To me, what's amazing is that there are so few of them! I suppose we're all drawn to the flashy, multisyllabic words more often than the "plainer" monosyllabic ones.
BTW, why the hell is "monosyllabic" five freakin' syllables?
Short words have more power than long words. Take the ubiquitous pneumono...osis. It's a sentence all by itself, and a rather long one at that. Why not just say "lung disease?" (I realize that science needs words that provide a high degree of specificity, but we don't often use them in conversation.)
I am particularly drawn to short words used metaphorically. Phrases like "his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top" convey so much meaning with such simple words.
I'm totally with skipvia: even ordinary monosyllablic words have a purity about them which has to be worth something. Short words tend to have plural meanings and, because they denote basic things or ideas, lend themselves readily to metaphor.
As far as I'm concerned, a given two-syllable word has to be twice as good as a given one-syllable word in order to have the same amount of value.
That the only four to make the list should be, as Jenn notes, lubricious, is further disheartening.
I guess if we all share the same thought that it's a shame monosyllabic words get short shrift on the Wordie top 100, then we need to get our butts in gear and do something about it!
(Used as many one-syllable words as possible, there.)
jennarenn commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
It seems most wordies have something else on their minds.
October 20, 2007
skipvia commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Hilarious observation, jennarenn--perhaps not too surprising, though...
October 21, 2007
chained_bear commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
To me, what's amazing is that there are so few of them! I suppose we're all drawn to the flashy, multisyllabic words more often than the "plainer" monosyllabic ones.
BTW, why the hell is "monosyllabic" five freakin' syllables?
October 21, 2007
skipvia commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Short words have more power than long words. Take the ubiquitous pneumono...osis. It's a sentence all by itself, and a rather long one at that. Why not just say "lung disease?" (I realize that science needs words that provide a high degree of specificity, but we don't often use them in conversation.)
I am particularly drawn to short words used metaphorically. Phrases like "his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top" convey so much meaning with such simple words.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra. That's so cool..
October 21, 2007
jennarenn commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Shirt quote: why the heck is "monosyllabic" five freakin' syllables?
Good one c_b.
October 21, 2007
skipvia commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
How about making it more simple, jennaren: "Monosyllabic isn't."
October 21, 2007
jennarenn commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
You're so good. (I'm also positively *thrilled* that somebody else is on right now.) :)
October 21, 2007
skipvia commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
It's still early for me jenn. I'm in Alaska. I had to wait until I could get a word in edgewise...
October 21, 2007
seanahan commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Is anyone else concerned with the human condition that moist has 4 times as many comments as love?
October 21, 2007
skipvia commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Or that dork out has even more than moist?
Maybe that's a hopeful sign, actually...
October 21, 2007
yarb commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
I'm totally with skipvia: even ordinary monosyllablic words have a purity about them which has to be worth something. Short words tend to have plural meanings and, because they denote basic things or ideas, lend themselves readily to metaphor.
As far as I'm concerned, a given two-syllable word has to be twice as good as a given one-syllable word in order to have the same amount of value.
That the only four to make the list should be, as Jenn notes, lubricious, is further disheartening.
October 21, 2007
yarb commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Came over all Victorian there, sorry. Just got back from a concert of Elgar. A-hrrrp-hmm.
October 21, 2007
chained_bear commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
I guess if we all share the same thought that it's a shame monosyllabic words get short shrift on the Wordie top 100, then we need to get our butts in gear and do something about it!
(Used as many one-syllable words as possible, there.)
October 22, 2007
yarb commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
It looks like fuck is bubbling under. Shame.
May 3, 2009
chained_bear commented on the list monosyllabic-words-in-the-wordie-top-100
Don't you mean, "Fuck!"?
May 3, 2009