language archives
Oct
31
2007
Sep
20
2007
flick-arr!
I love how Flickr got into the spirit of things for yesterday’s Talk Like a Pirate Day. The site, which offers a variety of language options (from English to Chinese to Portuguese), added a “pirate” language option for the…
I love how Flickr got into the spirit of things for yesterday’s Talk Like a Pirate Day. The site, which offers a variety of language options (from English to Chinese to Portuguese), added a “pirate” language option for the…
Sep
18
2007
quote of the day: small talk
“Small talk is small in every way except when you try to get around it. Then it’s enormous.” — Chip Kidd on avoiding awkward conversations, in the novel …
“Small talk is small in every way except when you try to get around it. Then it’s enormous.” — Chip Kidd on avoiding awkward conversations, in the novel …
Aug
22
2007
word of the day: meh-tastic
Spotted today in a comment thread on DCist: Naan and Beyond is meh-tastic. Ugh. “Meh” — as in, “an expression of indifference and and a decided lack of enthusiasm, bordering on disdain.” The “tastic” suffix just multiplies the inherent “meh”-ness…
Spotted today in a comment thread on DCist: Naan and Beyond is meh-tastic. Ugh. “Meh” — as in, “an expression of indifference and and a decided lack of enthusiasm, bordering on disdain.” The “tastic” suffix just multiplies the inherent “meh”-ness…
Aug
15
2006
a story in search terms
Much has been made recently of AOL’s inadvertent public release of its logs of user search terms. Doug took a look at the data and came up with some fairly sad, PostSecret-like narratives, told through individual users’ interactions with the…
Much has been made recently of AOL’s inadvertent public release of its logs of user search terms. Doug took a look at the data and came up with some fairly sad, PostSecret-like narratives, told through individual users’ interactions with the…
Feb
22
2006
life imitates art
A new contest announced in this week’s iTunes Music Store “New Music Tuesday” e-mail sounds like a certain Saturday Night Live sketch come to life: Win A Private Showby Prince at His Home Universal/Motown has the ultimate prize for the…
A new contest announced in this week’s iTunes Music Store “New Music Tuesday” e-mail sounds like a certain Saturday Night Live sketch come to life: Win A Private Showby Prince at His Home Universal/Motown has the ultimate prize for the…
Dec
16
2005
zeitgeist
Just as it’s interesting to see what kind of traffic search engines direct my way, it’s also fascinating to see what people are searching for in general. With the end of the year approaching, Yahoo! has posted a list of…
Just as it’s interesting to see what kind of traffic search engines direct my way, it’s also fascinating to see what people are searching for in general. With the end of the year approaching, Yahoo! has posted a list of…
Dec
13
2005
too addicted
From the makers of addictive typing game Letters2 comes Words, which is just like Letters except you’re typing words rather than individual letters. I actually like it better, because with Letters I kept trying to find some kind of order…
From the makers of addictive typing game Letters2 comes Words, which is just like Letters except you’re typing words rather than individual letters. I actually like it better, because with Letters I kept trying to find some kind of order…
Nov
22
2005
rhetorical strategies
The Post’s Howard Kurtz explains the rhetorical flourishes politicos use to smear each other and renounce the blame for said smearing: It is an age-old device in politics, making a personal slam sound more high-minded by attributing it to someone…
The Post’s Howard Kurtz explains the rhetorical flourishes politicos use to smear each other and renounce the blame for said smearing: It is an age-old device in politics, making a personal slam sound more high-minded by attributing it to someone…
Oct
22
2005
news lingo decoded
Lost Remote has a funny list decoding frequently-used terms heard on television news. The list explains what the terms used to mean, and what they mean now. Among my favorites: “We have new details…” OLD: We have found out additional…
Lost Remote has a funny list decoding frequently-used terms heard on television news. The list explains what the terms used to mean, and what they mean now. Among my favorites: “We have new details…” OLD: We have found out additional…
Sep
19
2005
the pirate made me do it
Once again, it’s time for the annual Talk Like a Pirate Day. The Going Out Gurus at washingtonpost.com last week offered a list of ways to celebrate the occasion here in the D.C. area. Arrr….
Once again, it’s time for the annual Talk Like a Pirate Day. The Going Out Gurus at washingtonpost.com last week offered a list of ways to celebrate the occasion here in the D.C. area. Arrr….
Aug
17
2005
silver surfer
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It’s a cute play on words, particularly if you’re a comic book aficionado. I’d never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,…
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It’s a cute play on words, particularly if you’re a comic book aficionado. I’d never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,…
Aug
4
2005
snarkfest
I must express my love for one of my favorite domain names ever: SnarkMarket.com. (It comes a close second to SnarkyBlue.com.) I love how “snark” is carried through the site, like the “permasnark” for each entry. Related: See the entry…
I must express my love for one of my favorite domain names ever: SnarkMarket.com. (It comes a close second to SnarkyBlue.com.) I love how “snark” is carried through the site, like the “permasnark” for each entry. Related: See the entry…
Jul
15
2005
blogger on the street
Fascinating story in this month’s Wired about Jorn Barger, one of the first bloggers: He says he avoids the need for a job by living on less than a dollar a day. “I was carrying a cardboard sign when we…
Fascinating story in this month’s Wired about Jorn Barger, one of the first bloggers: He says he avoids the need for a job by living on less than a dollar a day. “I was carrying a cardboard sign when we…
Jul
13
2005
podcast revolt
Microsoft is trying to banish the word “podcasting,” with its implicit reference to the popular Apple music player, in favor of the more generic “blogcasting,” according to reports cited by the Cult of Mac weblog. At this point, though, with…
Microsoft is trying to banish the word “podcasting,” with its implicit reference to the popular Apple music player, in favor of the more generic “blogcasting,” according to reports cited by the Cult of Mac weblog. At this point, though, with…
Jul
8
2005
seen: chimi translation
Spotted by Rob on the weblog glome: I got a chimichanga at a restaurant in Georgetown before the show, and my friend mistakenly called it chichi manga, which we all know in Japanese would have meant “breast comic book.”…
Spotted by Rob on the weblog glome: I got a chimichanga at a restaurant in Georgetown before the show, and my friend mistakenly called it chichi manga, which we all know in Japanese would have meant “breast comic book.”…
Jul
5
2005
folksonomy
I’ve been intrigued of late by the concept of “tagging.” It’s a deceptively simple idea: Organizing content — writing, photos, links and the like — by keyword. (I’m not keen on the working term for it, “folksonomy,” because I don’t…
I’ve been intrigued of late by the concept of “tagging.” It’s a deceptively simple idea: Organizing content — writing, photos, links and the like — by keyword. (I’m not keen on the working term for it, “folksonomy,” because I don’t…
Mar
3
2005
word of the day: vulturing
vulturing (noun) 1) The act of hovering outside lunchtime meetings in the hopes of scooping up leftover sandwiches and the like once the meeting ends; 2) Keeping an eye out for (and taking advantages of) opportunities for free food; 3)…
vulturing (noun) 1) The act of hovering outside lunchtime meetings in the hopes of scooping up leftover sandwiches and the like once the meeting ends; 2) Keeping an eye out for (and taking advantages of) opportunities for free food; 3)…
Feb
10
2005
princess consort
One of the big stories of the day is the announcement that Britain’s Prince Charles is going to marry longtime girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles in April. (BBC News: “Prince Charles to marry Camilla” - 02/10/05) It also was quickly announced…
One of the big stories of the day is the announcement that Britain’s Prince Charles is going to marry longtime girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles in April. (BBC News: “Prince Charles to marry Camilla” - 02/10/05) It also was quickly announced…
Feb
3
2005
mixed messages
I’m on Merriam-Webster’s “word of the day” e-mail list, and sometimes I wonder if there’s some kind of connection or meaning implied between the word sent out and current events. Take today, for example: The day after the president’s State…
I’m on Merriam-Webster’s “word of the day” e-mail list, and sometimes I wonder if there’s some kind of connection or meaning implied between the word sent out and current events. Take today, for example: The day after the president’s State…
Jan
26
2005
get local
Washington Post writer Peter Carlson writes today about the frequent use of “local man” and “local woman” in news headlines. (“Prints of a Guy” - 01/26/05) Local Man is famous. He doesn’t have a publicist, but he gets more ink…
Washington Post writer Peter Carlson writes today about the frequent use of “local man” and “local woman” in news headlines. (“Prints of a Guy” - 01/26/05) Local Man is famous. He doesn’t have a publicist, but he gets more ink…
Jan
6
2005
"who's your daddy" and the overuse of "community"
A couple of interesting articles of late related to language: Washington Post: “Conception of a Question: Who’s Your Daddy?” (01/04/05)On the origins and usage of the phrase “Who’s Your Daddy?” Washington Post: “Instant Community: No Assembly Required” (12/19/04)On the overuse of…
A couple of interesting articles of late related to language: Washington Post: “Conception of a Question: Who’s Your Daddy?” (01/04/05)On the origins and usage of the phrase “Who’s Your Daddy?” Washington Post: “Instant Community: No Assembly Required” (12/19/04)On the overuse of…
Jan
5
2005
foot, meet mouth
CNN executive Jonathan Klein made an unfortunate choice of words the other day in describing the cable news channel’s coverage of the south Asian tsunami to USA Today: CNN’s Jonathan Klein says that with producers and correspondents already stationed around…
CNN executive Jonathan Klein made an unfortunate choice of words the other day in describing the cable news channel’s coverage of the south Asian tsunami to USA Today: CNN’s Jonathan Klein says that with producers and correspondents already stationed around…
Dec
28
2004
quote of the day: alternatives
“Richard Dawkins, Wheen recalls, once pointed out that if an alternative remedy proves to be efficacious — that is to say, if it is shown to have curative properties in rigorous medical trials — then ‘it ceases to be an…
“Richard Dawkins, Wheen recalls, once pointed out that if an alternative remedy proves to be efficacious — that is to say, if it is shown to have curative properties in rigorous medical trials — then ‘it ceases to be an…
Dec
13
2004
mixed messages
Ah, the language of color. Take, for example, the many meanings of the color yellow… “Live Strong” is a popular cancer research fundraising effort that has embraced yellow as its primary color. However, the St. Petersburg Times reports that some…
Ah, the language of color. Take, for example, the many meanings of the color yellow… “Live Strong” is a popular cancer research fundraising effort that has embraced yellow as its primary color. However, the St. Petersburg Times reports that some…
Sep
19
2004
'tis that time again, matey
Avast! Once again, aye, ‘tis Talk Like a Pirate Day! And this time, the organizers even have a book to teach ye how to be talkin’ like a proper pirate. Get even more into character and get ye a pirate…
Avast! Once again, aye, ‘tis Talk Like a Pirate Day! And this time, the organizers even have a book to teach ye how to be talkin’ like a proper pirate. Get even more into character and get ye a pirate…
Aug
17
2004
seen: hunker down
“Hunker Down” Bingo A friend of mine here in St. Pete … told me that during the Hurricane evacuations Friday, she and her son played “hunker down bingo.” They waited until somebody on TV said the words “hunker down” then…
“Hunker Down” Bingo A friend of mine here in St. Pete … told me that during the Hurricane evacuations Friday, she and her son played “hunker down bingo.” They waited until somebody on TV said the words “hunker down” then…
Aug
7
2004
word of the day: quiddity
quiddity \KWID-uh-tee\ - noun *1 : whatever makes something the type that it is : essence 2 a : a trifling point : quibble b : crotchet, eccentricity Example sentence: “We wanted to enhance [the house] without ‘countrifying’ it —…
quiddity \KWID-uh-tee\ - noun *1 : whatever makes something the type that it is : essence 2 a : a trifling point : quibble b : crotchet, eccentricity Example sentence: “We wanted to enhance [the house] without ‘countrifying’ it —…
Jul
1
2004
word of the day: exsanguination
ex·san·gui·na·tion // (“)ek(s)-“sa[ng]-gw&-‘nA-sh&n - noun : the action or process of draining or losing blood - ex·san·gui·nate /ek(s)-‘sa[ng]-gw&-“nAt/ transitive verb (From m-w.com.) Why exsanguination? Because, its meaning aside, it’s just fun to say. It’s a lazy, drawling counterpoint to the…
ex·san·gui·na·tion // (“)ek(s)-“sa[ng]-gw&-‘nA-sh&n - noun : the action or process of draining or losing blood - ex·san·gui·nate /ek(s)-‘sa[ng]-gw&-“nAt/ transitive verb (From m-w.com.) Why exsanguination? Because, its meaning aside, it’s just fun to say. It’s a lazy, drawling counterpoint to the…
May
21
2004
word of the day: maffick
maffick \MAFF-ik\ - verb. : to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior (from m-w.com) See also: • celebrate (m-w.com) • commencement (georgetown.edu)…
maffick \MAFF-ik\ - verb. : to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior (from m-w.com) See also: • celebrate (m-w.com) • commencement (georgetown.edu)…
Mar
28
2004
word of the day: predatory satiation
A story in today’s Washington Post warns of the upcoming once-every-17-years cicada mating season, anticipated to begin within the next few weeks. Near the end of the article, the reporter writes about the insects’ defense mechanism: “predatory satiation” — a…
A story in today’s Washington Post warns of the upcoming once-every-17-years cicada mating season, anticipated to begin within the next few weeks. Near the end of the article, the reporter writes about the insects’ defense mechanism: “predatory satiation” — a…
Mar
18
2004
apostrophe
Grammar lesson of the day from an angry flower: “Bob’s Quick Guide to the Apostrophe, You Idiots” The copy editor / grammar geek in me shares his pain. (Thanks to Shawn for the link.)…
Grammar lesson of the day from an angry flower: “Bob’s Quick Guide to the Apostrophe, You Idiots” The copy editor / grammar geek in me shares his pain. (Thanks to Shawn for the link.)…
Mar
16
2004
in search of a name
There’s so much baggage wrapped up in the idea of a “name.” Will it embody the personality of the person or thing the name identifies? Does it portend good or bad things ahead? What does a name say about the…
There’s so much baggage wrapped up in the idea of a “name.” Will it embody the personality of the person or thing the name identifies? Does it portend good or bad things ahead? What does a name say about the…
Feb
12
2004
fun with language
Here’s a wonderful timesuck: wordorigins.org. The site offers a growing list of words and phrases, their “conventional wisdom” origin stories and their real etymology. Clicking through the site and reading the various write-ups is a lot of fun for a…
Here’s a wonderful timesuck: wordorigins.org. The site offers a growing list of words and phrases, their “conventional wisdom” origin stories and their real etymology. Clicking through the site and reading the various write-ups is a lot of fun for a…
Feb
9
2004
word of the day: ennui
ennui (“än-‘wE) - noun. French, from Old French enui annoyance, from enuier to annoy; a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : BOREDOM (from m-w.com) More definitions: • HyperDictionary.com • TheFreeDictionary.com (with literary examples) See also: • Film: Ghost World (2000)…
ennui (“än-‘wE) - noun. French, from Old French enui annoyance, from enuier to annoy; a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : BOREDOM (from m-w.com) More definitions: • HyperDictionary.com • TheFreeDictionary.com (with literary examples) See also: • Film: Ghost World (2000)…
Dec
23
2003
under construction
Googling for something else, I found an amusing site listing various Web site “under construction” graphics, with “translations” of what they mean. If writing a simple web page is so difficult for me that I compare it to doing hard…
Googling for something else, I found an amusing site listing various Web site “under construction” graphics, with “translations” of what they mean. If writing a simple web page is so difficult for me that I compare it to doing hard…
Dec
18
2003
mistranslation
A Salon.com profile of “Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson includes a curious anecdote about a “translation” of the comic. (“Brilliant Careers: Gary Larson” - 12/21/99) “The Far Side” was eventually picked up by 1,900 newspapers and translated into 17 languages….
A Salon.com profile of “Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson includes a curious anecdote about a “translation” of the comic. (“Brilliant Careers: Gary Larson” - 12/21/99) “The Far Side” was eventually picked up by 1,900 newspapers and translated into 17 languages….
Dec
7
2003
ap chinese
When I was in high school, I took a number of Advanced Placement classes. Do well enough in the class, and then well enough on the standardized test at the end of the semester, and you can earn college credit….
When I was in high school, I took a number of Advanced Placement classes. Do well enough in the class, and then well enough on the standardized test at the end of the semester, and you can earn college credit….
Oct
13
2003
broadcast tv: now with expletives
Will the f-word be creeping into more broadcast television programming soon? The FCC, which received several complaints after U2 singer Bono offhandedly used the f-word during the Golden Globe Awards, recently ruled that Bono’s use of the word did not…
Will the f-word be creeping into more broadcast television programming soon? The FCC, which received several complaints after U2 singer Bono offhandedly used the f-word during the Golden Globe Awards, recently ruled that Bono’s use of the word did not…
Oct
1
2003
word of the day: frog-march
The Washington Post did a whole story today about the colorful term “frog-march,” used recently by former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV regarding the person he suspects leaked his wife’s identity and occupation to several reporters: “At the end of…
The Washington Post did a whole story today about the colorful term “frog-march,” used recently by former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV regarding the person he suspects leaked his wife’s identity and occupation to several reporters: “At the end of…
Sep
29
2003
word of the day: suac
SUAC v. Acronym for “Shut Up and Color”. How Marketing and Engineering departments often think (or wish) design should be done. The above acronym/definition comes from usability guru Jeffrey Veen, in an Apr. 25 post about corporate jargon. Rob saw…
SUAC v. Acronym for “Shut Up and Color”. How Marketing and Engineering departments often think (or wish) design should be done. The above acronym/definition comes from usability guru Jeffrey Veen, in an Apr. 25 post about corporate jargon. Rob saw…
Sep
19
2003
avast
It’s a bit late in the day to be bringing it up, but I’ll mention it all the same. Today, September 19, once again marks the annual “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” How does one commemorate this holiday? Quite simple…
It’s a bit late in the day to be bringing it up, but I’ll mention it all the same. Today, September 19, once again marks the annual “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” How does one commemorate this holiday? Quite simple…
Aug
19
2003
wordplay
Today’s Washington Post notes President Bush’s first use of the word “combat” in referring to U.S. military activity in Iraq since his May 1 announcement of the end of “major combat operations.” Ironically, it came during an interview with the…
Today’s Washington Post notes President Bush’s first use of the word “combat” in referring to U.S. military activity in Iraq since his May 1 announcement of the end of “major combat operations.” Ironically, it came during an interview with the…
Jul
16
2003
fine
“Fine” is such a loaded word. On the surface, it’s fairly innocuous, synonymous with “okay,” “acceptable,” or “within established parameters.” But so often it means exactly the opposite. Depending on the situation and tone of voice, “fine” can mean any…
“Fine” is such a loaded word. On the surface, it’s fairly innocuous, synonymous with “okay,” “acceptable,” or “within established parameters.” But so often it means exactly the opposite. Depending on the situation and tone of voice, “fine” can mean any…
Apr
7
2003
googlewashed
The Register’s Andrew Orlowski writes about how the meaning of the phrase “second superpower” was “changed” via Google in seven weeks. (“Anti-war slogan coined, repurposed and Googlewashed … in 42 days” - 03/04/03) Although it took millions of people around…
The Register’s Andrew Orlowski writes about how the meaning of the phrase “second superpower” was “changed” via Google in seven weeks. (“Anti-war slogan coined, repurposed and Googlewashed … in 42 days” - 03/04/03) Although it took millions of people around…
Apr
1
2003
lost in the translation
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is running a campaign to get kids to stop drinking milk. The Orlando Sun-Sentinel reports that their slogan — “Dump Dairy” — acquired an unintended double meaning when translated to Spanish. (“Anti-milk…
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is running a campaign to get kids to stop drinking milk. The Orlando Sun-Sentinel reports that their slogan — “Dump Dairy” — acquired an unintended double meaning when translated to Spanish. (“Anti-milk…
Mar
11
2003
getting back at the french
CNN reports that two Republican congressmen have successfully campaigned to change the name of “French fries” and “French toast” offered at the House of Representatives’ cafeterias to “freedom fries” and “freedom toast.” (“House cafeterias change names for ‘french fries’ and…
CNN reports that two Republican congressmen have successfully campaigned to change the name of “French fries” and “French toast” offered at the House of Representatives’ cafeterias to “freedom fries” and “freedom toast.” (“House cafeterias change names for ‘french fries’ and…
Feb
27
2003
google doesn't want to be 'googled'
The Google Weblog reports that lawyers for search engine Google requested that the verb “google” be removed from, or its definition modified in, the online dictionary Word Spy. (“Google asks to be removed from dictionary” - 02/26/03) The WordSpy definition…
The Google Weblog reports that lawyers for search engine Google requested that the verb “google” be removed from, or its definition modified in, the online dictionary Word Spy. (“Google asks to be removed from dictionary” - 02/26/03) The WordSpy definition…
Feb
24
2003
the language of war
A goodly number of news media reports these days refer to an “impending war” against Iraq. An interesting article in the Chicago Tribune points out that the rampant use of this phrase could undermine the media’s supposed objectivity, as well…
A goodly number of news media reports these days refer to an “impending war” against Iraq. An interesting article in the Chicago Tribune points out that the rampant use of this phrase could undermine the media’s supposed objectivity, as well…
Feb
13
2003
how do you pronounce 'pecan'?
Harvard University has an interesting online dialect study going on. Respondents are asked a series of questions about how they pronounce a particular word, or how they describe a certain object / activity. The most interesting part of this site…
Harvard University has an interesting online dialect study going on. Respondents are asked a series of questions about how they pronounce a particular word, or how they describe a certain object / activity. The most interesting part of this site…
Dec
18
2002
the language of type
As human societies have evolved, ideas and thoughts have been distilled and communicated via an oral language. Over time, this oral language has been further distilled into another symbolic form: the printed word. Discussion of this evolution often leaves out an important mediator between the printed word and the reader: the typeface.
As human societies have evolved, ideas and thoughts have been distilled and communicated via an oral language. Over time, this oral language has been further distilled into another symbolic form: the printed word. Discussion of this evolution often leaves out an important mediator between the printed word and the reader: the typeface.
Dec
6
2002
word of the day: foobar
I stumbled upon this rather detailed explanation of why the words “foo” and “bar” come up so often in programming examples, and the origin of the term. I’d surmised that “foobar” was a derivation of “FUBAR,” but this explanation goes…
I stumbled upon this rather detailed explanation of why the words “foo” and “bar” come up so often in programming examples, and the origin of the term. I’d surmised that “foobar” was a derivation of “FUBAR,” but this explanation goes…
![[Photo]](http://photos.morethanthis.net/images/2008-09-13/thumbs/IMG_0272.jpg)
