AWADmail Issue 280
Nov 11, 2007
A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day
and Other Interesting Tidbits about Words and Languages
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From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the net
Mel Brooks Starts Nonprofit Foundation To Save Word 'Schmuck':
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/mel_brooks_starts_nonprofit
(spoof)
I Sound Like What in Japanese?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0917/p19s01-hfes.html
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From: William Abbott (wbabbott3 comcast.net)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--aliterate
Refer: http://wordsmith.org/words/aliterate.html
Maybe I am an achronoliterate (I made that up), someone who does not
have enough time to read everything that he wants to read!
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From: Chris Palmer (chris.palmer medschl.cam.ac.uk)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--aliterate
> Aliterates stand somewhere between literates and illiterates. They can
> read but don't want to. Whether they can alliterate, we're not sure.
Two points:
1. Not sure if they like to drop trash either, i.e. go alittering;
and, alliteratively, an appropriate anecdote...
2. Once our five-year-old neighbour asked me at inopportune time, "Can you
read this book to me?" to which I apologised "Oh, I'm sorry I can't". Now
I know that his seriously spoken reply of "Well, my Mum can!" was actually
a case of mistaking illiteracy for aliteracy.
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From: Andrew Pressburger (andrew.pressburger primus.ca)
Subject: aliterate vs illiterate
The formulation is analogous to the difference between amoral and immoral.
One doesn't give a damn, the other damns himself.
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From: Geoffrey Neill (gneill counties.org)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--habile
Refer: http://wordsmith.org/words/habile.html
Thank you as always for the derivation; this one took me back to my
college anthropology class in which we learned about "homo habilis", one
of our hominid predecessors and possibly ancestors. I suppose those who
named them as such presumed they were able (perhaps as opposed to Cain).
Thanks for the thousands of words you have shared with me through the
years; you've followed me through three different email addresses now!
One of the gargle or loyal word lovers.
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From: Lindsey (lsalloom yahoo.com)
Subject: FreeRice.com
A site went up on October 7 called http://freerice.com. Through a word
game, they donate 10 grains of rice through the UN for every correct answer.
The game itself is quite interesting, and the idea of course is brilliant.
A haven for word aficionados with any concerns about world hunger.
............................................................................
Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to
escape reproach. -Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)
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What does a curfew have to do with fire, pavilion with a butterfly, and
muscle with a mouse? Learn all this, and more, in Anu Garg's new book:
The Dord, the Diglot, and an Avocado or Two: The Hidden Lives and Strange
Origins of Common and Not-So-Common Words (ISBN 9780452288614).
Order it at your favorite store or at: http://wordsmith.org/awad/book3.html
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