An Unfortunate Choice of Words
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Over the weekend, I blogged at our sister site, NCRegister.com, about Jennifer Aniston’s recent use of the “R” word.
I was intrigued by the discussion that followed my comments there.
I normally scoff at most forms of “political correctness” but I have to admit that the word retard, even when used in a joking or self-deprecating way—really does bother me.
This actually isn’t about Jennifer Aniston.... READ MORE
The Queen & I
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Just me on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Queen of England has a small request.
Sensible woman!
What idiomatic expressions—or corruptions thereof—could you do without?
Beyond Soda vs. Pop
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Not long before my sister married her husband, she travelled across the country to Idaho to meet his family. At one point during her visit, she got caught in a funny situation while conversing with two of her future sisters-in-law.
The topic of the conversation was gardening, and Sister A mentioned that she liked to wear thongs when pulling weeds. Sister B expressed her disbelief: how could this possibly... READ MORE
The Wittiest Romance
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Friday, February 12, 2010
I was in high school when I first saw the film You’ve Got Mail, and I remember being bewildered by the main character’s professed yearly rereading of Pride and Prejudice. Why, I wondered, would anyone want to read that book more than once? I’d slogged through it because I had an idea that every well-read person should be familiar with Austen, but my fifteen-year-old self had not been impressed. I... READ MORE
Juvenile Kineto Osmosis
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I think I’ve mentioned before that I come from a nerdy family. We like language. We do not say “decimate” when we mean “annihilate” and we do not say that things make us “nauseous.” If one of us uses the word “myself” when he should use “I” or “me,” he’s sure to get the evil eye from at least one other family member.
Some of you are probably shuddering at that idea, but our family’s obsession is fun... READ MORE
Talk to Me, Kid
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I’m the oldest of six children, so I was around when my five younger siblings were babies and toddlers. I thought I was paying attention, but I guess I wasn’t, because a huge amount of the development of my little ones is completely new to me.
I remember my brothers and sisters learning to talk. They talked a lot. Nevertheless, observing my daughter’s verbal development over the past eighteen months,... READ MORE
Due Punishment
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Tuesday, March 31, 2009
In “Pun For The Ages,” Joseph Tartovsky reflects on the nature and history of the pun.
(The essay also contains some terrible examples.)
I confess I love puns, though they are supposed to be the world’s lowest form of humor.
I also think word play is a great device for expanding vocabulary without kids knowing what you’re up to. At our family dinner table growing up, if anyone punned, the rest of... READ MORE
‘Banished’ Words
Posted by Danielle Bean in Just me on Tuesday, January 06, 2009
I love words.
So you can imagine my fascination with Lake Superior State University‘s 2009 List of Banished Words.
What did these words and phrases do to deserve “banishment”?
Nothing, really. They’ve only been overused to the point where some self-appointed “word watchers” have voted them out.
Making the list of overused and therefore banished words this year are environmental buzzwords like “green,”... READ MORE
Word Love
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Monday, November 17, 2008
Language is an incredible thing.
I’ve thought so for as long as I can remember. I think my devotion to A Child’s Garden of Verses and the poetry of A.A. Milne began almost at birth. My mother tells a story of a barely two-year-old me describing my sister as she learned to crawl: “She’s eating the meadow flowers!”
When I first discovered Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” some years later, I had to memorize... READ MORE
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