Summary: There are lots of reasons to keep a journal, but the process can be a lot simpler than you may think. Four basics for journaling through feelings are outlined in today's post. For further info., check out old, new, and forthcoming posts by "The Journal Lady" Barbara J. Henry, my fellow blogger.
In my last post, I mentioned that journaling can be very helpful for sorting out your feelings. A lot of people are overwhelmed by the idea of starting or keeping a journal. But the fact is, to be its most helpful, journaling is used in its simplest form.
Here are the basics of journaling:
(1) Define the reason you want to keep a journal. Maybe you don’t want to actually “keep” a journal at all. Rather, you may likely want to simply get the thoughts that are bothering you out of your head. And putting them on paper is an excellent way to get them outside of yourself. In a case such as this, it’s not necessary to buy a special notebook or keep it in a sacred spot. You can grab any scratch pad that’s handy and use any writing utensil to record your thoughts at any time. And you can even throw those thoughts away once you’ve gotten them out of your system. (You may use a recording device to achieve the same results.)
(2) Use the journal as consistently as is comfortable for you and your needs. For some purposes, such as enhancing creativity, daily journaling is important. But when it comes to maintenance of feelings, daily journaling is often unnecessary. Again, simply record your thoughts when you cannot get rid of them—and can’t think clearly enough to work your way through them without this extra aid. The more you engage in this exercise, the easier it will become for you to work through your bogged-down feelings without a journal.
(3) Be specific in your journal entries. While it may be helpful to write a general sketch of what’s going on or what’s bothering you in the moment (and it often is), this doesn’t exactly help you to solve the problem. To do that, you’ll want to be as specific as possible—not only about what’s happening, but also about how you feel about it. Saying (or writing), “I feel bad,” is too vague. Give those bad feelings precise names that accurately convey your emotion: angry, hostile, over-excited, guilty, hurt, confused, disappointed, etc. If you find that you can’t put a name to it—or that you are too commonly using generic words like bad or upset to describe how you feel—it’s okay to write that you’re unsure what to call the way you’re feeling. But do take the time to think about it and practice naming what you feel very specifically. This also gets easier with practice.
(4) Don’t forget to focus on the positive. After you’ve vented, it’s important to give yourself closure on the situation at hand. One very easy way to do that is to think of what you’re grateful for, because even in negative situations, we can always find something positive. (For example, if “I’m mad at my husband for not helping with the dishes,” I can later recognize that “I’m grateful he’s been working so hard to bring in money this week and also that he appreciates my cooking for him.”)
I’ve been journaling for a variety of reasons since before I could even write in cursive. Although I’ve gotten a lot of different benefits from journal-writing, the longest staple has been an objective observation of my feelings in situations that might otherwise overwhelm me. I have employed all of the above techniques as needed with quite positive results.
For more helpful hints on this subject, check out the blog of my colleague, Barbara J. Henry, a.k.a. “The Journal Lady.” Look for guest posts from Barbara in both past and future entries to Beyond Talk.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 30, 2009
Oct 28, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Ending Verbal Abuse
Summary: Defining "abuse" globally is difficult, but most of us know what we're willing to put up with as individuals. Once you've established this for yourself, be consistent in maintaining your personal boundaries. In special circumstances (such as when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's), follow the steps below to remain calm and communicate clearly under emotional duress.
Verbal abuse is no laughing matter. Some have said that verbal or emotional abuse can be more detrimental than physical abuse, because the victims bear no visible scars. While that is subjective, the fact is that so is what constitutes "abuse" in this global society—especially what constitutes verbal or emotional harm.
As individuals, we all set up our own boundaries when it comes to how much we'll tolerate and from whom. We may be highly sensitive to strangers, flaring up at the slightest injustice, like getting cut in line at the bank or being tailgated on the interstate. And yet we may have much higher thresholds for mistreatment by those closest to us, allowing our parents or significant others to call us names or criticize us daily without reacting with much shock or hurt.
Setting your personal boundaries—and maintaining consistency with them—is the first step toward putting an end to abuse of any kind. It's only when you know your limits that you can honor them and ask others to honor them, as well.
Once you know what (or how little) you're willing to tolerate, it's important that you not make any exceptions. And it's just as crucial that you not respond with anger toward someone else's anger, because that only aggravates the situation, rather than cooling it. If you find you cannot do this, especially early on, it's important that you remove yourself from the situation that's upsetting you and then provide an explanation (and apology, if necessary) to those involved once you are calm.
Some circumstances call for extra patience on our part, such as when a loved one has Alzheimer's and has become disoriented, lashing out verbally with hostility. We want to stay with the person who is pushing our buttons and not take what they're saying personally—though that may be quite hard. Here are some good rules of thumb for communicating calmly in such cases:
(1) Choose short, direct sentences to convey what's most important: "Grandpa, I'm Kealah. I'm your granddaughter. We're going to your doctor's office."
(2) Speak slowly and enunciate to be certain you're understood. When the brain is stressed, its ability to comprehend is deeply impaired, as is its ability to explain this to someone else.
(3) Make eye contact. (This is a good rule of thumb for critical communication of any kind, be it to a child, a coworker or an adversary.)
(4) Above all else, be sure to keep yourself calm by breathing deeply and slowly. If you find it impossible to remain calm, give yourself permission to walk away for 5 minutes and return again after you're calmer.
Journaling is another great way to stay in touch with your own feelings throughout any difficult process. Use your journal both before and after known emotional triggers to monitor your progress and objectively observe your own behavior. The more you do this, the easier it becomes to change your behavior in the heat of the moment.
Peace be with you throughout the rest of this week!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Verbal abuse is no laughing matter. Some have said that verbal or emotional abuse can be more detrimental than physical abuse, because the victims bear no visible scars. While that is subjective, the fact is that so is what constitutes "abuse" in this global society—especially what constitutes verbal or emotional harm.
As individuals, we all set up our own boundaries when it comes to how much we'll tolerate and from whom. We may be highly sensitive to strangers, flaring up at the slightest injustice, like getting cut in line at the bank or being tailgated on the interstate. And yet we may have much higher thresholds for mistreatment by those closest to us, allowing our parents or significant others to call us names or criticize us daily without reacting with much shock or hurt.
Setting your personal boundaries—and maintaining consistency with them—is the first step toward putting an end to abuse of any kind. It's only when you know your limits that you can honor them and ask others to honor them, as well.
Once you know what (or how little) you're willing to tolerate, it's important that you not make any exceptions. And it's just as crucial that you not respond with anger toward someone else's anger, because that only aggravates the situation, rather than cooling it. If you find you cannot do this, especially early on, it's important that you remove yourself from the situation that's upsetting you and then provide an explanation (and apology, if necessary) to those involved once you are calm.
Some circumstances call for extra patience on our part, such as when a loved one has Alzheimer's and has become disoriented, lashing out verbally with hostility. We want to stay with the person who is pushing our buttons and not take what they're saying personally—though that may be quite hard. Here are some good rules of thumb for communicating calmly in such cases:
(1) Choose short, direct sentences to convey what's most important: "Grandpa, I'm Kealah. I'm your granddaughter. We're going to your doctor's office."
(2) Speak slowly and enunciate to be certain you're understood. When the brain is stressed, its ability to comprehend is deeply impaired, as is its ability to explain this to someone else.
(3) Make eye contact. (This is a good rule of thumb for critical communication of any kind, be it to a child, a coworker or an adversary.)
(4) Above all else, be sure to keep yourself calm by breathing deeply and slowly. If you find it impossible to remain calm, give yourself permission to walk away for 5 minutes and return again after you're calmer.
Journaling is another great way to stay in touch with your own feelings throughout any difficult process. Use your journal both before and after known emotional triggers to monitor your progress and objectively observe your own behavior. The more you do this, the easier it becomes to change your behavior in the heat of the moment.
Peace be with you throughout the rest of this week!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 26, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Vituperative Voice
Summary: This week's word is vituperation. It's a noun that means "verbal abuse." Later this week, we'll explore ways you can talk back to someone who's vituperating you—without furthering the fight.
Vituperation (VIE - too - per - A - SHUN) - (n.) verbal abuse; sustained and bitter condemnation; railing, castigation, severe reprimanding. Etymology: From the fifteenth century Latin word vituperatio, meaning blame, censure, ritual verbal abuse.
Over the last couple of weeks, we've been using this blog to look at (among other things) the way our brains' cognitive functioning affects the way we communicate. When we're stressed, our thinking is impaired, and we undergo an inability to grasp the right words to say want we mean. We can also say whatever does come to mind in the wrong tone of voice; we can become vituperative.
Later this week, we'll look at ways you can respond to someone who's berating or vituperating you—ways you can talk back that actually end the cycle, rather than fuel the fighting fire. We'll also explore how you can put an end to vituperation if you, yourself, are the verbally abusive culprit.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Vituperation (VIE - too - per - A - SHUN) - (n.) verbal abuse; sustained and bitter condemnation; railing, castigation, severe reprimanding. Etymology: From the fifteenth century Latin word vituperatio, meaning blame, censure, ritual verbal abuse.
Over the last couple of weeks, we've been using this blog to look at (among other things) the way our brains' cognitive functioning affects the way we communicate. When we're stressed, our thinking is impaired, and we undergo an inability to grasp the right words to say want we mean. We can also say whatever does come to mind in the wrong tone of voice; we can become vituperative.
Later this week, we'll look at ways you can respond to someone who's berating or vituperating you—ways you can talk back that actually end the cycle, rather than fuel the fighting fire. We'll also explore how you can put an end to vituperation if you, yourself, are the verbally abusive culprit.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 23, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Fighting the Fall Funk
Summary: Fall is beautiful! But it can also be a sad time of year as the sunshine recedes—especially for those of us who fight seasonal depression. I share two strategies (physical and emotional) that have helped me cope in today's post.
It's that time of year again: Crisp apples baked into pies, fuzzy sweaters wrapped around us for warmth, bright hues of burnt orange, fiery red and golden brown blazing on the treetops. It's fall!
When I was a kid, fall was my favorite time of year. I loved jumping into piles of leaves from my swing set, and carving pumpkins with my family. But as I progressed through elementary school, fall become a less and less happy time for me.
It wasn't until I was in high school that I started hearing about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression. That really resonated with me, so I began to study a little about it—and then a little about how to treat it. Depending on what's going on in my life, I've had years with almost no affect and years with pretty debilitating depression. And I've had years that I would categorize as somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. Luckily, this year and last have both fallen (so far) into the lighter, happier category.
What's responsible for that?
The last two years have not been without their challenges: Last year, my home was hit with severe flooding after Hurricane Ike remnants raged across the Midwest; I was later hospitalized twice for illness. This year, my grandmother has been (successfully!) battling heart problems, and I recently lost an uncle to an accidental fire. The state of the global economy is no laughing matter, either. Yet my perspective remains grounded and relatively positive.
The reasons are two-fold:
(1) I've been focusing on physical strategies—like taking my vitamins (especially Vitamin D, which is often in depletion in the less sunny months across much of the U.S.), exercising and eating organically as regularly as possible, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night as often as I can.
(2) I've been practicing GRATITUDE.
Someone once told me that negativity and gratitude cannot easily coexist. Since that day, I've made a practice of counteracting pervasive negativity by thinking of something for which I'm thankful. It's easy! And it only gets easier the more I do it.
When our cognitive functions are impaired for any reason, we lose the ability to communicate what and how we really want to communicate. Making strides to shift our perspectives can help us reorient to get back on track and say what we need to say (no matter what the weather does!). Today, I'm thankful that you're reading this. And to you, I say, "Happy fall!"
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
It's that time of year again: Crisp apples baked into pies, fuzzy sweaters wrapped around us for warmth, bright hues of burnt orange, fiery red and golden brown blazing on the treetops. It's fall!
When I was a kid, fall was my favorite time of year. I loved jumping into piles of leaves from my swing set, and carving pumpkins with my family. But as I progressed through elementary school, fall become a less and less happy time for me.
It wasn't until I was in high school that I started hearing about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression. That really resonated with me, so I began to study a little about it—and then a little about how to treat it. Depending on what's going on in my life, I've had years with almost no affect and years with pretty debilitating depression. And I've had years that I would categorize as somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. Luckily, this year and last have both fallen (so far) into the lighter, happier category.
What's responsible for that?
The last two years have not been without their challenges: Last year, my home was hit with severe flooding after Hurricane Ike remnants raged across the Midwest; I was later hospitalized twice for illness. This year, my grandmother has been (successfully!) battling heart problems, and I recently lost an uncle to an accidental fire. The state of the global economy is no laughing matter, either. Yet my perspective remains grounded and relatively positive.
The reasons are two-fold:
(1) I've been focusing on physical strategies—like taking my vitamins (especially Vitamin D, which is often in depletion in the less sunny months across much of the U.S.), exercising and eating organically as regularly as possible, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night as often as I can.
(2) I've been practicing GRATITUDE.
Someone once told me that negativity and gratitude cannot easily coexist. Since that day, I've made a practice of counteracting pervasive negativity by thinking of something for which I'm thankful. It's easy! And it only gets easier the more I do it.
When our cognitive functions are impaired for any reason, we lose the ability to communicate what and how we really want to communicate. Making strides to shift our perspectives can help us reorient to get back on track and say what we need to say (no matter what the weather does!). Today, I'm thankful that you're reading this. And to you, I say, "Happy fall!"
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 21, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: How to Stop Sibilance (& Other Problem Speech Patterns)
Summary: Public speakers can sometimes be afflicted with lisps or excessive sibilance. Both problems can be fixed by correcting the placement of the tongue when making the S noise and other similar sounds. This is detailed below.
Every once in a while, I'll be speaking in front of a group and I'll notice that my mouth is producing a lot more sibilance than it normally does. This seems to especially happen when I'm reading something aloud. (I also used to notice it as a child, repeating the Lord's Prayer every Sunday: "Forgive usss our tresssssspassssssesss ....") I'm still working on figuring out why I'm afflicted with this precarious speech pattern sometimes and not others, but I do know now consciously how to correct it:
I just change the placement of my tongue to my teeth.
Do you ever suffer from this problem? Maybe you, also, find it occurs more at certain times and less at others. Or maybe you over-emphasize your S sounds always. However frequently you make sibilant distortions, you can change your tongue placement, too, to fix it for yourself.
Reducing sibilance requires the same mouth placement corrections as those used to alleviate lisps, just for the opposite reason. Lispers often mistakenly put their tongues partly on the roofs of their mouths—or more frequently through or against their front teeth—when pronouncing the S or Z (or even SH, CH or TS) sounds. Sibilant speakers, rather, put their tongues behind their teeth when producing these English letter combos.
The correct S pronunciation requires placing the tip of the tongue behind the alveolar ridge of the mouth (that is, on the roof of the mouth, just above the top front teeth).
Sibilance can be especially heightened by amplification, such as using a microphone or recording equipment. There is software and other specialty equipment available today made just to reduce or omit sibilance in vocal tracks. Another quick fix can be done naturally by simply holding the mic away from your mouth approximately four inches. Remember that practice makes perfect!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Every once in a while, I'll be speaking in front of a group and I'll notice that my mouth is producing a lot more sibilance than it normally does. This seems to especially happen when I'm reading something aloud. (I also used to notice it as a child, repeating the Lord's Prayer every Sunday: "Forgive usss our tresssssspassssssesss ....") I'm still working on figuring out why I'm afflicted with this precarious speech pattern sometimes and not others, but I do know now consciously how to correct it:
I just change the placement of my tongue to my teeth.
Do you ever suffer from this problem? Maybe you, also, find it occurs more at certain times and less at others. Or maybe you over-emphasize your S sounds always. However frequently you make sibilant distortions, you can change your tongue placement, too, to fix it for yourself.
Reducing sibilance requires the same mouth placement corrections as those used to alleviate lisps, just for the opposite reason. Lispers often mistakenly put their tongues partly on the roofs of their mouths—or more frequently through or against their front teeth—when pronouncing the S or Z (or even SH, CH or TS) sounds. Sibilant speakers, rather, put their tongues behind their teeth when producing these English letter combos.
The correct S pronunciation requires placing the tip of the tongue behind the alveolar ridge of the mouth (that is, on the roof of the mouth, just above the top front teeth).
Sibilance can be especially heightened by amplification, such as using a microphone or recording equipment. There is software and other specialty equipment available today made just to reduce or omit sibilance in vocal tracks. Another quick fix can be done naturally by simply holding the mic away from your mouth approximately four inches. Remember that practice makes perfect!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 19, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Some Kind of Sibilance
Summary: Certain sounds in the English language naturally carry lots of sibilance (this week's word), or hissing noise. Some people struggle more often than others with this problematic speech pattern. Read more about sibilance in today's post, and read Wednesday's upcoming post for ways to correct it.
What's that sound? Is it a snake? A leaking air hose or tire?
No ... it's YOU! You're the one making that strange hissing noise, or sibilance.
It could be because you're speaking into a microphone that amplifies all of the hisses and whistles your mouth naturally makes when you pronounce words like hisses or whistles. (In case you haven't figured it out, sibilance [SIB - i - LENS] is a noun that refers to the quality of sound that's similar to a sharp 'S' or 'SH' pronunciation in English. It's derived from the Latin sibilare, meaning "to hiss, whistle; of imitative origin.")
There are times when our mouths seem to make more sibilance than usual—or for some of us, there's an ongoing problem in getting rid of sibilance when we speak.
Sibilant consonants that can cause the most problem are included in words like whisper, silk, sash, sand, and succulence. On Wednesday, we'll explore some ways you can help alleviate this problematic speech pattern if it's one with which you regularly—or even sometimes—struggle. Stay tuned!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
What's that sound? Is it a snake? A leaking air hose or tire?
No ... it's YOU! You're the one making that strange hissing noise, or sibilance.
It could be because you're speaking into a microphone that amplifies all of the hisses and whistles your mouth naturally makes when you pronounce words like hisses or whistles. (In case you haven't figured it out, sibilance [SIB - i - LENS] is a noun that refers to the quality of sound that's similar to a sharp 'S' or 'SH' pronunciation in English. It's derived from the Latin sibilare, meaning "to hiss, whistle; of imitative origin.")
There are times when our mouths seem to make more sibilance than usual—or for some of us, there's an ongoing problem in getting rid of sibilance when we speak.
Sibilant consonants that can cause the most problem are included in words like whisper, silk, sash, sand, and succulence. On Wednesday, we'll explore some ways you can help alleviate this problematic speech pattern if it's one with which you regularly—or even sometimes—struggle. Stay tuned!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 16, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Are You Too Stressed to Think?
Summary: This post is dedicated to my uncle who passed away this week. The preparations for his memorial service are a reminder that, in times of stress, one of the first things to be affected is the way we communicate. Both short-term and long-term stress impair the brain's cognitive function, making speaking clearly difficult. Follow the links below for more info. and tips on how to alleviate stress from your daily life.
This post is dedicated to the memory of my uncle, Steve Murray, who passed away this week. Right now, my extended family is bustling with preparations for this weekend's memorial services. My heart goes out to them.
In times of duress, the way we communicate with each other is one of the first things to be affected. The very first thing to feel the strain is the way we think, or our brain's cognitive function. This includes the ability to learn and collect information, process decisions, recall memories, and yes, speak. Just last year, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, conducted studies that determined it's not just long-term stress (such as grieving) that affects the brain. According to the study, short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can seriously impair cognitive ability throughout that timeframe.
Certain hormones are released at the molecular level during bouts of acute stress, impairing the natural process by which the brain stores and collects memories. And if the brain's cognition is disrupted this way, it's no wonder that it's difficult (or even impossible) to communicate clearly when you're feeling stressed.
The primary emotional responses that tend to come out when we are able to finally find our voices and speak are confusion and anger. Many diseases can also create the type of stress—both long-term and short-term—that negatively affects communication. Diseases such as autism, bipolar disorder, and depression can regularly affect communication skills, but you may be surprised to learn that physical diseases, such as diabetes, can also affect verbal and cognitive functioning.
If you find yourself in a position where you're under stress—either short-term or on a regular basis—there are things you can do to alleviate it. (Both of the above links take you to informative articles by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, a fellow writer and blogger who shares further info. on the subject and provides 8 tips for reducing workplace stress that can also be applied to your personal life.)
I'm sincerely proud of my family for the respect they continue to show each other, even in times of great pressure. And I want to take this time to say that they're all inspirations to me.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
This post is dedicated to the memory of my uncle, Steve Murray, who passed away this week. Right now, my extended family is bustling with preparations for this weekend's memorial services. My heart goes out to them.
In times of duress, the way we communicate with each other is one of the first things to be affected. The very first thing to feel the strain is the way we think, or our brain's cognitive function. This includes the ability to learn and collect information, process decisions, recall memories, and yes, speak. Just last year, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, conducted studies that determined it's not just long-term stress (such as grieving) that affects the brain. According to the study, short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can seriously impair cognitive ability throughout that timeframe.
Certain hormones are released at the molecular level during bouts of acute stress, impairing the natural process by which the brain stores and collects memories. And if the brain's cognition is disrupted this way, it's no wonder that it's difficult (or even impossible) to communicate clearly when you're feeling stressed.
The primary emotional responses that tend to come out when we are able to finally find our voices and speak are confusion and anger. Many diseases can also create the type of stress—both long-term and short-term—that negatively affects communication. Diseases such as autism, bipolar disorder, and depression can regularly affect communication skills, but you may be surprised to learn that physical diseases, such as diabetes, can also affect verbal and cognitive functioning.
If you find yourself in a position where you're under stress—either short-term or on a regular basis—there are things you can do to alleviate it. (Both of the above links take you to informative articles by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, a fellow writer and blogger who shares further info. on the subject and provides 8 tips for reducing workplace stress that can also be applied to your personal life.)
I'm sincerely proud of my family for the respect they continue to show each other, even in times of great pressure. And I want to take this time to say that they're all inspirations to me.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 14, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Handheld Electronic Dictionary Review
Summary: This article informs about "The Only Unabridged Electronic Dictionary" now available from Hammacher Schlemmer, as well as the company's compendium item, "The Advanced Electronic Crossword Puzzle Dictionary," both made by Franklin for Merriam-Webster.
Hammacher Schlemmer recently added a new product to its chic catalogue: They're calling it "The Only Unabridged Electronic Dictionary," and it retails for $299. Is it worth the price tag? Although I haven't tried it, myself, I must admit the description intrigues me:
"About the size of a mousepad (and far easier to cart ...), this complete reference includes words that you won't find in lesser electronic dictionaries with limited vocabularies, such as disselboom and zyzzogeton. Patented phonetic spell correction allows you to enter words on the 64-key QWERTY keyboard as they sound (for example, typing 'nolij' displays 'knowledge'), enabling easy lookup." Etymology and word usage are included along with definitions, and so are some extra features—like word games, a thesaurus, a style guide, and a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster's online version of the dictionary (which seems a little redundant to me).
There's no mention of whether or not pronunciation keys are included for every word. As far as I can tell, this is the only potential omission.
The handheld dictionary device, made by Franklin, takes two AAA batteries and requires an SD adapter card. It ships from Hammacher Schlemmer directly with an approximate delivery time of two weeks or less. A compendium item that's also available is "The Advanced Electronic Crossword Puzzle Dictionary," another handheld system that operates similarly and requires two CR-2032 batteries.
Have you used either of these items or do you know someone who has? Help us out and fill us in on how you like (or don't like) these products.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Hammacher Schlemmer recently added a new product to its chic catalogue: They're calling it "The Only Unabridged Electronic Dictionary," and it retails for $299. Is it worth the price tag? Although I haven't tried it, myself, I must admit the description intrigues me:
"About the size of a mousepad (and far easier to cart ...), this complete reference includes words that you won't find in lesser electronic dictionaries with limited vocabularies, such as disselboom and zyzzogeton. Patented phonetic spell correction allows you to enter words on the 64-key QWERTY keyboard as they sound (for example, typing 'nolij' displays 'knowledge'), enabling easy lookup." Etymology and word usage are included along with definitions, and so are some extra features—like word games, a thesaurus, a style guide, and a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster's online version of the dictionary (which seems a little redundant to me).
There's no mention of whether or not pronunciation keys are included for every word. As far as I can tell, this is the only potential omission.
The handheld dictionary device, made by Franklin, takes two AAA batteries and requires an SD adapter card. It ships from Hammacher Schlemmer directly with an approximate delivery time of two weeks or less. A compendium item that's also available is "The Advanced Electronic Crossword Puzzle Dictionary," another handheld system that operates similarly and requires two CR-2032 batteries.
Have you used either of these items or do you know someone who has? Help us out and fill us in on how you like (or don't like) these products.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 12, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Raillery as Serious Stuff?
Summary: Today's Word of the Week is raillery, which means "light jesting," or "good-natured ridicule." Do you know any synonyms or antonyms for this word?
One thing you won't find in this blog is heavy raillery. In fact, the phrase "heavy raillery" may be construed as a bit oxymoronic. You see, today's word—raillery—comes from the Middle French verb railler that means "to mock." But in modern usage, the definition is as follows:
Raillery (RAIL - er - EE) – (adj.) Light jesting; banter or good-natured ridicule.
Okay, maybe you'll find a bit of raillery in some of these posts. But none of it will be heavy or serious, I promise! Then again, if it were, it would no longer qualify as raillery!
What are some synonyms or antonyms of this word? How many can you think of over the next seven days ...?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
One thing you won't find in this blog is heavy raillery. In fact, the phrase "heavy raillery" may be construed as a bit oxymoronic. You see, today's word—raillery—comes from the Middle French verb railler that means "to mock." But in modern usage, the definition is as follows:
Raillery (RAIL - er - EE) – (adj.) Light jesting; banter or good-natured ridicule.
Okay, maybe you'll find a bit of raillery in some of these posts. But none of it will be heavy or serious, I promise! Then again, if it were, it would no longer qualify as raillery!
What are some synonyms or antonyms of this word? How many can you think of over the next seven days ...?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 9, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Sweet Treats for Job-Hunters
Summary: I'm posting late today after a yummy afternoon of tasting chocolate in downtown Chicago. It was a sweet ending to a wonderful week where I also received a call from a client whose résumé I created—a first for this blue collar retiree. Do you need help with a résumé or with interview skills? KiKi Productions, Inc. (my communications company) can help!
I'm posting late today, because I spent the afternoon belatedly treating my husband to a birthday surprise: A private tour for two, courtesy of Chicago Chocolate Tours. Mmmmm! Our tour guide, Kelly, did a wonderful job of communicating the history of chocolate in general, some specifics about the chocolatiers we visited, and even some chocolate-related tie-ins to famous historic architecture and artwork around the city as we tromped through the wet weather to sample treats at five different establishments. It was well worth it!
Another topic that came up regularly in the casual conversation throughout the day was career choices. And that makes me want to share with you another experience I had this week:
I received a phone call from a client whose résumé I recently created. Newly retired, he's been looking for a blue collar-level job in his previous field—a field that used to accept applications for new hires, but like most industries in this millennium, is now insisting on résumés from every job applicant. After 30-plus years at the same job, a brand new résumé and some fresh interviewing skills were just what my client needed. It was my pleasure to help out, and I was thrilled when he called me this week to say that he'd just had a successful interview—and that some of the feedback he'd gotten was that his résumé was "one of the best they'd ever seen."
So many Americans are in this same job-hunting pattern today. If you or someone you know is looking for a little assistance in this area, consider using a professional to give you that extra edge. KiKi Productions, Inc. (my own communications company) is just one of the many communications professionals available nationwide. I work with clients both in-person, where possible, and over the phone to address chronic communication issues.
Whether you're looking to improve your résumé, build your curriculum vitae, or craft your very first résumé after a career of working without one, I'm here—and happy—to help!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 7, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Pop a Batch of Popcorn Words
Summary: My 5-year old niece is another language lover. She's learning to read via "popcorn words," or Dolch sight words. Here's how you can help the early readers you know and love to love language, too.
Over the weekend, I received a call from my sister's house: "Hey! How are you?" I said merrily into the phone after glancing at the number on the caller I.D. Silence greeted me.
But just before I got worried, I heard a faint directive in the background: "Say hello." I smiled and waited for my 5-year old niece to properly obey her mother.
"Hi, Kiki," she said faintly. (To all my nieces and nephews, I'm "Aunt Kiki.")
Though our conversation started out with shyness (she's just learning how to use phone etiquette like a Big Girl), it quickly became a lot of fun for both of us when we started talking about kindergarten. Language is a love my niece and I share. She was eager to tell me about her school's "libary," as well as to read me the first book she's checked out all by herself. *Melt!* I was gushy with pride.
As she read me her book, carefully sounding out each word she encountered (except for calendar, which she sounded out fine, but mistakenly emphasized the word's second syllable, making it unrecognizable to both herself and to me), she continued to pause at certain spots—"And: That's one of our popcorn words!"—stopping to share this news with proud excitement.
My sister later explained that "popcorn words" are what the kindergarten teacher is calling the Dolch sight words. Collected by Edward William Dolch, PhD., in the late 1930s and published for the teaching community a decade later, the sight words list contains commonly used words that are basic to the English language—words that "pop up" regularly in reading at all levels and that are often learned by sight by early readers (as opposed to the traditional method of sounding them out). Such words as a, I, in, is, me, my, go, look, and even multi-syllabic words like yellow and little are included in this list of over 200 words.
If you know an early reader whose literary vocabulary you'd like to expand, check out the sight words list for yourself. And check out Miss Renée's Kindergarten Pad for some fun ways to pop up learning with popcorn words in your home or classroom.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Over the weekend, I received a call from my sister's house: "Hey! How are you?" I said merrily into the phone after glancing at the number on the caller I.D. Silence greeted me.
But just before I got worried, I heard a faint directive in the background: "Say hello." I smiled and waited for my 5-year old niece to properly obey her mother.
"Hi, Kiki," she said faintly. (To all my nieces and nephews, I'm "Aunt Kiki.")
Though our conversation started out with shyness (she's just learning how to use phone etiquette like a Big Girl), it quickly became a lot of fun for both of us when we started talking about kindergarten. Language is a love my niece and I share. She was eager to tell me about her school's "libary," as well as to read me the first book she's checked out all by herself. *Melt!* I was gushy with pride.
As she read me her book, carefully sounding out each word she encountered (except for calendar, which she sounded out fine, but mistakenly emphasized the word's second syllable, making it unrecognizable to both herself and to me), she continued to pause at certain spots—"And: That's one of our popcorn words!"—stopping to share this news with proud excitement.
My sister later explained that "popcorn words" are what the kindergarten teacher is calling the Dolch sight words. Collected by Edward William Dolch, PhD., in the late 1930s and published for the teaching community a decade later, the sight words list contains commonly used words that are basic to the English language—words that "pop up" regularly in reading at all levels and that are often learned by sight by early readers (as opposed to the traditional method of sounding them out). Such words as a, I, in, is, me, my, go, look, and even multi-syllabic words like yellow and little are included in this list of over 200 words.
If you know an early reader whose literary vocabulary you'd like to expand, check out the sight words list for yourself. And check out Miss Renée's Kindergarten Pad for some fun ways to pop up learning with popcorn words in your home or classroom.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 5, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: What's Your Bio?
Summary: Studying prefixes and suffixes can help boost vocabulary, as can studying root words, like bio, which means "life." Once you know a lot of prefixes, root (or base) words, and suffixes, you not only understand language, but you also know how to spell even better than before.
So, you've been studiously acquainting yourself with suffixes and prefixes over the last few weeks. Good for you! You can already see how your vocabulary is growing. Now for the coup d'état: Study root words, or base words, to know all the various common parts of almost any word.
Bio is a good example of a root word, although it is often listed as a prefix, as well. In and of itself, it means "biography or biographical sketch." (For example, recently I mentioned in a blog post that my bio says I've always had a passion for language. In this case, I was referring to the written biography, or life story of my career history, that I give potential corporate clients.) But as a prefix, it simply means "life."
Think of such words as biology, biotechnology, or even antibiotic or autobiographical. If you've been studying your prefix and suffix lists, you can define them all! And you can also spell them quite easily when you hear them said, as well. (Hint: Learning the definitions and spellings of suffixes and prefixes is a great way to boost your spelling capabilities, too.)
Play this matching game by Quia and see if you can pair up the prefixes and suffixes with their definitions. Then study root words on your own—and share the resources you discover here! (Here's one more hint: Homeschooling websites are terrific for this type of study.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
So, you've been studiously acquainting yourself with suffixes and prefixes over the last few weeks. Good for you! You can already see how your vocabulary is growing. Now for the coup d'état: Study root words, or base words, to know all the various common parts of almost any word.
Bio is a good example of a root word, although it is often listed as a prefix, as well. In and of itself, it means "biography or biographical sketch." (For example, recently I mentioned in a blog post that my bio says I've always had a passion for language. In this case, I was referring to the written biography, or life story of my career history, that I give potential corporate clients.) But as a prefix, it simply means "life."
Think of such words as biology, biotechnology, or even antibiotic or autobiographical. If you've been studying your prefix and suffix lists, you can define them all! And you can also spell them quite easily when you hear them said, as well. (Hint: Learning the definitions and spellings of suffixes and prefixes is a great way to boost your spelling capabilities, too.)
Play this matching game by Quia and see if you can pair up the prefixes and suffixes with their definitions. Then study root words on your own—and share the resources you discover here! (Here's one more hint: Homeschooling websites are terrific for this type of study.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Oct 2, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: LOVE What You Do!
Summary: I'm starting a creative writing course tomorrow in an effort to hone my craft & boost my skill set. What do you love? Working on yourself continuously can turn you into an expert eventually. And no matter what you love, you can always benefit from improving your communications skills.
Tomorrow the adventure begins: It's the first day of the 8-week creative writing course I've signed up for with StoryStudio Chicago. Every Saturday for the remainder of that period, I'll spend two hours plugging away on a project of my choosing, honing my craft and clocking more hours performing my passion—communicating!
What's your area of expertise? And how often do you boost your skill set?
Malcolm Gladwell, author of (among other best-sellers) the recent success story Outliers, writes that true pros spend over 10,000 hours practicing and perfecting those areas that they eventually own. That's a major investment! If you're truly serious about being one of the best in your field, you'll find a way to make almost everything you do about the thing you love most. (My professional bio references my "lifelong love affair with language" that ranges in experience from speaking before I could walk to taking journalism workshops in middle school and teaching them in college to freelancing as a corporate speechwriter in my 20s and even to constantly editing everything I read in my head!)
If you're serious about loving what you do, you'll be continuously looking to improve yourself—particularly in your chosen field. And no matter what field you choose to pursue, communicating better can always benefit you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Tomorrow the adventure begins: It's the first day of the 8-week creative writing course I've signed up for with StoryStudio Chicago. Every Saturday for the remainder of that period, I'll spend two hours plugging away on a project of my choosing, honing my craft and clocking more hours performing my passion—communicating!
What's your area of expertise? And how often do you boost your skill set?
Malcolm Gladwell, author of (among other best-sellers) the recent success story Outliers, writes that true pros spend over 10,000 hours practicing and perfecting those areas that they eventually own. That's a major investment! If you're truly serious about being one of the best in your field, you'll find a way to make almost everything you do about the thing you love most. (My professional bio references my "lifelong love affair with language" that ranges in experience from speaking before I could walk to taking journalism workshops in middle school and teaching them in college to freelancing as a corporate speechwriter in my 20s and even to constantly editing everything I read in my head!)
If you're serious about loving what you do, you'll be continuously looking to improve yourself—particularly in your chosen field. And no matter what field you choose to pursue, communicating better can always benefit you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
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