Confused? You will be until you become familiar with some of the words, all created by fellow Canadians, to express things in our society that don't have a name. While perusing a small thrift store in my neighbourhood I came across a small book entitled "Wanted Words From Amalgamots to Undercarments. Starting in mid-2000 CBC Radio One's "This Morning" program put out a call for things and processes that didn't have a name. Listeners wrote emails, sent faxes and phoned in words that filled gaps in the English language.
The book is not only entertaining but I am definitely going to be using and introducing you to some of the the words that somehow really capture those unnamed niches.
Herbacidal Maniac
-noun
a person who kills plants; the opposite of a green thumb. (Jeff Daniels, Kitakami-shi, Japan)
Totally me; I don't think I've had a living houseplant for at least 10 years. Someone brought me a plant recently and it's sitting on my counter. I'm trying to take care of it, really I am, yet I'm watching it slowly die....
Cacheblanca
-noun
a place for safekeeping; valuables, once stored there, are irretrievable because its location cannot be recalled. (Raymond Gallant, Neguac, NB)
The latest thing to go into my Cacheblanca? One of my flash drives; and I should also mention this is often the place I put my glasses whenever I get into the shower.
Anuerythm
-noun
the term for a song that sticks in your head, usually against your will. (Rick Spanjer, Moose Jaw, SK)
They list a number of songs that listeners felt were the greatest anuerythms of all time: Monday, Monday; Stayin' Alive; New York New York; Pink Panther Theme; Beethoven's Fifth Symphony; Goldfinger; I will Survive; Feelings, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head; Hotel California; Don't Worry, Be Happy; Muskrat Love; and anything by ABBA. I bet you are really thanking me about now for listing off all those songs......
Happy Humming!
Namenesia
-noun
the inability to recall the name of someone, even though you know his or her face. (Pat Brown, Sidney, BC)
My biggest fear when I'm at conference, assemblies or meetings.
Interangst
-noun
the waiting period between swiping your credit or debit card and getting approved or denied by the bank. (Joanna McGarvie, Ucluelet, BC)
I never used to suffer this angst until my debit card got cancelled & the bank hadn't had a chance to contact me yet. I had to borrow money from an acquaintance & I could tell that they thought I didn't have enough money in my bank account for a $3.00 coffee!
Powernoia
-noun
an irrational fear of authority, of "getting caught," when you have done absolutely nothing wrong. (Noel Griffin, Vancouver, BC)
My husband suffers from this every time we got through the US/Canadian Border. The guard asks "What city are you all from?" He answers Canada. "What's your country of birth?" He answers Vancouver. "Where are you going?" He answers Orlando (FL) when we're going to Ontario (CA) or San Diego when we're going to San Bernadino. Now I drive until we get to Bellingham.
Napsnaps
-noun
the full body twitch and jerk that often snaps a person out of a sleep just as he or she is drifting off. Sometimes accompanied by a dream of falling or colliding with something. (Ludvick Prevec, Burlington, ON)
The bane of my bedtime existence and the cause of many sleepless hours. I also like some of the other words submitted such as slumberjolt and I think my favorite, slumberjerk!
Sheetfaced
-adjective
having lines on one's face made by pillows and sheets. (Ron Boyle, Careleton Place, ON & Paul Sullivan, Victoria, BC)
My worst experience with this was when we had a layover in an airport and I decided to catch a cat nap. I lay down and used my purse for a pillow. Of course I was awakened during the last call and we ran to the gate. The attendants and Bruce started killing themselves laughing; the lattice pattern of my purse was deeply entrenched on one side of my face.
Wanted Words is a definitely a keeper as far as I'm concerned and a must have for any word lover. After doing an Internet search it appears that this book was a bestseller along with its 2001 sequel, Wanted Words 2-Armajello to Yawncore and they are both sold out at Chapters/Indigo. I have been left hungering for more of these language gap words so I'll be watching at my thrift store and checking out some used book haunts. Oh, and and if you wouldn't mind, can you all check out your Cacheblanca's to see if you might happen to have an extra volume hanging around? Then again, never mind. You'll never be able to find it anyway.
Salynne ©2010
Great post! I particularly chuckled at your airport "Sheetfaced" experience.
ReplyDeleteI too suffer from "Namensia". Its so embarrassng when people remember my name but I only remember their face but not their name.