn't think so! Humans tend to embrace lazy and our languages are no exception.
I love to learn. You might enjoy reading The Top 10 Things I learned in London or 5 Things the New Grandmom Learned. I heard a word during a sightseeing tour in London. I had always thought it was a word but our guide says it's an acronym. See if you can guess the word/acronym before we embark on a bit of a vocabulary lesson:
- definition of mystery acronym - a level quayside area to which a ship may be moored to load and unload. noun
- every waterfront city has one
- a lot of restaurants are named this acronym
- these are commonly converted to housing or apartments
- picture clue
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| photo credit: Pedro Szekely |
The guide told us the word WHARF is an acronym for Warehouse at River Front. According to Merriam-Webster, "wharf" is a middle English word used before the 12th century. I have to admit I was amazed at my lack of knowledge surrounding the word. The acronym was so believable, not only was his story convincing but the acronym made so much sense. Internet sources say the acronym for wharf is untrue. I say "It's an English word. Been around for a long time. If a Londoner wants to spice up his tour by making up acronyms for his country's language, I'll eat it up all day long and repeat his story to entertain others!" Warning: proceed with caution to your nearest warehouse at riverfront....may have fishy smell for a couple of reasons.
Ever heard this big fish story too? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.
Happily gullible,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Ever heard this big fish story too? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.
Happily gullible,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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