Why we need to invent new words

[Jazzy]

Don't let the dictionary define what you say. Make up your own words. Here are rules you need to follow.



Do not be afraid to make up your own words. English teachers, dictionary publishers and that uptight guy two cubicles over who always complains about the microwave being dirty, they will all tell you that you can't. They will bring out the dictionary and show you that the word isn't there – therefore it doesn't exist. Don't fall for this. The people who love dictionaries like to present these massive tomes as an unquestionable authority, just slightly less than holy. But they're not. A dictionary is just a book, a product, no different from Fifty Shades of Grey and only slightly better written. But you must be careful. Every new word must be crafted. It has to have a purpose, a need. A new word cannot be created with a fisted bash to a keyboard. Like every other word in the language, your new word should be a mashup of pre-existing words. You can steal bits from Latin and German, like everybody else did. Or you can use contemporary English in a new way. But you must capture something that already exists, which for whatever reason has been linguistically mismanaged. Here is an example:



Blursing noun When an event, gift, or circumstance presents qualities and consequences that are simultaneously positive and negative: Jenny was made partner but it was a blursing because her hours were so long that her husband left her.



Why not just say curse and blessing? Well, for one thing that is cumbersome. But more importantly, something that is both a curse and a blessing is different from a blursing. With a blursing the two qualities are indivisibly linked, and cannot be separated. There is no chance to dodge the curse and receive only the blessing. Tell me you haven't received a blursing. It is a situation we have all experienced, but for whatever reason have never had a word to properly describe it.

More examples of new words



Question taken from article:



What are your suggestions for useful new words?

 

[seasidemike]

Fugly: adjective meaning feck'n ugly

 

[Evil Eye]

Double plus ungood!

Ahem. Can't say I've felt much of a need to make up words in everyday conversation. Then again, I probably already use quite a few unusual words. Like using hextech to refer to technomancy. (Spell check hates me now.)

Fugly: adjective meaning feck'n ugly

People already use that!

 

[DrLeftover]

I've had to occassionally invent a word.



And, to be fair, I've occassionally had to invent whole universes.



I think the latter is easier.

 

[Jazzy]

I've had to occassionally invent a word.

Can you give us an example of a word you invented?

 

[DrLeftover]

Well. A word.... no.



How about several, all, as it were, proper nouns.



As it happens, this is a young adult rated sci-fi story which is awaiting publication.



My working title was the Squid Guys are the Good Guys.



I've been told it will have another title once it hits an E-bookstore near you, operators are standing by....

... ... ...

General Muller was working on a new plan when they got a bit of unexpected news.

General, the leader of a pack of obviously excited Panna said. We have news from the Toller Alliance.

The General glanced at Qi-shi, I remember something about them but....

Understood, sir. They are a large trading guild with a number of armed ships that enforce law and order in their territory. Something like the Dutch foreign companies of old. They cover all or part of about twenty star systems.

OK. He looked back at the Panna.

They have approved of your attack on the enemy. They have begun their own operations to remove Annunaki occupation of several worlds in their mutual border area. Many of these planets are in Toller claimed space and they do not wish them to be there.

I suppose not.

They were not willing to engage the Annunaki in conflict unless others made significant gains against them as well.

That way they avoided the full weight of them coming their way.

A wise tactic, sir. Qi-shi said with a sharp nod.

And our attack was significant, the General Singh said as more of a statement than a question.

Yes General, which is why the others are taking action as well.

The Hu and the, he paused, no don't tell me, I know it, the ... ... For-aquin-nezsta.... them.

Yes, both groups are in open revolt against the Annunaki. Although the Foraquinestaezsts have been fighting them for a long time, now it is an organized effort under their own Generals.

If we could coordinate our attacks it would be more effective, Admiral Nardi said. Even if we cannot support a wide spread full assault on them.

Without a doubt, General Singh said and looked at the Panna.

The Panna were silent for a moment, then one of them answered, The Hu are not known for cooperating with anybody, even other Hu.

I see, General Muller said.

Another Pana couldn't help but add a personal observation, something unusual for the Panna, The Hu are the most disagreeable beings I have ever encountered. Everybody, even the other Panna turned to look at the one that had spoken. I was on a mission to take them supplies some time ago. I did not enjoy it at all, and I have resisted sharing the memory of the experience for that reason.

The other Panna even took a step back when the one said that.

Oh. One of them said in an almost human tone.

I too have dealt with the Hu, another one added in a moment, I have found other duties so as I do not have to ever meet them again.

 

[Evil Eye]

But they're all names... Unless you assigned them some meaning?

My working title was the Squid Guys are the Good Guys.

I can see why they'd rename it.

 

[DrLeftover]

Nobody specified which part of speech the invented word had to be.



Mine were all proper nouns, sorry.



But I do like the Foraquinestaezsts.

 

[Evil Eye]

I'll admit that that was a very original word. And you even did it without resorting to Xs, Ys or apostrophes.