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Comment on schorl by schrol | Sesquiotica

schrol | Sesquiotica — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:25:02 +0000

[…] called schrol by people who misspell it, I should say. It’s actually schorl. And it’s pronounced like “shorl.” The word comes from German schörl, and it’s not clear […]

Comment on kneck by schrol | Sesquiotica

schrol | Sesquiotica — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:20:04 +0000

[…] come to assume that the less phonetic spelling is the correct one if we’re not sure. That’s how kneck has come to be a spelling for […]

Comment on Where English got all those English words other languages borrowed by Weekly favorites (May 6-12) | Adventures in Freelance Translation

Weekly favorites (May 6-12) | Adventures in Freelance Translation — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:24:59 +0000

[…] test required YouTube & Video Marketing for Global Brands: Get With It Or You’re Done Where English got all those English words other languages borrowed Languages Your Company Should Speak (But Has Never Heard) Audio blog: finding direct clients […]

Comment on coolth by ryan

ryan — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:06:53 +0000

The problem with coolth isn’t in the dictionary, it’s in our mouths. The lax vowels of filth and wealth aren’t as concerned about their ‘lth. Coolth simply isn’t ‘lthy. To draw on examples someone else gave, tilth was overtaken by tillage for similar reasons. If you want a proper Germanic suffix for cool, and you want it to be successful with native speakers, you need to look for guidance to someone actively engaged in reshaping the language, maybe a rapper, ideally a rapper whose name is a nominal form of the word cool, maybe using the old -jo suffix that’s particularly common in Old Norse. Maybe someone like Coolio could help.

Comment on coolth by sesquiotic

sesquiotic — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:43:55 +0000

Chill has quite a lot of specific associations and overtones, and when referring purely to temperature generally connotes a colder temperature than cool. It is also its own noun/verb/adjective set, so it would have to do double duty to sub in for coolth. There's no point in talking about reclaiming chill from its current usage if you're going to insist on going with the army you have, not the one you wish you had. But language is every-changing and is malleable and inventive, and sometimes you can conjure up real soldiers from clay – or find existing ones you didn't know about. As people love to point out, Shakespeare did. Actually, many of the words we use now were just plain invented or assembled from available bits rather than evolving from time immemorial. So if people start using coolth and it catches on, well, we have a usable word. If not, we don't. Of course you need to know your audience and intent. In many texts and contexts you can't easily get away with using a new word unless it conforms to a well-established pattern (usually of mixing classical roots and affixes). But sometimes you can.

Comment on coolth by ryan

ryan — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:02:07 +0000

Chill is the nominal form. It doesn’t work as well for a pleasing chill, but you speak with the army you have, not the army you wish you had. We need to reclaim chill from its pejorators.

Comment on to wit by Kathleen Lynch

Kathleen Lynch — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:12:53 +0000

The owl-y owl of my mind, gives a whit and a hoot and says thanks! re: your poem comment.

Comment on to wit by sesquiotic

sesquiotic — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:48:58 +0000

And that is an excellent poem!

Comment on to wit by sesquiotic

sesquiotic — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:48:09 +0000

I am happy to say it is not current biography. I went for it about 15 years ago and have not regretted it!

Comment on to wit by Chuck Crawford

Chuck Crawford — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:49:27 +0000

Clever and fun! Thanks for the smiles.