United States « Word Du Jour

Absolutely ages

…that’s how long it’s been since I posted anything. Well, I’ve been busy, what with one thing and another, you know.

Nothing too weighty this time around – just a bit of fun. I must admit to having been quite stumped when asked by Madame Joad (who considers me something of an authority on English [...]

It’s a funny thing, language. I am guilty of defending the usage of the English language and its grammar (if ‘guilty’ is the correct term), but I am also prepared to concede that the reason English has become the worldwide lingua franca is entirely due to its malleability and adaptability. Let’s face it, the Aussies [...]

Odds and Sods

I have happened upon a number of interesting word-related thingies over the past week or so. As it’s been a while since I posted anything, I’ll share them with you here.

New words(?)

Merriam-Webster, regarded by many as the US dictionary has published its new edition, and has added some 100 new words. Naturally, some [...]

From my RSS feeds

Warning: The opening paragraph contains references to RSS. If you have no idea what this is, you could do worse than read this simple explanation. If you like the sound of it, you’ll be pleased to know you can follow my updates via RSS as well as Twitter – just click here.

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Internet Slang

Now, I’m a bit of a nerd and also a geek (I’m told there is a discernable difference). As such, I spend a lot of time hanging around in the corners of the internet where the spelling and grammar employed would be sufficient to make one’s eyes bleed. In these online dens of linguistic depravity, [...]

Timely Bits

A smallish round-up of words and phrases appropriate for this week. As you may know, the period of Lent begins tomorrow, when Christians across the globe will fast (if they are particularly devout) or symbolically give something up in the forty day run-up to Easter. So, today is Shrove Tuesday – well, for Brits and [...]

She was only…

Ah, the irresistible urge of a cheap sexual innuendo! My somewhat lax attempts at researching the origins of this particular form drew a big fat zero. My guess would be the music hall, vaudeville and burlesque shows of England and the US (back in the time when we shared a similar sense of humour). The [...]

Cajun

Having spent a lot of my youth exploring different music, I have always had a soft spot for the Cajuns. The music of the swamps of Louisiana, USA has always seemed evocative of good times, good food and copious quantities of Bourbon. Check out the music of Balfa Toujours, Jo-El Sonnier, Beausoleil or Canray Fontenot [...]

A Couple More Interesting Web Sites

Exactly as the title suggests (although I appreciate the term “interesting” is subjective).

First up is the website for Merriam-Webster, one of the most highly regarded US dictionaries. Yes, I know that I should be promoting British English but they have their language and I have mine. They probably think I talk funny, too. Every [...]

Newspeak

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