Idioms are fun for writers but they make language learning a real challenge for everyone.
I love learning about language, words, and all that relates to writing and speaking. I took two years of Spanish in high school and seriously considered majoring in Spanish in college. When I started college, I found the school’s Spanish instructor was a native of Venezuela, and more than half the Spanish class were Basques — those mysterious and wonderful people who are natives of a mountainous region on the border of Spain and France (I think). One week of understanding nothing beyond the rapidly spoken phrase, “Senor Speer,” quickly discouraged my Spanish language pursuit.
Read more on Idioms are fun but make language learning a real challenge…
Some months ago, I wrote of a site called ThereTheir.com — DON’T WRITE LIKE AN IDIOT. I had forgotten about that site until one of my readers came here searching for it and left a comment discussing the site.
Read more on I love a language site that starts off by berating ‘idiots’…
I’ve written a few parodies in my day, usually something short as in a blog post. Parodies can be fun and they can be very effective.
A well-written parody can be an extremely effective way of making a point in a way that moves people to action, brings them to tears, fills them with anger. A column in our local newspaper last February used Valentine’s Day to poke fun at those ultra-conservative religious folks who see “satanic attacks” and other forms of deviltry in celebrating such widely accepted holidays as Christmas. In this case, the writer made up and elaborate history of St. Valentine, of the original intent of the holiday being one of honoring God, but condemning modern Valentine’s Day observers for “taking St. Valentine out of St. Valentine’s Day,” a broad shot at all who sound the alarm over “taking Christ out of Christmas.”
Read more on Do you write parodies? Share some tips about parody writing…
You cannot watch television, read a magazine, do ANYTHING on the Internet, or even just take a walk around most towns without being bombarded by words and their meanings — words and meanings that shape the way we actually see and regard the world we live in.
Read more on The power of words and their meaning shape our perceptions…
In my last post I made reference to the sad plight our language and our nation may be in if we permit politicians and others in prominence or leadership in the country ignore or arbitrarily change the meaning of our language. I don’t want you to think I mean language never, or never should, change the meaning of words and phrases.
Read more on Do words change their meaning? If so, how does meaning change?…
I have another blog, Just a Guy Who Reads the Papers, where I sound off loudly about various politicians and political foibles. I have tried to keep this site very “apolitical.” I think I have succeeded pretty well.
Read more on When politicians redefine the language we all suffer the consequences…
Whether you’re writing fiction or trying to keep the attention of college freshman physics students, take a word of advice my son once gave me: “Blow something up or set something on fire.”
Read more on Fiction tip: If your characters are boring you and the action stalls — blow something up…
I haven’t posted as often as I would like in recent weeks. I’ve been preoccupied with a flurry of luxurious European cruises, when I haven’t been too busy enjoying my hobbies of snowboarding down Mt. Everest and skydiving over the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Read more on Ah, the drama and excitement of the writing lifestyle — or not…
