Gosh. A Blog of my own. I feel just like Arianna Huffington. Arianna Huffington talks just like Eva Gabor. On Green Acres, Eva Gabor says "Times Square!" Eddie Albert says "fresh air!". "Fresh Air" is Terry Gross' radio program. "The Logovore's Dilemma" is my radio program. See how it all ties together?
As far as I know, logovore is a word of my own coinage. It means one who enthusiastically consumes language, as a carnivore loves his meat. I suppose a Logovore could also be one who eats his own words but...no! It's my word, so I get to say what it means. Dagnab it.
Like all the fine fine superfine shows on Rando Radio.com, TLD will be mostly music, but when it's not we'll be exploring the English language in all its glory. Grammar, usage, vocabulary, fads, follies, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia...if you can say it, we'll discuss it.
Our first project, as I mentioned on the show on 6/23, will be a discussion of what I'm calling family words--words you used as kids, or to your kids. Many of these will be words having to do with body parts or bodily functions, of course, but others will be examples of the mysterious private language that often springs up in families or other groups functioning in isolation (I'll bet they've made up some doozies at Gitmo). In my family, for instance, our first dishwasher was always referred to as Williamsburg. Made perfect sense to us, but it would have been incomprehensible to the rest of the world.
I'll tell you mine, but I need you to tell me yours. What did/do you call your dinkie, you weewee, your woowoo? Did you make a nunnie, clunk a dunker, or did you just make? The world wants to know. Really. Leave a comment on this page, or e-mail me with your secret language secrets, and I'll make sure everybody knows.
In the weeks to come, look for features based on the classic 19th century English phrasebook English As She Is Spoke, one of the most amazing little books ever published. You'll love it. More anon.
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About Me
- The Logovore's Dilemma
- I'm the host of "The Logovore's Dilemma" on Area 24 Radio (area24radio.com). In addition to a bewitching, bewildering blend of music I also pontificate on the wonders of English as she is spoke (and wrote). Please come check us out--you'll be glad you did.
5 comments:
Poopie for number two.
Wetsie for number one. I've never heard "wetsie" used by any other family.
Other families' words for excreta always seemed so...wrong. Odd. I mean, ca ca? Really.
Chris
I guess you know that I was...still am for that matter...a "clunker". In spite of the fact that you never actually did flush me down to Toilet Town or Cesspool City wherein I could travel in a clunkcar I now have cause to think perhaps you should have. Who knows, mayhap a clunkcar could power itself!?!
As far as names for body parts go I have two to add. The family of an old beau always referred to genitalia - both male and female - as ones "phana" - or was it "fna"?
In any event, it was a new one on me. My in-laws also seem to use their term for both male and female
and in their case you're packing a "snapper" - as in, "Donnie zipped his snapper in his fly"
I can also report that some high school pals had a few body function words that probably should be added to the list. Farts=Bumpys - Little turds=Cumm-Cumms - and the dreaded runs=Skithers.
That's it from my end - hee-hee!
I am in awe of you. Awe.
It's just me again but I do have a couple to add. Not body parts or functions but swell words nevertheless. 1st is from Grandma Jackson and was apparently a type of tantrum - I have no idea if I'm spelling it correctly but it was called a "finkywonkum fit". The other is a word my father-in-law would use when he felt the need to cuss when the kiddies were around. Again, I'm only guessing at the spelling but I give you "Oh Pissyringtum!" Nice words and I've found myself using them both as the occasion arose. Enjoy!
Though raised by the same parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles as Chrispy--every one of those folks unduly concerned with our early fecal and urinary output--I remember a different word for the lauded second function. It was plunkie.
Yes on wetsie, that's my recollection, too. Sounds so wimpy when compared with the depth charge nature of the plunk. Poor wetsie...
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