Breaking News: Wiser’s favorite word is antidisestablishmentarianism
A Weekly COLUMN By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
A day or so ago, my mind “wrandomly” started thinking about words that are hard to pronounce, and often to even spell correctly. This was triggered by the readings of a new author and one of his books wrandomly selected from the “new books” table at the David Howe Memorial Library in Wellsville. Having now completed about 2/3rds of the book I have a soon to become favored author. Chris Bohjalian writes somewhat in the style of Stuart Woods who writes fantastic novels, but who also has a “less than tasteful” proclivity for the use of the “F Word” and tends to be rather smutty at times. In writings, people will often allude to the word by abbreviation it as in “f-ng” or “f…”.
In his book, specifically The Amateur, Chris uses a couple of words that are quite common even if difficult to pronounce or spell if called upon to do so. The specific word that he used was egregious. No, not the description of the word, I meant the word itself. That word itself means; “outstandingly bad, or shocking”. It’s a commonly used word, more in novel writings and less often used “conversationally.” I immediately started thinking about other words that share the characteristics and are inimitable.
As often happens, I couldn’t forget the topic, and thus a bevy of words that fall into that category. My plan is to write those words, share them with you, and thus purge my memory of them.
Another word that I have mentioned previously, and which brings back fond memories of Lillian Norton, at one time the nurse at Friendship Central School. Her correction of the pronunciation of the word infamous comes to mind every time I start thinking about the words in my vocabulary. I also recall fondly; Royce, her husband, along with Vicki and Gail, their daughters.
Spelling wise, my favorite word is antidisestablishmentarianism, the word made famous many decades ago, when it was correctly spelled by a young school age student on a TV (or radio) program that featured grammar spelling contests. It was initially a challenge but once learned it was like a badge of honor to be able to rapidly spew the letters that it consisted of. That is a real word, however, not used in every day conversations. I probably have used it more than anyone else in history, now occasionally bringing it into play in my “grammar groan” topics.
Sticking with the grammar groan theme, The other day another grammar related subject filled my head as I thought of the words “laughter” and “daughter.” The “augh” component of a word sounds differently when spoken. It “aught” to. It’s no wonder that our language is the most difficult to learn by those who speak, or use it in our language, but even more-so for foreigners trying to learn our language. “Laugh” has the “af” sound while daughter, has the “awe” sound.
With apologies to my new friends Charles van Heck and Bill Doerler, I will have to put off writing about Nile, NY, and my youth spent there. I had so many topics already for today, and that Nile writing will be a stand-alone, by itself. I may do that as a “special” in between my normal Wrambling Thursday compositions.
The above topics are enough to “sneeze at” unlike those terms that are nothing to “sneeze about. I wonder where that phrase ever came from. An entomology search will likely reveal the source.
Another aspect of our confusing language is the words that sound alike, and are spelled alike but which have multiple meanings. I swear I will not swear out loud. Draught beer uses the same letters as mentioned above but is more easily spelled as Draft beer and doesn’t frighten 18 year old males as it did back the 60’s.
I will end the topic of words and sounds with a previously written about word combination. I recently heard the phrase “it’s come about…” mentioned and it reminded me about word ending consonants that would make “It’s come about” as being “its scum about.”
The other day I caught myself closing one eye to look at something hoping to better “focus on” something more closely. That too piqued my curiosity as to how much “overlap” there is between one eye looking as opposed to two eye looking. I guess that was prompted by seeing a picture of a pirate wearing an eye patch. I’m pretty sure that at one time nearly everyone has checked out the difference in the vision and the overlap using both eyes as opposed to one. Go ahead…try it and see for yourself. Both eyes don’t see as much extra as one would expect or suspect. Most people won’t have the problem of “seeing past the nose on their face”, they often say, and I experience.
I might as well stay on trivial subjects and recall a thought I had recently drinking “Coca Cola” aka “Coke.” The shape of a Coke bottle with a bulge about half way up the bottle makes holding the bottle a little more convenient than perhaps that of a Pepsi Cola bottle. Some one had a great idea when (if) you stop to think about it. Having mentioned Pepsi,I recall when the Pepsi product introduced itself in a 16-ounce size as opposed to the traditional 12-ounce serving. I was ecstatic.
The other day I had an accumulation of waste in a facial appendage that needed removal. I was home alone so “no problemo.” There are a few ordinary human bodily characteristics that are at least, mostly kept in private as opposed to sharing in public. “Breaking wind” can have two effects. The sound is the most obvious and only a few people that I know, or knew, did it unabashedly, some very proudly. The emanating odor is the sneaky culprit and causes people to “casually” look around, if it was not them, to discern who it was that “farted.” The perpetrator is likely the one to start looking around first, often trying to imply that it was someone else by stepping aside and looking at them. Picking ones nose, or picking a scab off are a couple other common traits, preferably kept out of view of those in the same area.
My wife is a QVC patron. Often times whilst she is watching a televised sales promotional program at or around bedtime, I will sit down and watch a little bit with her. I know that the sales reps are specifically trained to speak in a mandated time frame, causing them to speak as rapidly as they can to get their spiel out. It is irritating to me, so I seldom will watch for more than a minute or two. To me it sounds like “yackityyackityyackityyackity.” Just as fast as you can say it.
As I am getting older, and I wouldn’t want that to stop for awhile yet, my bodily joints keep deteriorating. Many have already been replaced with multiple knees (4 replacements) and shoulders to name a couple. Some things however are not operable, or at least of my own volition, at this point. My lower back easily gets sore or lame, even as I sit here Wrambling. I can’t stand without the pain causing me to start walking “hunched over.” I have witnessed others in that state and I feel their pain.
I refuse to give in to the tendency to bend forward, so will immediately get to the nearest wall, stand with my heels against it and force myself to “straighten up.” Standing forcefully erect, or sometimes with a slight backward bend for a few seconds will then allow me to walk completely erect. I am constantly reminding myself to do that. Mind over matter, if it matters.
I will end with a personally difficult knock on, or against, Spectrum. I recently stopped by the Spectrum store in Olean to see if I could get a replacement, or updated version of my Router and/or modem. They advised that they would have to have the router shipped to me as they didn’t have any in stock at the store. Whilst there we negotiated to get my monthly rate changed as my bill had crept up in price to almost $200. The attendant was able to reduce my bill by knocking about $30 off the monthly fee. The new Router arrived a few days later and there were two components in the box. One was the router and the other was a “Battery Back-up” storage component. Prior to installing them it was obvious that the router was the exact same model as the one I currently owned. Not wanting to change it, along with figuring out how to change or update my “user name”. I decided to return the new components to the store. I made the trip to Olean again, large box in hand. Waiting over a half hour whilst the “only two” store salespeople were busy with other customers, yacking conversationally with them, as they slowly proceeded to serve them, It was finally my turn. I explained to the sales-clerk that I wanted to return the yet unused devices as I didn’t need them. The clerk explained that to do-so he would have to negate the promotional rate change and I would then have to pay the original higher price. I didn’t want to do that so left the store with the new components still in hand. They are now resting peacefully in the “bed” (box) on a shelf in my office area. The only advantage that the other equipment offered was the battery back-up component that would allow me to maintain Spectrum TV programming and modem power supply to my remote units in the event that we had an extended power outage. I didn’t want to lose the discounted price, so I kept the unused items.
A new phone, a Motorola Razr was also included in the deal. I tried to return it as well but the same rationale, on their end only. I now have to figure out how to use the phone’s features, which so far has been difficult. I have purchased (because I had to) a training booklet for the Razr.
Genesee Valley Chorus reminder and repeated invitation. We are now working on our winter/Christmas agenda, and it is enjoyable learning and singing the formal SATB (Soprano/Alto/ Tenor/Bass) arrangements of traditional and modern seasonal songs. New singers are still welcome to join. No formal musical education or background required. All you need is an enjoyment of singing and sharing your voice with the group. Every Tuesday evening 6:30 PM at the Grace United Church on North Main Street in Wellsville. Come sing with us 💕💕💕.
If you have any comments, questions, cares or concerns please feel free to contact me by email, at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com. Once again as well, Thank You for reading the Wellsville Sun and my Wramblings.
