My students have spent a lot of time lately
blithely humoring me working diligently to find & use more meaningful, powerful words. We've talked at length about the
variety of words -
plethora, if you will - available to them, about going beyond the staid & stale 'good' and 'like' and 'fun.'
It's been
like pulling teeth an absolute joy; everyday we do things like share different ways of answering the question "How are you?" I've found myself being more honest when people ask it of me (instead of the immediate "Fine" I might respond, "Mediocre." People stare, it's quite amusing), and even the teenagers have tried out "Delightful" and "Crappy, actually." It's an English major's mini-fantasy.
I'm including a
link right here to a site that may be considered offensive to some; it's about a word that I did not include in my list
(see below) but really do find immensely satisfying from
time to
time.
Anyhoo
(which is not a real word but is occasionally enjoyable to utter), I've made a list of some favorite words at
A-Lister today. Go see, and join in. Feel free to roll your eyes and sigh heavily before doing so, for the full teenager effect.
11 comments:
Words are fun. I went through a phase in college where I actually used words other than fine or good to that "how are you? question. Nothing like saying "I'm doing horrible how are you?" to get some strange looks :)
"I'm breathing"
i challenge myself to find and use different words when i write.
I'm absolutely in love with finding unexpected words to express myself.
However, way too often, I fall back on the expected and cliche.
Kinda like now.
Oh well.
Off to check that offensive website!
The video version is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUaWCcDlI5s
-Stu
Oooh, I love using different words.
jamie lee curtis' new children's book. you might like it. it's all about multi-syllabic words.
good words, dude.
Sometimes the eff bomb is the only word that works.
Oh, its the movie I have been wating for: The long awaited follow-up to *Love, Actually* is...
*Crappy, Actually.*
!
Offensive? F#@& no!
Loved the link to the "offensive site." You TOTALLY have to rent the film "In Bruges" if you haven't already. Put the kids to bed first!! Then after you are done watching it, check out the bonus stuff on the DVD. The piece entitled "F*cking Bruges" is hysterical.
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