Not
long ago, I blogged about how, as a writer, I enjoy underlining words and
phrases in books I read. Sometimes I do
so to further my vocabulary. Other
times, I just like the way an author fits seemingly disjointed words
together. Still more times, I appreciate
when an author takes creative license by using words that have specific
meanings as something entirely different.
I
came across one of the latter the other day.
The author wrote, “Consider one unfortunate cul de sac of our
language.” At first glance, the words
have a nice poetic flow to them. Look a
little deeper, and one garners a mental visual that’s pleasing. Closer scrutiny reveals how double entendres
mirror actual cul de sacs where one is forced in through one opening, circles
around a bit and then exits by means of the way they entered.
Allow
me to elaborate. The author used
examples of these language cul de sacs, explaining how when a person says, “I
don’t care,” it’s not that they don’t care or have an opinion, but rather that
they don’t believe their opinion matters, or just as easily, it could be that
the person is in support of the suggestion, thinking it’s a great idea. Another example of these double entendre
vocab cul de sacs is when someone says, “Sure, go ahead,” when asked by someone
if it’s okay for that person to go out with other friends. The recipient might take that to mean the
speaker’s in full support, when in actuality they’re jealous and will likely
sit home alone, pouting, while the other person goes out and has a great time.
I wonder if others are as
intrigued with the methodology of how words are coupled together such as my
example of vocabulary cul de sacs? Or is
this something unique to me as a writer?
All I know is that I’ve been fascinated with how words can be strung
together for as long as I can recall.
How those same words, if directly translated, would mean nothing even
close to what’s intended, but somehow, when joined in a common thought phrase,
they create a lasting image that exactly depicts what the speaker
intended. I imagine this has got to
drive those to whom English isn’t a first language batty. But for me, I’m intrigued and smile while
underlining nuggets of literary wisdom I come across.
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