Preserve the concinnity of English, caterwauls American university

[Handley_Page]

You gotta see this: HERE.

Wayne State Uni seems to think it's advantageous. HERE.

No wonder other nations think English is difficult.

 

[Bramblethorn]

You gotta see this: HERE.

Wayne State Uni seems to think it's advantageous. HERE.

No wonder other nations think English is difficult.

I didn't know "caterwaul" had gone away!

 

[oggbashan]

I looked at the start of their master list.

I use many of the words on the first couple of pages, in my writing and when talking.

 

[Handley_Page]

I looked at the start of their master list.

I use many of the words on the first couple of pages, in my writing and when talking.

I was surprised by the number I recognised and actually Use.

 

[desertslave]

I looked at the start of their master list.

I use many of the words on the first couple of pages, in my writing and when talking.

I can't decide if they're out of touch, linguistically, or I'm just an archaic writer.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't use many of the words on their top-ten list, and probably wouldn't (although I'm now looking for an opportunity to use flapdoodle again sometime). Nearly all of them would send me to a dictionary, which is not a trip you really want your reader taking when reading erotica.

 

[SamScribble]

I can only assume that it's a generational thing. More than a few of the words from the longer list, I use on an almost daily basis. Although 'bumbershoot' is a new one - to me, anyway. I shall have to try to work it into conversation.

 

[Hypoxia]

BOFFIN does not make the list. Pity.

 

[DreamCloud]

Maybe a yearly contest - all stories must use each of the 10 words. That way we can find out if we can build concinnity between them.

Okay, there is no flow there - some words deserve to die.

 

[Handley_Page]

BOFFIN does not make the list. Pity.

It would had the list been an English one, perhaps.

Maybe a yearly contest - all stories must use each of the 10 words. That way we can find out if we can build concinnity between them.

Okay, there is no flow there - some words deserve to die.

Like the idea of a contest.

 

[49greg]

I like "melange", fourth down on the list. I first heard it used in the seventies, I think, on the TV series "the odd couple", the sloppy guy had made some horrible casserole out of a mixture of left overs. The neatnik called it a melange, so the slob named it "Goop Melange". (I can never remember which of them was Oscar and which was Felix.)

 

[Handley_Page]

I like "melange", fourth down on the list. I first heard it used in the seventies, I think, on the TV series "the odd couple", the sloppy guy had made some horrible casserole out of a mixture of left overs. The neatnik called it a melange, so the slob named it "Goop Melange". (I can never remember which of them was Oscar and which was Felix.)

The film music was fantastic. (Neil Hefty?)

 

[oggbashan]

This is their Top Ten List

Caterwaul: A shrill howling or wailing noise.
Concinnity: The skilful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something.
Knavery: A roguish or mischievous act.
Mélange: A mixture of different things.
Rapscallion: A mischievous person.
Opsimath: A person who begins to learn or study only late in life.
Obambulate: To walk about.
Philistine: A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them.
Flapdoodle: Nonsense.
Subtopia: Monotonous urban sprawl of standardised buildings.

 

[Hypoxia]

Caterwaul: A shrill howling or wailing noise.
Concinnity: The skilful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something.
Knavery: A roguish or mischievous act.
Mélange: A mixture of different things.
Rapscallion: A mischievous person.
Opsimath: A person who begins to learn or study only late in life.
Obambulate: To walk about.
Philistine: A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them.
Flapdoodle: Nonsense.
Subtopia: Monotonous urban sprawl of standardised buildings.

We have words. We understand some of those words, or at least we delude ourselves thus. I am quite familiar with Caterwaul and Knavery and Mélange (although that word may fool many Anglophones) and Rapscallion and Philistine and Flapdoodle. No problem. I see the derivation of Subtopia though I've not previously encountered it. IMHO Caterwaul and Rapscallion and Flapdoodle are approaching obsolescence.

Concinnity and Opsimath and Obambulate have never before crossed my eyeballs AFAIK; I must strain referents to make sense of them. And I consider myself fairly widely read. If such words are mysteries to me, they would totally discombobulate most readers. Is communication the goal, or self-entertainment? I can entertain myself with hopelessly obscure words. I'm sure my few remaining readers would be quite confused, bored, and vengeful.

I heartily recommend MRS. BYRNE'S DICTIONARY OF UNUSUAL, OBSCURE, AND PREPOSTEROUS WORDS by Josefa Heifetz Byrne (daughter of Jascha Heifitz) as a guide to language that should NOT be used for communications, not if I wish to Sagaciate as a writer. (Look it up.)

 

[Handley_Page]

We have words. We understand some of those words, or at least we delude ourselves thus. I am quite familiar with Caterwaul and Knavery and Mélange (although that word may fool many Anglophones) and Rapscallion and Philistine and Flapdoodle. No problem. I see the derivation of Subtopia though I've not previously encountered it. IMHO Caterwaul and Rapscallion and Flapdoodle are approaching obsolescence.

Concinnity and Opsimath and Obambulate have never before crossed my eyeballs AFAIK; I must strain referents to make sense of them. And I consider myself fairly widely read. If such words are mysteries to me, they would totally discombobulate most readers. Is communication the goal, or self-entertainment? I can entertain myself with hopelessly obscure words. I'm sure my few remaining readers would be quite confused, bored, and vengeful.

I heartily recommend MRS. BYRNE'S DICTIONARY OF UNUSUAL, OBSCURE, AND PREPOSTEROUS WORDS by Josefa Heifetz Byrne (daughter of Jascha Heifitz) as a guide to language that should NOT be used for communications, not if I wish to Sagaciate as a writer. (Look it up.)

How very sagacious of you.
I'm not convinced by Obambulate (I suspect a political joke, here), 'cos as far as I know the word Ambulate is the more right one.
Flapdoodle sounds a very American word.
Rapscallion is from c18th as far as I'm aware.

But tell me please, where can one obtain a copy of Mrs Byrne's Book ?

 

[sr71plt]

http://www.amazon.com/Indispensable...&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=joshepa+heifetz+byrnes

 

[Handley_Page]

http://www.amazon.com/Indispensable...&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=joshepa+heifetz+byrnes

Amazon seems to think that the UK is in another galaxy with different software.
I'll check the UK's version later.
Thanks for the tip!

 

[sr71plt]

Ah, yes, UK Amazon is a separate system, but it's likely to handle the book and gives you a place to start.

 

[SamScribble]

I heartily recommend MRS. BYRNE'S DICTIONARY OF UNUSUAL, OBSCURE, AND PREPOSTEROUS WORDS by Josefa Heifetz Byrne (daughter of Jascha Heifitz) as a guide to language that should NOT be used for communications, not if I wish to Sagaciate as a writer. (Look it up.)

Ah, yes. I have spent many a happy hour with Mrs Byrne - well, with her dictionary anyway.

 

[Hypoxia]

How very sagacious of you.

Sagaciate is defined as 'thrive'. Go figure.

I'm not convinced by Obambulate (I suspect a political joke, here), 'cos as far as I know the word Ambulate is the more right one.

My suspicion, also.

But tell me please, where can one obtain a copy of Mrs Byrne's Book ?

My old Washington Square Press paperback was a dime at a thrift shop.

Ah, yes. I have spent many a happy hour with Mrs Byrne - well, with her dictionary anyway.

I wrote some absolutely impenetrable song lyrics with Mrs Byrne's help. I should dig those up and post them. Why should I be the only one to suffer?

 

[Handley_Page]

Sagaciate is defined as 'thrive'. Go figure.

My suspicion, also.

My old Washington Square Press paperback was a dime at a thrift shop.

I wrote some absolutely impenetrable song lyrics with Mrs Byrne's help. I should dig those up and post them. Why should I be the only one to suffer?

Pilot was kind enough to point me at Amazon USA who seems to have a copy or three.
That said, if you find another copy at a similar thrift shop, do please let me know !

 

[sr71plt]

Here it is from Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-...&qid=1421448282&sr=1-1&keywords=josefa+byrnes

 

[Handley_Page]

Here it is from Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-...&qid=1421448282&sr=1-1&keywords=josefa+byrnes

Pilot,
Thank you kindly.

 

[CharleneBarr]

I thought of sending them 'recalesce', which means to become hot again after cooling off. I thought that even if they don't accept it, it's probably got a grateful home on this site......

 

[Handley_Page]

I thought of sending them 'recalesce', which means to become hot again after cooling off. I thought that even if they don't accept it, it's probably got a grateful home on this site......

Good Word, that.