Inventing words?

[astushkin]

As a bit of a word Nazi (fewer than/less than, John and I/John and me, rein/reign, etc.), I occasionally surprise myself by putting words in my stories that I invented. (Maybe that's my 'fingerprint'.)

For example "brinking": He thrust his brinking organ in to the hilt

Today I couldn't find the word that conveyed what I wanted, so I came up with "robustify": faster and faster with the robustifying motions

(I'm not sure about that one yet!)

Sometimes I can't find the right word...sometimes I'm tired of the same frequently used vocabulary of erotic prose and want something fresh. I laugh at myself for the silliness, word-nerd that I am.

No one has called me out on it so far --- maybe readers recognize they're not real but think they work, or maybe they sound like real words and are not noticed in the sea of words of my excessively long stories!

Has anyone else ever invented your own words for stories? Language is supposedly a living thing, so why shouldn't we?

 

[NotWise]

Has anyone else ever invented your own words for stories? Language is supposedly a living thing, so why shouldn't we?

I don't and the reason is pretty simple; I want the readers to understand what I'm saying.

If I can't find that special word for a situation, then I find a different way to write it.

 

[XerXesXu]

As a bit of a word Nazi (fewer than/less than, John and I/John and me, rein/reign, etc.), I occasionally surprise myself by putting words in my stories that I invented. (Maybe that's my 'fingerprint'.)

For example "brinking": He thrust his brinking organ in to the hilt

Today I couldn't find the word that conveyed what I wanted, so I came up with "robustify": faster and faster with the robustifying motions

(I'm not sure about that one yet!)

Sometimes I can't find the right word...sometimes I'm tired of the same frequently used vocabulary of erotic prose and want something fresh. I laugh at myself for the silliness, word-nerd that I am.

No one has called me out on it so far --- maybe readers recognize they're not real but think they work, or maybe they sound like real words and are not noticed in the sea of words of my excessively long stories!

Has anyone else ever invented your own words for stories? Language is supposedly a living thing, so why shouldn't we?

Yes. If a new word is needed I coin one. A couple of days ago I coined 'polyamour', there was no existing single word and I wanted to avoid excessive explanation.

If no one invented words we wouldn't have any.

 

[yowser]

Big difference if it is dialogue or narration.

The former is fine within limits, as spoken enthusiasms can reveal character tics and quirks, provoke humor or endearing scenes.

But the second, unless done with spot-on awareness, comes off as pompous.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think it's perfectly OK as long as it meets the essential test: will your readers understand it, based upon the context?

If they will, go for it. But excercise good judgment about whether you will be understood.

 

[KeithD]

I occasionally bend existing words--or make them a form you won't find in the dictionary--that arrest attention while being understandable in context.

 

[sophism]

I remember when I was applying for university and got red lines every time I wrote 'impactful.' In my experience that word no longer gets flagged. While language is dynamic and we should take advantage of that fact, I also think it can be a fine line to walk between beneficial and pompous (as someone else put it).

I essentially work as an editor, and the central question I always work with writers on is 'how understandable is this for a reader?" Oftentimes as writers we have to 'dumb down' what we write for the sake of our audiences - so I don't really invent words when I'm writing for an audience. Any time that a reader has to stop and wonder at what your wording actually means isn't the best writing, in my opinion.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes. If a new word is needed I coin one. A couple of days ago I coined 'polyamour', there was no existing single word and I wanted to avoid excessive explanation.

As in what meaning? Polyamor has been around for a while.

 

[XerXesXu]

As in what meaning? Polyamor has been around for a while.

Interesting. Where?

 

[NotWise]

Interesting. Where?

Polyamory/polyamoury has been around for a while. It's in Merriam-Webster. It might be in the Oxford. The date of origin varies with source, but at least about 30 years ago.

I would take polyamor/polyamour to mean someone who practices polyamory/polyamoury. Is that they way you used it?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Interesting. Where?

Wikipedia entry, dictionary definitions, first page of my search engine. First appeared in 1990, apparently. If you'd asked when I first saw it used, I'd have said a couple of decades ago, so not far wrong.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Polyamory/polyamoury has been around for a while. It's in Merriam-Webster. It might be in the Oxford. The date of origin varies with source, but at least about 30 years ago.

I would take polyamor/polyamour to mean someone who practices polyamory/polyamoury. Is that they way you used it?

Did a quick search for polyamor and came up with this.

AliExpressHome & Garden"polyamor" (133 Results)

Looking for a good deal on polyamor? Explore a wide range of the best polyamor on AliExpress to find one that suits you! Besides good quality brands, you’ll also find plenty of discounts when you shop for polyamor during big sales. Don’t forget one crucial step - filter for items that offer bonus perks like free shipping & free return to make the most of your online shopping experience!

I wonder if that comes with free shipping?

 

[XerXesXu]

Wikipedia entry, dictionary definitions, first page of my search engine. First appeared in 1990, apparently. If you'd asked when I first saw it used, I'd have said a couple of decades ago, so not far wrong.

Which Wikipedia? Mine has 'polyamorist'.

 

[XerXesXu]

Polyamory/polyamoury has been around for a while. It's in Merriam-Webster. It might be in the Oxford. The date of origin varies with source, but at least about 30 years ago.

I would take polyamor/polyamour to mean someone who practices polyamory/polyamoury. Is that they way you used it?

"She was home, the polyamour who cast bait liberally and successfully."

 

[mynameisben]

Yes I do, but very rarely. And when I do, the meaning of the word I coined is so obvious you would think it was a legitimate word.


Ben

 

[ElectricBlue]

Which Wikipedia? Mine has 'polyamorist'.

Bit pedantic there? Polyamory.

 

[XerXesXu]

Bit pedantic there? Polyamory.

A blend of paramour and polyamoury. I wasn't aware of polyamorist, it sounds clunky.

I didn't know that polyamorists have a flag and a day, 23rd November. Perhaps I'll celebrate.

 

[ElectricBlue]

A blend of paramour and polyamoury. I wasn't aware of polyamorist, it sounds clunky.

I didn't know that polyamorists have a flag and a day, 27th November. Perhaps I'll celebrate.

That's the problem with all these badges that people want to give themselves. It gets to be a case of, "Look at me, I've got an identity because I'm wearing a badge and I've got a colourful hat."

 

[SimonDoom]

Context matters a lot with this issue.

For decades, before I started writing fiction, I was engaged in a profession where I had to write constantly, and I knew my writing would be read by highly intelligent, well-educated people many of whom were extremely accomplished and picky with their English. Any misspellings, poor punctuation, poor grammar, or improper word use would be noticed and would make me look bad. So I developed conservative writing habits -- and judgments.

Now that I'm writing fiction my judgments have relaxed a lot.

In science fiction and fantasy, authors make up new words all the time. I'm reading Neal Stephenson's Anathem, and it takes place on a fictional planet that has human beings but an entirely different culture, and a complex vocabulary you have to master to have any idea what's going on. I think I spend as much time thumbing through the glossary as I do reading the text.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I don't and the reason is pretty simple; I want the readers to understand what I'm saying.

If I can't find that special word for a situation, then I find a different way to write it.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe. ​

C’mon, Notwise, tell me that Carroll should have stuck with OED words!

There are always exceptions.

 

[NotWise]

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe. ​

C’mon, Notwise, tell me that Carroll should have stuck with OED words!

There are always exceptions.

Of course there are, and Yowser pointed out a good one. A character might make up words in dialog.

 

[rescatooor]

People invent words all the time. Even if we aren't presented with their definitions, you can do clever tricks with sound and similarity to other words, as well as utilizing context to give the words meaning without giving straight-up translations.

When I used to take classes on translation, we often worked with that Jabberwocky poem. The challenge is in translating meaningful jibberish into meaningful jibberish. It's quite a fun exercise.

 

[SamScribble]

I was reviewing a story for a friend in which she had used the word lascaviscious three times. The word was a new one on me. But, from the context, it seemed that she meant lascivious. ‘A typo perhaps?’ I asked.

‘It started out as a typo,’ she said. ‘But I sort of liked it. So now it’s a new word.’

And so are new words created.

 

[MillieDynamite]

In the movie, All Through the Night, starting Humphrey Bogart and William Demiherst, they give a fine exapmle of made up words, called doublespeak.

Sunshine: "Well, the way l figure it is...."

Gloves: "Yeah, the scradavan is on the paratoot right next to the moctus proctus."

Sunshine: "That is correct. The scradavan is on the paratoot... next to the moctus proctus and 100 feet deep."

Goves: "According to my calculations, if we can keep this up, we'll be okay. Right?"

Sunshine: "Right. The episootic is on the trabaha mit trabahanus... mit line block oom da agar, and we must not fail."

They are in a room of Nazi spies, and giving a report to them, pretending to be demolitions experts. Somehow, it worked, I mean watching it, it sounded real even though they were desperately trying to keep the bad guys confused for just a few moments while they thought how to get out of this alive.

As to me, I don't generally coin my own words. Not my style.

 

[Comshaw]

Two ways words make their way into the English lexicon: we adopt them from another language, or someone somewhere makes them up. An example of made up words: byte and all its derivatives. It didn't exist 70 years ago, but it's now a common part of our language.

That said I agree with earlier comments that a made up word must make sense to the reader or at least entertain them. If it does neither it dulls the reader's interest and in extreme circumstances piss them off to the point they will abandon the story at that point.

In other words, if it works it could be a huge enhancement for a story. If it doesn't, you've crapped in your own shoe. Choose wisely.

Comshaw