Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Which Word Wednesday: Stalactites vs. Stalagmites

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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During my undergraduate studies at Illinois State University, I once took a course on geology to fulfill a general education credit. The professor was extremely passionate about rocks and land formations, which was good. He also spoke like a hippie, often interjecting “dude” or “butt-load” amidst the geological terminology. That was years ago. . . . it’s strange what the mind holds onto, huh?

I was reminded of what didn’t stick from that course while making waffles at a hotel in Maryland last weekend. The waffle batter had oozed down the sides of the griddle, so when I dislodged my golden griddle cake, it had pointy fingers of baked batter protruding around the edges. I commented that it looked like stalactites or stalagmites—but I wasn’t sure which one was the proper term for upward pointing formations. Those definitions didn’t stick from my college days.

Know Your Calcium Cave Deposits

Good thing we have Which Word Wednesday to solve this language dilemma. Let’s look first to the Oxford American Dictionary for the definitions:

stalactite :: noun
A tapering structure hanging like an icicle from the roof of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water.

stalagmite :: noun
A mound or tapering column rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water and often uniting with a stalactite.

Although the definitions tell us the difference, the real issue is remembering our up deposits from our down deposits. We’ll turn to another source for some memory hooks.

Ron Evans tells us in The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language that stalactite is Greek for “that which drips.” This reminds us that the deposits drip from the ceiling, and since ceiling starts with c it matches the c in stalactite.Likewise, the g in stalagmite reminds us that the deposits sometimes protrude from the ground up.1

What’s my WWW verdict? Whoever named those deposits was sure wise to use c for the ceiling formation and g for the ground formation. Thanks, Dude.

What’s your verdict? Have you ever seen geological deposits in your breakfast waffles? Have you ever taken a geology course taught by a hippie? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Ron Evans, The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 188–189.
Image: http://www.threadless.com/product/1378/Stalagmite_vs_Stalactite

 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Which Word Wednesday: Neologism vs. Nonce Word

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , , |
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You can tell a lot about a person based on the slang they use. For example, if you toss in a supportive, “Groovy!” with any regularity we know you were alive and alert in the 1970s. Or you are a loyal Brady Bunch fan.

We must watch the slang we pick up, for it will stick to our lexicographical ribs and give us company for years to come. All this slang analysis makes for a Which Word Wednesday entry between neologism and nonce word, both used to categorize and describe new words and phrases. Here are the definitions from the Oxford American Dictionary:

neologism :: noun
a newly coined word or expression

nonce word :: noun
(of a word or expression) coined for or used on one occasion

Both words refer to words or expressions that are newly coined. But the nonce word “is one coined ‘for the nonce’—that is, made up for one occasion and unlikely to be used again.”1

This seems sort of sad, don’t you think? All that creativity tossed aside after one use. The good news is that even if the creator meant it for single use, if others pick it up and get it into regular use, it transforms from a nonce word to a neologism and it becomes a part of our regular lexicon.

A recent example of a nonce word comes from a FoodNetwork show I thoroughly enjoy, The Next FoodNetwork Star. In this week’s episode, one of the contestants created a dish consisting of lasagna wrapped in a tortilla (burrito style) and deep-fried. He called it a la-changa (combining lasagna and chimichanga). The dish wasn’t a hit, so my guess is this nonce word will not be transforming into a neologism.

What’s my WWW verdict? Be careful which neologisms you pick up. Like all habits, it takes just a few uses to turn a fancy into a habit. And some words we have trouble breaking free from.

What’s your verdict? Do you find some slang difficult to shake? What’s your favorite slang phrase? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Ron Evans, The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 148.

 

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Podium vs. Lectern

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , , , |
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If you’ve ever given a speech—for work, class, church, etc.—then you’ve likely encountered the words selected for today’s Which Word Wednesday post.

So here’s my question for you: When giving a speech, do you stand behind the podium or the lectern?

These words are often used interchangeably, but careful speakers will follow the definitions. Let’s look at the Oxford American Dictionary:

Podium :: noun
a small platform on which a person may stand to be seen by an audience, as when making a speech or conducting an orchestra.

Lectern :: noun
a tall stand with a sloping top to hold a book or notes, and from which someone, typically a preacher or lecturer, can read while standing up.

These nouns describe elements of a stage area used for addressing an audience. One refers to what the speaker stands upon (the podium); the other refers to what the speaker stand behind (the lectern).

I often use podium when I mean lectern—for some reason, podium is a word that sits higher on my word stack than lectern.

To remember the difference between the two, I have associated lectern with lecture, and because lecture reminds me of my university teaching days behind the lectern (I did not teach on a podium), it makes sense in my brain. The test is whether my brain will make sense of that when I need to quickly access the word!

My verdict in this WWW? Podium and lectern describe two different aspects of a stage area where speakers stand. These words are associated, but not synonyms.

What’s your verdict? Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Anxious vs. Eager

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , |
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Have you been anxiously awaiting this week’s Which Word Wednesday?

Well, I truly hope not. I would feel awful if WWW was generating that sort of emotional state within my beloved readers.

It would be fabulous, however, if you were eager with anticipation.

What’s the difference? I’m so glad you asked! You see, contrary to popular usage, anxious and eager are not synonyms. But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at the definitions from the Oxford American Dictionary:

Anxious :: adjective
1 experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome • [ attrib. ] (of a period of time or situation) causing or characterized by worry or nervousness
2 [usu with infinitive ] wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease

Eager :: adjective
(of a person) wanting to do or have something very much • (of a person’s expression or tone of voice) characterized by keen expectancy or interest

Both anxious and eager are adjectives, describing a person’s state of being.

But anxious should be employed when the situation stimulates nervousness or unease; eager should be employed when the situation stimulates delight. (Now, some situations produce a bit of both, a mix of delight and unease. In that case, you’ll just have to explain your array of feelings.) For typical experiences, however, one of these two states will dominate, and you should try to use the right descriptor. Here is a trick for remembering when to use anxious vs. eager:

Use anxious when the situation causes anxiety.

Use eager when the situation causes enthusiasm.

I find it interesting that anxious has blobbed off onto eager’s territory, but eager would never saunter over to dominate anxious. Eager must be the more polite of the two . . . or perhaps anxious is codependent?

Anyhow, let me illustrate this curiosity: If you were worried for the new school year to begin, you would never use eager to describe your emotional state, because if you did, everyone would think you were excited about school starting, which you aren’t. But if you were looking forward to school starting, you could use eager (which is clear)—or if you used anxious and deliver it with pep and everyone would know of your enthusiasm for school. Strange, eh?

Poor old eager—it’s gotten trampled on with no one to stand up for it.

Until now! Rise up my fellow word nerds! Let’s corral anxious to its proper place and give eager some room to breathe.

My verdict in this WWW? Anxious and eager are opposites of sorts—one is a negative emotional state, the other is a positive. No synonyms here.

What’s your verdict? Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments. But only if you are eager to share—no need to be anxious about it.

 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Regime vs. Regimen

Posted by erinstraza under culture, language | Tags: , , , |
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Welcome to the first installment of Which Word Wednesday, in which we explore word meanings and usage.

Today’s word quandary is a battle between regime and regimen. A friend of mine submitted this example after twice hearing celebrities state something like this:

I have a strict exercise and diet regime.

My friend wondered if the use of regime to describe an exercise and diet plan was correct. She had always associated regime to a strict form of government, such as a dictatorship. Seeing as exercise is more of a personal choice and not one that is enforced by law, my friend thought that regimen would be the better choice. A quick Web search found that regime is often associated with health and beauty treatments—see here and here.

So is it correct to use regime to describe anything other than a government? Well, as with many language quandaries, correctness all depends on the source you turn to.

The Oxford American Dictionary provides the following entries for regime and regimen:

Regime :: noun
1 a government, esp. an authoritarian one.
2 a system or planned way of doing things, esp. one imposed from above : detention centers with a very tough physical regime.

Regimen :: noun
1 a prescribed course of medical treatment, way of life, or diet for the promotion or restoration of health.
2 ARCHAIC a system of government.

Interestingly enough, Webster’s makes regime and regimen synonymous; I have found Webster’s to be more lenient in word usage, however. It seems be a guide for how words are being used rather than how words ought to be used. So I’m inclined to lean upon OAD. Here’s my reasoning:

Although people under a strict exercise plan might feel oppressed, it is unlikely that they are being forced to submit to it by the government. However, anyone who has lived under the oppression of an authoritarian government would never call it merely a regimen.

My verdict in this WWW: Regime and regimen are not interchangeable. Use regime to describe a system of government and regimen to describe your New Year’s resolution.

What’s your verdict? Chime in using the poll and share your thoughts in the comments. (But only if you want to. This isn’t a regime.)

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For more word fun, check out Word Lily’s Words from My Reading.

 

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