A Weekly Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Tidbits about Words and Language
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From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the Net
I think glocalize is an ugly word and will not be using it myself in the
future. My favourite portmanteau word at the moment is an idea that was
posted into my inbox this past weekend -- One day soon, YouTube, Twitter,
and Facebook will join together and be called YouTwitFace!
Lorraine Scholfield, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
From: Simon (simon newcastle.edu.au)
Subject: portmanteau
One of my favourite such words is pulloveria, a type of shop (or chain
of shops?), found in many European countries, that sells pullovers, which
some know as sweaters. I like it because it always make me think of what
the policeman might say to the errant driver.
Simon, Ourimbah, Australia
From: Paul Tarry (p.tarry zen.co.uk)
Subject: Washateria
Washeterias (UK Eng spelling) have been around a long time. The first was
opened on 18 April 1934 by John F. Cantrell in Fort Worth, Texas. The
first one in the UK was opened on 9 May 1949 in London (source).
I used them regularly in the early 1960s when I was a student living away
from home and my wife and I used them regularly in the early days of our
marriage. There aren’t so many these days because people have washers in
their own homes. They go under different names, e.g. launderette,
laundrette, and laundromat.
Paul Tarry, Bury, UK
From: Gene England (GREngland63 aol.com)
Subject: washateria
I have vivid memories from the first years after WWII when a washateria
opened across the street from my home. It made life much easier for my
mother who worked full time to have the efficient machines and washing
options such a place offered. It was another five years or more before she
actually had a washing machine in the house. Living in central Texas, all
drying took place outside. I remember hearing the word washateria spoken
with gratitude, a labor-saving marvel!
Our local washateria is called Washabeeria. Enjoy a cold brew while you
wash your clothes!
Susie Doherty, Baytown, Texas
From: Henry Willis (hmw ssdslaw.com)
Subject: Texarkana
When I practiced law in Arkansas, one of my cases took me to Texarkana, the
city you mentioned in your post on Monday. The federal courthouse there is
a huge hollow square, straddling the state line, with the Eastern District
of Texas on the west and the Western District of Arkansas on the east. This
sort of cohabitation of two wholly different district courts in different
judicial circuits (an appeal from the Eastern District of Texas would
go to New Orleans, while an appeal from the Western District of Arkansas
would go to St. Louis) is unique and a little bit disorienting to those
of us used to living with the jurisdictional boundaries that shape the law.
There are other metropolitan areas that are divided by a state line (Kansas
City MO and Kansas City KS being the biggest), but none that have embraced
duality as enthusiastically as Texarkana.
Henry M. Willis, Los Angeles, California
From: Richard Kahane (rakahane verizon.net)
Subject: solunar
Interestingly, the Hebrew calendar, which is based on both the cycles of
the sun and the phases of the moon, is usually described as lunisolar.
Richard Kahane, McLean, Virginia
From: Christopher Murray (cmurray1217 gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--solunar
I first became aware of Solunar Tables from a book called The Modern Angler
by John Alden Knight
(Charles Scribner & Sons, New York, 1936). It was given to me by my maternal
grandmother, who was an accomplished and enthusiastic fly fisherman. She
and my grandfather, a retired Army Col., fished from Alaska to Florida,
from WWII until well into the 1960s. They were not only aware of John Alden
Knight’s work, but attributed their success -- all over the country --
to using Knight’s timing. In later years, I have noted the same phenomenon
in bird watching: birds and animals (as well as fish) are noticeably more
active during the periods predicted by Knight’s Solunar Theory.
I understand that in New Zealand the speed bumps on roads are called
judder bars. (images)
Jill Howell, Lilli Pilli, Australia
From: Mike Wagner (mike wildcardvideo.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--judder
We videophiles have used the word judder to mean jerky motion created by
24 frames per second video (also called 24p), which makes camera movement look
stuttered and is especially noticeable with panning shots.
Mike Wagner, PhD, Producer and Director, Wild Card Video Productions, Miami, Florida
From: Linda Owens (lindafowens netzero.net)
Subject: dripple
That’s exactly what I did this morning, while whisking the egg and milk
for French toast a little too vigorously. It drippled down the counter to
the floor. Then I drippled some yogurt down my front while eating. Is it
National Slop Day?
A while ago, you did a series on ugly words.
To my ears, most of the words on this list (with solunar as the sole
exception) beat “myriad” at the very least, any day. Masstige has to
be worst of all!
Katherine Chen, Kingston, Jamaica
From: Joel Mabus (joel.mabus pobox.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--masstige
I had never heard the word “masstige” before, but it immediately made me
think of the ubiquitous beer, Miller High Life. In my youth it was
advertised as “the Champagne of bottled beers”. They dropped the word
“bottled” when they started selling it in cans. The mega-corporation that
now owns the brand claims that the original Herr Miller brought his own
special yeast from Germany to Milwaukee which is still the secret ingredient
that makes this lager a cut above all others.
About 35 years ago I attended a wonderful concert, in an upscale college bar,
of The Boys Of The Lough, the fabled pan-Celtic group, who were then touring
the States with two elder guest musicians from the Shetland islands: Dr. Tom
Anderson on fiddle and the fabled Peerie Willie Johnson on guitar. Willie had
a unique way of playing rhythm guitar, blending folk tunes with jazz technique,
so during the break I asked him if I could buy him a beer, so as to ask him
some guitar questions. He eagerly agreed to a beer, but only if it was a Miller
High Life. “It’s the Champagne of beers, ya know. Ya can’t get this back in the
Shetlands!” It was the cheapest beer on the menu, but made for a priceless
conversation.
High Life is not to be confused with “Champale” the portmanteau for another
brand of old-time “fancy” beer, technically a malt liquor brewed with
champagne-style yeast and sold only in the finest inner-city liquor stores.
Joel Mabus, Kalamazoo, Michigan
From: Linda Rollin (linda.Rollin colostate.edu)
Subject: portmanteau
In Denver, Colorado, the highlight of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
holiday is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade, enjoyed by parade fans and
marchers alike.
Linda Rollin, Fort Collins, Colorado
From: Margaret Lewis (emell wavecable.com)
Subject: portmanteau
I am a resident of Northern California, in the heart of the “Emerald Triangle”.
We have a seasonal influx of people from all over the world to work in the
industry to trim the harvest for market. They have been dubbed trimmigrants.
I have a running buddy who is also skilled at juggling. Sometimes he
juggles while jogging. He calls it “joggling”.
Lenny Maughan, San Francisco, California
From: Jim Saksa (james.f.saksa gmail.com)
Subject: blend words
As a Philadelphian, I love this week’s theme. Philly is portmanteau crazy --
we just love to create blends using “Phila-” “-adelphia” and “Philly”.
Here’s a short list of examples from this article
I wrote for Philadelphia Magazine a few years back: PhilaDanco!,
PhilaSoup, Philabundance, PhilaFound, PhilaKids Medical-Legal Partnership,
Philadoptables, Philaposh, YOUTHadelphia, PhilaMOCA, Geekadelphia,
Danceadelphia, Tankadelphia, Philaphilia, Philadelinquency, Philahoops,
Paradelphia, Philebrity, Vapordelphia, Grilladelphia, Aphillyated,
Aphillyation, Philadelphonic, and Philagrafika.
There are dozens more out there. The latest: Trumpadelphia, a newsletter
from the local paper on the impact of the new President on the region.
Jim Saksa, Reporter, WHYY/PlanPhilly, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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From: Ray Lebowski (biglebowski1128 gmail.com)
Subject: portmanteau
Here in Ohio, it is common and very regrettable for primary and middle
schools to use one room as the cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium. They’re
technically described as “multi-purpose rooms”, which, like the 1960-70s
multi-purpose stadiums (stadia?) built for baseball, football, soccer,
concerts, etc., were used for many purposes but good at none of them. We
usually call them “cafegymtoriums” or “auditernasiums”, and they are poor
excuses for all three. At least half of the day, you have no gym and no
auditorium; and when you need it as an auditorium, you have no gym and
may have to change the lunch schedule.
With reference to this week’s theme, I’d like to add “cremains” to the
list. I heard it first at the funeral home after my mother passed away. At
the time, I was offended; she spent 82 years on this planet and we don’t
even have the time to spend two words on her? Expediency can be cold.
Karen Pierce, Colorado Springs, Colorado
From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: solunar and dripple
In mulling over the definition of the portmanteau “solunar”, the unique
mating ritual of our local California grunion came to mind. Peak season
for this frenzied spawning orgy runs from late March into June, with each
mating “run” lasting from two to six consecutive nights, coming after a
full or new moon, beginning soon after high tide. Each event can last for
several hours.
The fertile female grunion wiggle their posteriors into the wet sand,
burying themselves up to gill level, proceeding to deposit thousands of
eggs, while a wriggling mass of males squirm-and-squirt around the
egg-laying females, releasing their milt. Weeks later, a new generation
of tiny grunion will emerge. Needless to say, a newborn grunion would
have a heck of a time determining its paternity. Ha!
Sadly, this flagging desperado is a goner... down to his very last
dripple. Alas, cartoon illustrations aren’t always a barrel of laughs...
or a full canteen of agua, for that matter.
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California
From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Anagrams of this week’s words
From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Limericks
This once rare treat has glocalized.
“Oh, that is sweet!” fans vocalized.
They smear this rich spread
On their breakfast bread.
If only it were no-cal-ized.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)
Our Trumpster thinks not of glocalization.
Re: Euro affairs -- no agonization.
But if Europe be damned,
Why’d he visit that land?
To seek the Pope’s vow of canonization?
-Anna C Johnston, Coarsegold, California (ajohnston13 gmail.com)
“Overseas, Mr. Trump, when you socialize,”
Said Cheney, “Please urge them to mobilize.
They’ll purchase with thanks
Airplanes, missiles, and tanks,
For all manner of weapons we glocalize.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
“Who cares if it’s evening, or noon, or
mid-morning?” the young honeymooner
advises his bride.
“We needn’t abide
by conventional ruling solunar!”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)
Said the smitten honeymooner,
To his lady love and spooner,
“The sun and moon in sky
Is as steadfast as I,
For our love will be solunar.”
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)
We were nu de under glory solunar
On our boat and engaged in a nooner.
When out of the blue
We heard, “Beautiful view!”
From above where there flew a ballooner.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
There’s Ortega and Assad and Trump,
I judder with each such a schlump.
An unholy alliance,
Understanding no science,
While we watch global temperatures jump.
-Kathy Deutsch, Melbourne, Australia (kathy deutsch.net.au)
The movie made everyone judder.
They spilled all their popcorn and butter.
Some left in a fright
At Godzilla’s great height,
While the others were left with a stutter.
-Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (jpower wowway.com)
While searching for words portmanteau,
my “little grey cells” how they glow;
my skull starts to judder,
soon my brain will be butter!
All because of those ten cups of joe.
-Brenda J. Gannam, Brooklyn, New York (gannamconsulting earthlink.net)
“When I grab them, they melt just like butter,”
Said Trump, “It’s with pleasure they judder.
I’ve never been wrong
For I think with my schlong.
My good brain with the facts I don’t clutter.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
When first he began to tipple,
He asked for a drop, a dripple.
Now he drinks a lot;
In fact, he’s a sot,
And he says, “Gimme a triple.”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)
If you want to cause a slight verbal ripple,
Not be a staid lexicon cripple,
Try an approach nouveau:
Make a portmanteau
By blending drip/dribble into a dripple.
-Judith Marks-White, Westport, Connecticut (joodthmw gmail.com)
In my youth with one look at a nipple
That night I’d be good for a triple.
But now it’s the loo
‘Stead of pitching the woo
That I seek in the dark for a dripple.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
Masstige pearls are magnificent,
Though so little money is spent.
People often pause
Sharing oohs and aahs,
Leaving the wearer quite content.
-Lois Mowat, Orinda, California (loscamil aol.com)
Said the chamberlain unto his liege,
“The castle, my lord’s under siege!
Meet the rabbles’ demands
and it might stay their hands;
a few items of food and mastige.”
-Zelda Dvoretzky, Haifa, Israel (zeldahaifa gmail.com)
Kathy Lee shouted out, “Please, Reege,”
On Philbin’s endorsements, masstige
Said, “You’re a shill, honey,
With products for money.”
Regis replied, “Noblesse oblige.”
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)
From: Phil Graham (pgraham1946 cox.net)
Subject: Are a seaman’s left-foot phalanges portmanteaux?
When Mr. Gloca perjured himself, the prosecutor said, “Glocalize!”
With hatchet in hand, Carrie Nation made every solunar target.
Marilyn Monroe liked to judder chest out.
The British Raj thought, “That Gandhi dripple never amount to much.”
I feel pun upon by Anu. Why masstige of these AWADs be so difficult?
Phil Graham, Tulsa, Oklahoma
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be,
I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school
mountain, but there in the sand pile at Sunday School. These are the things
I learned. These are the things you already know: Share everything. Play
fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your
own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you
hurt somebody. -Robert Fulghum, author (b. 4 Jun 1937)
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