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Would laugh!
Off the Wall
June 24, 2010
Back in May, I conducted
a survey of sorts, something I have always enjoyed doing, just
for the fun of it. This one had to do with a word "I made
up", and I wanted to see what people's responses would be.
I didn't expect many returns; neither did I get that many. But
what I received was an education, and I hope you, the reader,
will understand that words unfamiliar to you don't always have
to be dirty just because it doesn't sound good. It is what it
is, and it means what the inventor meant it to mean.
Here was my question: "If someone looked you smack dab in
your face and called you a 'dipsuckle' what would be your response?"
Sarah Gold from Pittsburgh exclaimed, "I would laugh if
someone called me a 'dipsuckle' because, in my opinion, it would
have to be a joke. If it wasn't a joke, I think laughing is the
best way to discourage name-calling. If the person can't get
a rise out of you, it defeats the purpose."
Georgia Dryfus, Cleveland, commented, "I would probably
ask them, what the heck is that????????, and then depending on
their reply, respond." Her response matched others.
Catherine Smith, Seattle, spelled out another side of people's
thinking by stating, "I'd be afraid someone would hit me!
That doesn't sound like a very nice word, I don't think I'll
do this survey.
I do have a definition for this "word". A dipsuckle
is someone who brings out the best in another person. For my
Inside the Outdoors column, I wrote about pollination, and how
the nectar, a sweet liquid secretion, attracts the pollinators.
Bees, birds, butterflies are all attracted to flowering plants.
When they land on them, the pollen sticks to their feet and the
creature transfers the substance to other plants for future germination.
Can you be that nectar in the presence of others? Just think,
then, what you would mean to someone else. I can name three people
right off the bat who have brought out the best in me Steve
Gordon, Al Celesnik, and Tom Marinchak Jr., all from Latrobe.
Great guys.
One more thought before moving on. Ms. Smith inferred that the
word was "dirty". Even though I do respect her for
her thoughts, I believe she has read enough of my columns now
to know I wouldn't stoop below the belt just for commentary's
sake.
I just polished off a book I enjoyed reading, We've Got It
Made in America by Cheers' John Ratzenberger. You
may remember him as portraying Cliff, the mailman.
In talking about the common language of today he states, "Apparently
Standard English is now considered uncool, unhip, geeky."
Am I so far off course as to come up with my own definitions
in the light of this famous actor?
When I had my store a good long time ago, my nephew, Ryan Marshall,
and I decided to think up a word that would describe shopping
at Pee Vee's. After a period of time, we decided on Smide.
Its meaning most excellent!" "It's a smide idea
to shop at Pee Vee's". I had signs made. It was a great
attention-getter. Even motorists stopped and asked, "What's
smide," to which I cheerfully answered its definition.
I was being transported to a physical therapy session by the
local cab service. In my travels, I happened to bring to the
driver's attention about words people make up. In the course
of our conversion, she told me of one friend who uses a made-up
word. "Why don't you include it in a story," the middle-aged
driver suggested.
So, here it is "dologamus". "And
what, pray tell, does he mean by that?" I asked. "Coming
from the brain!" I like it. Isn't it nice to know everything
we do is dologamus? I may say the Holy Spirit inspires me to
write many of my stories, but my brain has to initiate the commands
to make my fingers do the walking on those keys.
In writing about pollination led me to yet another word
Paulinated. Defined how my behavior affected others
disposition. Now, not everyone could use my name. So other people's
names could be employed as such: Beckinated, Zachinated, or Caseynated.
I think you get the idea.
There's one more word I want to talk about. It is hoose.
Think a moment what it possibly could mean? "How in the
world can I ever figure it out since it's a made-up word?"
may be your drawn conclusion. That's where you are wrong, my
friend. Sounds like it could be, right, but it's in the dictionary.
It's another word for house!
Paul J. Volkmann
Written: May 19, 2010
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