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?

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:20:14 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>
>How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

I did not know that "Barista" had entered the English language. Other
than that I know all of them.

>Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

I would not say "supremely illiterate" but you don't have a broad
enough education.
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Regards
     Stephen

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Stephen wrote:

> I did not know that "Barista" had entered the English language. Other
> than that I know all of them.

Well, American English. ;-)

[Also, I of course know the normal meaning of "lush". I was just unaware 
that it has a second, unrelated meaning as well...]

> I would not say "supremely illiterate" but you don't have a broad
> enough education.

Heh. I did wonder if I'd just spelt that wrong - how ironic would that be?

Seriously though, I can't even *pronounce* some of those words! :-.

Speaking of which - do silly sapphic sisters sing sexy sea shantis by 
the sore?

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268

> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

  Hey, you have learned to use your blog... :P

  "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
(like I do).
  I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.
  A misantropic hates people.
  The oedipus complex is basic psychology.
  It's defenestration, not defenstration.
  Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
  If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
webcomics... ;)
  What's unclear about "codependent"?
  If you know Spanish, "burro" should be easy.
  I know "heinous" and "lascivious".
  It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
mean, IMO.

  A misogynist hates women. I suppose misogynists can be divided (at
least) into two categories: Men who think women are inferior and only
little superior to slaves, and men who simply find the average mentality
and personality of women irritating.

> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

  Should I be surprised that you don't know such common words? ;)

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp wrote:

>   Hey, you have learned to use your blog... :P

Back at ya. :-P

>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
> (like I do).

Any hints on how to pronounce it?

>   I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.

It's not a word I've ever heard anybody use IRL.

>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.

Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
view...

>   It's defenestration, not defenstration.

Hmm, I wonder. Did I read it wrong, or did I just not hit the key hard 
enough?

>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.

Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

>   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!

>   What's unclear about "codependent"?

The fact that it's considered bad.

>   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.

Supreme geekiness, but completely wrong all the same...

>   Should I be surprised that you don't know such common words? ;)

Uh... probably not.

Fact: My mum thinks I have an amazingly diverse and at times 
incomprehensible vocabulary.

[That should give you some idea of the level of interlect I experience 
IRL...]

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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480db77c$1@news.povray.org...
>>   I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.
>
> It's not a word I've ever heard anybody use IRL.

A few on the list belong to formal language, i.e. language that is not 
typically used in spontaneous speech and conversations. You have to read a 
little bit to find them (but then they can be pretty common: altruism is 
really a mainstream concept).

>>   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.


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Gilles Tran wrote:

> A few on the list belong to formal language, i.e. language that is not 
> typically used in spontaneous speech and conversations. You have to read a 
> little bit to find them (but then they can be pretty common: altruism is 
> really a mainstream concept).

The amusing part is, this is from a web comic that *consists of* 
spontaneous speech and social interaction. :-D I really like QC...

>>>   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

Trust me, as soon as I can get my hands on some more money, I am 
*leaving*! :-S

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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

'double' as in english, 'entendre' depends on whether you want it to 
sound like the French word it is or just good enough that everybody else 
speaking english near you knows what you mean ;-)  'on-TON-druh' might 
be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

>>   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!

Or seen the American Pie movies, among others.
"Call me Stifler's Mom!" ;-)

>>   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.

Can be, but definitely not the most common context! If you look at the 
brief etymologies on Wikipedia you'll be unsurprised to learn that both 
meanings are named for Plato.

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> >   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
> > (like I do).

> Any hints on how to pronounce it?

  I suppose you pronounce it approximately in the same way as a Spanish
would.

> >   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.

> Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
> view...

  If I'm not mistaken, it's considered a rather normal (and temporary)
phase in the development of a child. With children it has little to do
with sexuality and more to do with personal attachment and identification.
It's very rare after certain age.

> >   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.

> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

  You'll have to ask a French-speaking people for that.

  Examples of other commonly-used words loaned into English from French,
and which can be quite difficult to pronounce for someone who has never
heard them: genre, lingerie, entrepreneur, facade.

> >   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.

  Ever heard of platonic love?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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>>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
>>
>> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?
> 
> 'double' as in english, 'entendre' depends on whether you want it to 
> sound like the French word it is or just good enough that everybody else 
> speaking english near you knows what you mean ;-)  'on-TON-druh' might 
> be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

Mmm, OK.

>>>   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!
> 
> Or seen the American Pie movies, among others.
> "Call me Stifler's Mom!" ;-)

I've only seen about 20 seconds of American Pie.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"I just stuck a trumpet in your ass. Aren't instruments fun?"

At that point, I decided to stop watching...

>> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.
> 
> Can be, but definitely not the most common context! If you look at the 
> brief etymologies on Wikipedia you'll be unsurprised to learn that both 
> meanings are named for Plato.

Yeah, I know that *now*. ;-) I know what all the words mean now I've 
looked them up... I'm just saying I had to look 'em up to figure it out.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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