>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

I don't think many English natives would find that hard to pronounce, there 
are several (3?) counties in England that finish in -cestershire, and plenty 
more towns and cities that end in -cester.

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Invisible wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> 
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
> 
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
> 

Knew all but Defenstration / Defenestration, and I swing a hammer for a 
living. You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek 
television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane. 
What I can't figure out is why? Why are such an intelligent group of 
people drawn so strongly to children's books and poorly written pulp 
magazine serials?

  -Shay


[1] I read /Mote in God's Eye/, /Ringworld/, /The Hobbit/, and a few 
others when I was on a cardio (10.5 elliptical trainer hours a week) 
kick a few years ago.

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:41:54 -0500, Shay <sha### [at] nonenone> wrote:

>What I can't figure out is why? Why are such an intelligent group of 
>people drawn so strongly to children's books and poorly written pulp 
>magazine serials?

My guess is arrested development. ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Shay wrote:
> 
> Knew all but Defenstration / Defenestration, and I swing a hammer for a
> living. You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek
> television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane.
> What I can't figure out is why? 
I'm sure that you'll get a few flames over that comment but no need to
don fireproof underwear yet :-)

I would hardly call Iain M. Banks' compositions inane. atm I'm also
re-reading Haldeman's The Forever War. Definitely not inane tho' the
ending is a fraction weak.

John

-- 
I will be brief but not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the
world's shortest speech. He said, "I will be so brief I am already
finished," then he sat down.

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Invisible wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> 
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
> 
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
> 

The only one I didn't know the meaning of right off was catharsis.

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scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote:
> >  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
> > natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

> I don't think many English natives would find that hard to pronounce, there 
> are several (3?) counties in England that finish in -cestershire, and plenty 
> more towns and cities that end in -cester.

  Ok, I was thinking about Americans, actually. British people probably
have little problem with that name.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Invisible wrote:
>>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
>> (like I do).
> 
> Any hints on how to pronounce it?
> 

In U.S. english: "Bahreestuh"

> 
>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
> 
> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?
> 

In U.S. english: "Double" ahntahndrah

>>   If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
>> webcomics... ;)
> 
> Er... no, you know what? I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW!
> 

MILF is apparently an acronym for something ... I learned this a while 
back trying to understand it.

>>   What's unclear about "codependent"?
> 
> The fact that it's considered bad.
> 

Now I'm confused?

>>   It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
>> mean, IMO.
> 
> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.

Yes, there are platonic solids, and platonic relationships. Platonic 
means no sexual overtones, e.g. "Just friends"

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Gilles Tran wrote:

>>>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.
> 
>> Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
>> view...
> 
> This from a guy who *** lives *** with his dear mom :P
> 
> G.
> 

(Sorry Andrew)

Now *that* was funny.

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John VanSickle wrote:
> Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of 
> the opposite sex.
> 

Usually refers only to a male's attraction to his mother. A female's 
attraction to her father is an Electra complex.

> canteloupe:  Seriously, a fruit with a rough tannish rind and a orange-colored
flesh. 

Often used in the USA to refer to a musk melon.

> Looks like I only missed one completely, and may not be sure of another.
> 
> Regards,
> John 

Which one did you miss?

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Invisible wrote:

> "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
> "I just stuck a trumpet in your ass. Aren't instruments fun?"
> 
> At that point, I decided to stop watching...
> 

"One time at band camp ..."

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