Researchers Recreate How Words Sounded 8000 Years Ago
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Wha Fe Call I’ – Valerie Bloom
Thank you to Jayne King for drawing my attention to the poem, “Wha Fe Call I’” By Valerie Bloom. The poem examines the oddities of that wonderful language, English, (http://betweenthelines.darkbb.com/t334-wha-fe-call-i-valerie-bloom).
Can Google Translate Understand A Liverpool Accent?
Having been born and raised in Liverpool, I was interested and amused to read an article entitled, “Can Google Translate Understand A Liverpool Accent” (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/01/can-google-translate-understand-a-liverpool-accent). The experience of the Guardian columnist suggests that Google can not interpret Scouse (the unique Liverpool Dialect) employed by some Scousers. I must confess that I was unfamiliar with a number of the Scouse words, for example “jegging” (listening in to someone else’s conversation), consequently my understanding of my native city has been enhance by the above article.
Kevin
Summer Ball
Summer ball
Scented park at evenfall
Owl’s haunting call
Girl’s teasing words
Perhaps misheard
Oh vanity, how absurd!
Do I?
Do I employ words as a ruse? Obfuscate my meaning to bemuse? Do I, on occasions amuse? Dear reader, my apologies if I am ever rude!
The Daydreamer Challenge Day 2
Can anyone please tell me why I am putting pen to paper (albeit of the virtual kind). You see, the fact is I simply can’t remember. Ah, (Kevin leaps out of his chair scattering ink well and quill pens in all directions), I remember now, I am participating in day 2 of the Daydreamer Challenge, which is being run by the Teen Daydreamer. For day 2 participants are asked to choose a word which best describes them and write a short piece regarding it. In addition those participating are asked to do something or other., (Kevin scratches his head and looks heavenwards for inspiration). Ah, got it! Participants are also requested to make up a word which best describes them.
Without further adoo here is my word – absent-minded! Being a writer my mind is often filled with ideas for my next short story or whether that poem which I wrote earlier really expresses what I thought, at the time of writing it expressed. My preoccupation with matters literary has caused me to feed my guide dog, Trigger twice, (strange he doesn’t seem to object to that)! I also recollect desperately trying to find my watch only to discover that it was on my wrist all the time!
Turning to my made-up word, I will plump for writerreality. For me, as an author my characters appear to me as real people and their trials and tribulations take on a life of their own, hence writerreality.
For information on day 2 of the Daydreamer Challenge please visit https://theteendaydreamer.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/the-daydreamer-challenge-day-2/.
Kevin
With Respect …
In my experience the 3 little words “I’m not being … ”, (insert the relevant missing word of your choice) are often the precursor for an insult or other offensive comment.
- “I’m not being rude, but …”. Meaning – I am going to say something insulting. I am, however going to deny my intention to be rude.
- “With respect…”. Meaning – I have no respect for you or the ideas you are expressing. I am, however going to use those words as a figleaf to hide the fact I’m insulting you.
- “I’m not racist but …”. Meaning – I hold highly reprehensible views on race. I am, in fact a racist bigot.
- “Some of my best friends are …”. Meaning – I don’t like this particular group of people, however I hope to disguise this fact by using the forgoing words.
- “Its not you, its me …”. Meaning – It is (in my opinion) entirely down to you that this relationship (insert relevant example) isn’t working. I am, however going to let you down gently by pretending that it is all my fault.
Shakespeare’s words, “One may smile and be a villain” spring to mind.
Notice
Yesterday evening my friend, Brian told me about the following sign he had come across in the disabled toilet of a well known coffee chain. It read,
“On pulling the red cord staff will enter the toilet immediately”.
The above conjures up images of a trap door flying open to admit the intrepid rescuers who, with great courage and selflessness parachute in landing in …!
I think, perhaps there should be some form of punctuation in the above mentioned sign!
New Word
At school I, along with my fellow pupils was encouraged to create a mini dictionary. Each time I discovered an unfamiliar word I would look it up in the dictionary and enter it into my little book. This practice kindled in me a love of words and to this day I still make a habit of looking up unfamiliar ones.
Yesterday I came across the word demythology. Turning to The Fontana Dictionary Of Modern Thought I found the following definition of demythologize, (a meaning for demythology isn’t rendered):
“Demythologize. To confess disbelief in the legends and mythological ideas present in the Bible, while translating the Bible’s message into a religious understanding compatible with modern science and philosophy …”. Yet another word to add to my vocabulary although not one I can envisage utilising any time soon.
Word Play
Spice is nice and rhymes with vice, but is it nice? The device of vice adds spice to life, but is it nice? Strife rhymes with vice which isn’t nice? Life, strife vice, how very nice.
K Morris - Poet 