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Despite the vast number of words in our dictionaries, language often falls short in capturing our experiences. Many of us encounter situations, feelings, and people that lack precise names. This book addresses that gap by introducing hundreds of newly coined or redefined words tailored to everyday needs. For instance, it offers terms for the fleeting confusion when a phone rings and you’re unsure if it’s yours, such as fauxcellarm or pandephonium. It also provides words for adult offspring, like unchildren, and the anxiety of hosting a party where no one shows up, termed guestlessness or empty-fest syndrome. Originating from Barbara Wallraff's popular column in The Atlantic Monthly, this engaging work is filled with delightful diversions, pop quizzes, and insights from authors and linguists. It also features requests from individuals seeking words for their own experiences. This captivating book will inspire anyone who struggles to articulate the complexities of the world around them.
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Word Fugitives, Barbara Wallraff
- Language
- Released
- 2006
- Binding
- (Hardcover)
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- Title
- Word Fugitives
- Subtitle
- In Pursuit of Wanted Words
- Language
- English
- Authors
- Barbara Wallraff
- Publisher
- Harper
- Released
- 2006
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 208
- ISBN10
- 0060832738
- ISBN13
- 9780060832735
- Series
- Categories
- Tags
- References & Manuals, Humor, Education & School System, Guides, Linguistics, Dictionaries, Writing, Gifts, Vocabulary, Poisons, Poisoning, Quirky, Copyright, Etymology, Semantics, Sociolinguistics
- Description
- Despite the vast number of words in our dictionaries, language often falls short in capturing our experiences. Many of us encounter situations, feelings, and people that lack precise names. This book addresses that gap by introducing hundreds of newly coined or redefined words tailored to everyday needs. For instance, it offers terms for the fleeting confusion when a phone rings and you’re unsure if it’s yours, such as fauxcellarm or pandephonium. It also provides words for adult offspring, like unchildren, and the anxiety of hosting a party where no one shows up, termed guestlessness or empty-fest syndrome. Originating from Barbara Wallraff's popular column in The Atlantic Monthly, this engaging work is filled with delightful diversions, pop quizzes, and insights from authors and linguists. It also features requests from individuals seeking words for their own experiences. This captivating book will inspire anyone who struggles to articulate the complexities of the world around them.