Thursday, January 31, 2013

Behind the Blog 37: Wait, What Does That Mean?


BTB4


Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!

Fun With Words:

On February 1, 1884, the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary was published. Neat, huh? Since reading is all about the stringing together of words to make beautiful stories, I figured we'd talk about words in our daily lives. How often would you say you come across new words that you have to look up the meaning of in your reading? Have you ever made up a word? What words do you think should be added to the dictionary?

In relation to books and media: Are there any characters in books who are obsessed with words or dictionaries? Any cool catchphrases that you've picked up from books or movies?

It's not too often that I have to stop what I'm reading to look up a word. That's probably due to the fact that my vocabulary is expansive, which of course is the result of the amount that I read. Gotta love how it all circles around on itself right?

Sometimes though, I'll get thrown for a loop and think to myself, "Wait a sec, what does that mean?" That's one of the handy things about reading on a Kindle, it has that nice feature of a built in dictionary.

Honestly, the one activity where I end up looking up a lot of words has nothing to do with reading. It's playing Words With Friends. I am seriously addicted to that game. I constantly have the maximum number of games going. And, I'm often baffled by some of the strange words that people come up with as moves. I've learned a lot of new words through playing that game. For instance, before playing WWF, I did not know that qi, qat and zax were words. Anyone know what they mean, without looking them up?

I don't think I've ever made up a word, but I'm sure I made up some weird phrases as a kid. I can't think of any new words that should be added to the dictionary off the top of my head, but I know there will be new additions from 2012, if they haven't already been added.

Books and Media:

One of the more recent characters that I've read that loves making up words and phrases is Audrey's friend Bridget in Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, (If you haven't read this, you should!) She's always making up words and phrases, and I really enjoyed this aspect of her character.

The only other character that I can think of right now that relates to this has to be Velma from Scooby Doo. At times she seems to be a walking reference book. So if there were anyone who would know definitions to obscure words, it would be her.


What about you, what awesome catchphrases have you picked up from books? Got any characters to share who have a thing for words? Share away!

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2 comments:

Ashna said...

Whoa! You have an expansive vocab? :D That's awesome. I sometimes know the meanings in a vague form (just like you get when you read and you know the meaning in relation to the context), as I'm too lazy to look them up in the dictionary. It's easier in the Kindle, though!

Nice post!

Melissas Midnight Musings said...

Thanks Ashna!