This blog all unbeknownst to me was basically born to give you a link to this Slate piece on what Seth Stevenson calls bubble vocabulary. Basically, my work here is done.
Take the quiz, by the way. I was surprised to see that I had written a blog post about at least one of these words and maybe even more. I was even more surprised to see that I remembered enough about that word to get the question right.
Take the quiz, by the way. I was surprised to see that I had written a blog post about at least one of these words and maybe even more. I was even more surprised to see that I remembered enough about that word to get the question right.
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No, Seana, your work is not done! I like the part of the piece that says your vocabulary keeps improving into your seventies. I love your explanations of the stories behind words, correct and incorrect usage.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy. I liked the learning into the seventies bit too. And I don't plan to be held back by the available data.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I'm not calling it a day, although I think Stevenson's piece reveals that we're all pretty much drifting around in the same relatively hopeless fogginess.
Fun piece in Slate. I got 15/18 on the quiz, smacking my head on some. I love your blog, so I am glad you'll indeed keep going!!
ReplyDeleteI did pretty well on the quiz, but I was aware that if I had been asked point blank about some of these words rather than getting a multiple choice quiz, I would have done far less well. Bubble vocabulary at work!
ReplyDeleteBob and Ray had a wonderful piece that mentions in passing words they call "Sisskindisms." "Expertise" was one of the words, and one other slips my minds. But you'll be able to find the piece in one of their books. Its tone may remind you of this post.
ReplyDeleteDid a brief Google search, Peter, and Google had nothing to offer. That's rather heartening actually, meaning that they have not yet crept into every crevice of the known universe.
ReplyDeleteI did a similar search with a similar result. I suspect that if I remembered the piece's main subject and searched for it, something would have turned up. But Bob and Ray are worth reading in any case.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have some of their records. I'll have to see if they are still at my mom's old place next time I'm down.
ReplyDelete