Wordplay Wednesday™ August 17, 2016 – Lexis

Full Kaleidoscope of Words 

Traitor. Trader. Main. Mane. (Maine!) Grate. Oh, Great.

The English language is full of confusing, confounding, and convoluted words. Most of us wonder at the logic of it all … and conclude there isn’t any.

Sometimes, even the dictionary adds to the chaos, rather than definitively defining a definition.

LEXIS (lekʹsis) n. – the full vocabulary of a language, or of a group, individual, field of study, etc. [WW #73]

Do you know that the average vocabulary lexis of a four-year-old is an astounding five thousand words? I love societal stats and take with the proverbial grain of salt, my standing in them, as below, above or at the stagnant average.

However, when I stumbled across this site – Economist.com – and their interesting vocabulary stats, my eyebrows shot up in frustration, consternation, and determination!

Their data was collected over several years and compiled in 2013 when a research project they conducted reached its two millionth vocabulary test-taker. Scrolling down the short list of results, they moved into adult analyses, and declared:

˜* Adult native* test-takers learn almost 1 new word a day until middle age

˜* Adult test-taker vocabulary growth basically stops at middle age

I balked. The first item may be true in data, but speaking of words, how can you “learn almost 1 new word a day”? You either do or you don’t, right? Is there an almost in learning something? 

While I disagree with their findings – or truly hope it isn’t true – that we stop learning new words at middle age (I’m at the tip-top of that group), I thoroughly enjoyed taking their test. Yes, they’re still seeking more data. It was definitely challenging and quite surprising – they claim those who read lots of fiction outscore the rest! (*Native English)

I’d share some of the more unique words with you that I did NOT know – but I’m going to look them up – one day at a time, to prove them wrong about us old folks and our learning habits. They’ll also make great fodder for future Wordplay Wednesday fun! In the meantime ... 

Wordplay Wednesday™ May 11, 2016 – Pavid in fear

Disarm and Delight with Words

Pray tell, my dear, our love should not pavid nor should we be pavid of love. Hmmm, well … do not be fearful that I misspelled “paved” or buried our timid love in the cement of classic language.

 

PAVID (pavʹid) adj. – to tremble, orig., be struck down; (RARE) fearful; afraid; timid. [WW #59]

Although the flowery literature of our classic masters has evolved into punk slang and media frenzied sound bites, now and again, we should revel in writing that is a bit indecipherable, yet vaguely familiar. Like a warm and fuzzy memory tucked away in the recesses of your mind, not quite visible in daylight.

 

Amongst any other population, or at a later period in the history of New England, the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people would have augured some awful business in hand. Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Scarlet Letter, chapter 2.

 

How much more vacuous and assaulting of our senses in today’s “accepted” literature terms, is dear Nathaniel’s flowing description of the era encircling The Scarlet Letter: Around the world or in a more civilized future time, the fubb zombies that controlled the robo features of these chilling people would have spy-cammed the grisly game in play.

Make your next book a classic. Expand your mind and revive the imagery of fluid thought versus vulgar action.

Word of the Week: PAVID. Can you swallow its fearfulness and fit it in your next family conversation?

'Til next time ... have a wonderful "wordful" week …

                       

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

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