Summary: How is carillon related to clarion? Do these words make beautiful music together? I guess that depends on who's listening ...
Last night, lying in bed and reading, I came across a word that I pretty well figured out by context, but still wanted to look up, because it was new to me. Not only that, it's a word I would categorize as "pretty." After learning the exact meaning, "pretty" really does it justice, I think.
Carillon (KAYR - eh - LON) - (n.) a set of fixed, chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers that are controlled from a keyboard; also an electronic instrument that imitates the carillon or a musical composition created for the carillon. The etymology of the word carillon is straightforward, but rich—perhaps a little like the instrument, itself.
Entering English in 1775 from the French (same word, different pronunciation [don't forget to click the link by the word above to hear how it sounds in English today]), it derives from the Old French carignon, meaning "set of four bells." This traces to the Latin for "set of four," quaternionem, which derives from quarter, also Latin and meaning "four times." Carillon's base origin traces back five and a half thousand years—well before such an instrument was ever even in idea form, likely—to the Proto-Indo-European word for four, kwetwer. (Now, that's one I'd categorize as a "funny" word! Say it as fast as you can, and it sounds like a sneeze.)
Researching this all for today's blog post, I wondered if this WOW! Word were any relation to clarion. The answer is yes—and no: While the two don't share any similar root words, they do follow the same path to the English language, from Latin to Old French to French, then English. Look up the definition, and you'll find even more they share in common. Then check out the history of the carillon, too.
As a sidebar, the book I was reading used this lovely word in a beautiful metaphor. The exact quote is: "While that first gloss had not set off any bells for Alan, Evan-Wentz's translation set off a carillon." [From Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them? (A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama, narrated by Daniel Goldeman, author of Emotional Intelligence)] ... Don't you just think that sentence has a nice ring to it?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
Showing posts with label pronunciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pronunciation. Show all posts
Oct 10, 2011
Jul 12, 2011
WORD OF THE WEEK: Salubrious
Summary: Do you like word games and building your vocabulary? Read today's post to do a little of both. It's good for your (mental) health ...
In a fit of momentary boredom while trying to decide on this week's WOW (Word of the Week), I played a word game on Merriam-Webster.com. Okay, it's not so much a game as it is a quiz—but to word nerds like me, word quizzes are lots of fun! ... Just more so when you're 'winning.' And, yes, by winning I mean getting all the answers right.
I was not doing so well, myself. The 10-second timer at M-W.com really threw me off. I'm much better on FreeRice.com, where timing isn't everything, but knowing the right word meaning is. (And correct answers help feed the hungry, too.) Despite my struggling to click on the correct definitions to words I already knew (seriously), I was somewhat strangely relieved when I received the visible buzzer banner for a word I didn't know: salubrious.
Salubrious (Suh - LOO - BREE - uss) – (adj.) healthful; promoting health and well-being. First used in the mid-16th century, this word comes from the Latin salubris, which shares the same definition. It's also related to another Latin word, salvus, meaning safe. Its opposite is, not surprisingly, insalubrious. For example: Smoking is a rather insalubrious way to deal with stress.
So, now we both know another new word. Don't forget to click on the pronunciation link above to hear just how to say it.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
In a fit of momentary boredom while trying to decide on this week's WOW (Word of the Week), I played a word game on Merriam-Webster.com. Okay, it's not so much a game as it is a quiz—but to word nerds like me, word quizzes are lots of fun! ... Just more so when you're 'winning.' And, yes, by winning I mean getting all the answers right.
I was not doing so well, myself. The 10-second timer at M-W.com really threw me off. I'm much better on FreeRice.com, where timing isn't everything, but knowing the right word meaning is. (And correct answers help feed the hungry, too.) Despite my struggling to click on the correct definitions to words I already knew (seriously), I was somewhat strangely relieved when I received the visible buzzer banner for a word I didn't know: salubrious.
Salubrious (Suh - LOO - BREE - uss) – (adj.) healthful; promoting health and well-being. First used in the mid-16th century, this word comes from the Latin salubris, which shares the same definition. It's also related to another Latin word, salvus, meaning safe. Its opposite is, not surprisingly, insalubrious. For example: Smoking is a rather insalubrious way to deal with stress.
So, now we both know another new word. Don't forget to click on the pronunciation link above to hear just how to say it.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
Jan 31, 2011
WORD OF THE WEEK: Chthonic
Summary: Have you ever misused a word? I have. Do you know how deep do the roots of this week's WOW word go? Here's a test: Does chthonic mean "to the marrow" or does it refer to something even deeper (and darker) than that?
For almost 10 years, one of my favorite words has been chthonic. ... Only today, I learned I have been both mispronouncing and misusing it all this time! It seems these Words of the Week can be WOWing to me, too.
My interpretation of this word (taken from a book I once read about Jungian dream analysis) was something that was bone-deep, or to the core of oneself. However, when I set out to craft this blog post today—and share what I thought I knew with you—I discovered that the actual meaning of chthonic (and its partner chthonian) is really something of or relating to the underworld. Have I been equating the essence of myself with Hellishness all this time!? *gasp!* I shudder (and chuckle) to think what people have believed I thought of myself for the last decade ... that is, if they understood it at all.
But that's what happens when I 'teach' myself new words without looking them up and verifying them. Have you ever seen a word in print and gleaned its meaning from the text? Sometimes this is easy. Other times, it only seems easy, and really we wind up making ourselves look foolish!
Having a sense of humor about it is helpful. So, is being flexible. For instance, have you ever used a word in a sentence, only to have someone correct your pronunciation or usage? If so, how have you reacted? What was the most embarrassing moment you can recall? (And do you also remember the word?)
My guess is the experience taught you the proper usage/pronunciation/spelling/etc. more firmly than a lot of other word-learning experiences. Funny how negative experiences seem to do that, being burned into our brains indelibly. There's something rather chthonic about it, eh?
Chthonic (THO - nik) or chthonian (THO - nee - yan) - Of or relating to the underworld; infernal. Although both versions have their roots directly in the Greek word khthon, or earth, they only entered English about a century and a half ago: chthonian was first recorded in use in 1850, and chthonic, in 1882.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
For almost 10 years, one of my favorite words has been chthonic. ... Only today, I learned I have been both mispronouncing and misusing it all this time! It seems these Words of the Week can be WOWing to me, too.
My interpretation of this word (taken from a book I once read about Jungian dream analysis) was something that was bone-deep, or to the core of oneself. However, when I set out to craft this blog post today—and share what I thought I knew with you—I discovered that the actual meaning of chthonic (and its partner chthonian) is really something of or relating to the underworld. Have I been equating the essence of myself with Hellishness all this time!? *gasp!* I shudder (and chuckle) to think what people have believed I thought of myself for the last decade ... that is, if they understood it at all.
But that's what happens when I 'teach' myself new words without looking them up and verifying them. Have you ever seen a word in print and gleaned its meaning from the text? Sometimes this is easy. Other times, it only seems easy, and really we wind up making ourselves look foolish!
Having a sense of humor about it is helpful. So, is being flexible. For instance, have you ever used a word in a sentence, only to have someone correct your pronunciation or usage? If so, how have you reacted? What was the most embarrassing moment you can recall? (And do you also remember the word?)
My guess is the experience taught you the proper usage/pronunciation/spelling/etc. more firmly than a lot of other word-learning experiences. Funny how negative experiences seem to do that, being burned into our brains indelibly. There's something rather chthonic about it, eh?
Chthonic (THO - nik) or chthonian (THO - nee - yan) - Of or relating to the underworld; infernal. Although both versions have their roots directly in the Greek word khthon, or earth, they only entered English about a century and a half ago: chthonian was first recorded in use in 1850, and chthonic, in 1882.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Nov 16, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Plenary
Summary: As usual, I've got my ears open throughout my busy work week, looking for new words to learn and to share. This week's word, plenary, is defined in context below ...
Last week, I went to a luncheon provided by the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA). And I heard the President of the Philadelphia chapter, David Newman, give some wonderful pointers to people like me—people who strive to be hired as professional speakers in a tough economy. During a break, I heard something else that perked up my ears in almost as much intrigue: I heard David use a word I didn't know!
"It isn't plenary, because ..." I overheard him explain to someone who was asking about a particular aspect of NSA. And, of course, I mentally bookmarked the word and its context (what I'd heard of it, anyway) for both me and YOU.
Plenary (PLEH - neh - REE) also (PLEE - neh - REE) - (adj.) complete in every respect; absolute; qualified; also, something that's fully attended or constituted by all who are entitled to be present. From the original Latin plenus for full, this word entered English in the early 16th century. Example of usage: "The council isn't plenary, because some chapters don't participate."
I should note that Merriam-Webster.com lists the long E pronunciation—the one I've listed secondly above—as the most common pronunciation. I chose to put it second, because I heard David pronounce it the other way. I'll forever recognize this as the word I heard and learned at NSA!
(Psst! Do you love words like I do? Well, join me next week: I have a doozy of a resource for you that I hope to post on Monday.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Last week, I went to a luncheon provided by the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA). And I heard the President of the Philadelphia chapter, David Newman, give some wonderful pointers to people like me—people who strive to be hired as professional speakers in a tough economy. During a break, I heard something else that perked up my ears in almost as much intrigue: I heard David use a word I didn't know!
"It isn't plenary, because ..." I overheard him explain to someone who was asking about a particular aspect of NSA. And, of course, I mentally bookmarked the word and its context (what I'd heard of it, anyway) for both me and YOU.
Plenary (PLEH - neh - REE) also (PLEE - neh - REE) - (adj.) complete in every respect; absolute; qualified; also, something that's fully attended or constituted by all who are entitled to be present. From the original Latin plenus for full, this word entered English in the early 16th century. Example of usage: "The council isn't plenary, because some chapters don't participate."
I should note that Merriam-Webster.com lists the long E pronunciation—the one I've listed secondly above—as the most common pronunciation. I chose to put it second, because I heard David pronounce it the other way. I'll forever recognize this as the word I heard and learned at NSA!
(Psst! Do you love words like I do? Well, join me next week: I have a doozy of a resource for you that I hope to post on Monday.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Oct 25, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Renege
Summary: In studying this week's featured vocabulary word, I own up to a broken promise to you, and relate how that's like the wishy-washy pronunciation of the WOW word. I also offer you a free preview of my online communications workbook.
Renege - a verb meaning to deny or revoke something, or to go back on a promise. For example, "That blogger reneged on her promise to post a very interesting article last week about living with Asperger Syndrome!"
Forgive me for being behind in my blog posts. I do have the best intentions, but not always the best time management skills. (Or as my colleague James terms it more fittingly: time blocking.) In short, I can sometimes be unorganized. The article about Brian King is still forthcoming. And in the meantime, I hope you'll check out the free preview of the Speak Your Truth communications e-workbook that I did dedicate more of my attention—and a decent little block of time—to last week.
Probably the most interesting thing about this week's word is that it has at least three totally different, but acceptable, pronunciations: rih - NEG, rih - NAYG or ree - NIG. In the U.K., (where pronunciation is also varied), it's even acceptable to pronounce this word rih - NEEG.
Why so many differing vowel sounds? It may seem like the answer is "Why, to confuse you, of course!" but that isn't so. The truth of the matter is that this word has been handed down to us from its 16th century Latin origin through a variety of languages, including Spanish, German and Old English—each of which pronounces vowel sounds quite distinctly differently. Perhaps it makes sense that a word that means "to go back on" is unreliable in its pronunciation?
I don't know. How good is your word?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Renege - a verb meaning to deny or revoke something, or to go back on a promise. For example, "That blogger reneged on her promise to post a very interesting article last week about living with Asperger Syndrome!"
Forgive me for being behind in my blog posts. I do have the best intentions, but not always the best time management skills. (Or as my colleague James terms it more fittingly: time blocking.) In short, I can sometimes be unorganized. The article about Brian King is still forthcoming. And in the meantime, I hope you'll check out the free preview of the Speak Your Truth communications e-workbook that I did dedicate more of my attention—and a decent little block of time—to last week.
Probably the most interesting thing about this week's word is that it has at least three totally different, but acceptable, pronunciations: rih - NEG, rih - NAYG or ree - NIG. In the U.K., (where pronunciation is also varied), it's even acceptable to pronounce this word rih - NEEG.
Why so many differing vowel sounds? It may seem like the answer is "Why, to confuse you, of course!" but that isn't so. The truth of the matter is that this word has been handed down to us from its 16th century Latin origin through a variety of languages, including Spanish, German and Old English—each of which pronounces vowel sounds quite distinctly differently. Perhaps it makes sense that a word that means "to go back on" is unreliable in its pronunciation?
I don't know. How good is your word?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Oct 18, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Prosopagnosia
Summary: This week's WOW vocabulary word features a common aspect among those on the autism spectrum.
Can you i
magine waking up in the morning, stumbling into the bathroom to shower and not recognizing the person in the mirror? This is the experience of people with extreme prosopagnosia, a medical condition sometimes called face blindness.
It's asserted that people who have the condition, often known as prosopagnosics, generally have difficulty recognizing places, objects and/or emotions, too. Particularly, they have a hard time recognizing emotions as they are displayed on the face or in body language. Sound familiar? It should. It describes people on the autism spectrum with HFA (High Functioning Autism) or Asperger Syndrome—all part of this week's featured brain challenge.
The word itself was coined in 1947 in a research paper by German neurologist Joachim Bodamer, who concocted it by combining one Greek word, prosopon (or face) with the medical term for recognition impairment, agnosia. Interestingly enough, agnosia is the combo of two more Greek words: gnosis for knowledge and a for the negative, as in "not known." The American pronunciation is PRAH - so - pag - NO - zhya.
Click here to test your own recognition of faces.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Can you i
magine waking up in the morning, stumbling into the bathroom to shower and not recognizing the person in the mirror? This is the experience of people with extreme prosopagnosia, a medical condition sometimes called face blindness.It's asserted that people who have the condition, often known as prosopagnosics, generally have difficulty recognizing places, objects and/or emotions, too. Particularly, they have a hard time recognizing emotions as they are displayed on the face or in body language. Sound familiar? It should. It describes people on the autism spectrum with HFA (High Functioning Autism) or Asperger Syndrome—all part of this week's featured brain challenge.
The word itself was coined in 1947 in a research paper by German neurologist Joachim Bodamer, who concocted it by combining one Greek word, prosopon (or face) with the medical term for recognition impairment, agnosia. Interestingly enough, agnosia is the combo of two more Greek words: gnosis for knowledge and a for the negative, as in "not known." The American pronunciation is PRAH - so - pag - NO - zhya.
Click here to test your own recognition of faces.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Aug 10, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Happy Birthday!
I guess this week's word is actually a phrase—and it's one you're likely very familiar with: Happy Birthday!
Today is my mother's birthday, and I'm blogging much later than I normally do, because I took the day off to spend with her. We had so much fun, traipsing around Indianapolis, visiting the downtown canal area and the Indiana State Museum. It was there that I got the inspiration for today's blog topic in the museum's international exhibit area.
Happy (pronounced HA-pee—with a short A sound as in cat) comes from the 14th century Middle English word hap, meaning fortunate, felicitous, glad, pleased, or friendly. Often, when used in combination, it can mean obsessed (as in "trigger-happy" or "sale-happy.")
Then there's birthday. This word originated from the same era and can literally mean the day of someone's (or sometimes some thing's) birth (the exact birthday of Google is debatable, though the company consistently celebrates in September); it can also mean—as it does for my mom today—the anniversary of that person, place or thing's birth or origination. It's pronounced BERTH-day. Click the pronunciation links to hear these words sounded out (in case you were born yesterday).
The birthday is universally celebrated, with few exceptions. In honor of that fact and today's international museum exhibit, here are some international birthday phrases. Can you guess which languages are being used below?
¡Feliz cumpleaños!
Joyeux anniversaire!
Buon compleanno!
For the answers—and many other international versions—go here. Happy birthday, Mom!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Today is my mother's birthday, and I'm blogging much later than I normally do, because I took the day off to spend with her. We had so much fun, traipsing around Indianapolis, visiting the downtown canal area and the Indiana State Museum. It was there that I got the inspiration for today's blog topic in the museum's international exhibit area.
Happy (pronounced HA-pee—with a short A sound as in cat) comes from the 14th century Middle English word hap, meaning fortunate, felicitous, glad, pleased, or friendly. Often, when used in combination, it can mean obsessed (as in "trigger-happy" or "sale-happy.")
Then there's birthday. This word originated from the same era and can literally mean the day of someone's (or sometimes some thing's) birth (the exact birthday of Google is debatable, though the company consistently celebrates in September); it can also mean—as it does for my mom today—the anniversary of that person, place or thing's birth or origination. It's pronounced BERTH-day. Click the pronunciation links to hear these words sounded out (in case you were born yesterday).
The birthday is universally celebrated, with few exceptions. In honor of that fact and today's international museum exhibit, here are some international birthday phrases. Can you guess which languages are being used below?
¡Feliz cumpleaños!
Joyeux anniversaire!
Buon compleanno!
For the answers—and many other international versions—go here. Happy birthday, Mom!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Aug 7, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Phonetically Correct
Well, I've been home from my east coast vacation for a full week now ... and I'm still settling in. All the travel was exciting, even if it was a little frenetic.
Frenetic: That rhymes with the word I really want to talk about today, phonetic. Many of you may already know that phonetics is the study of sounds and language. But how many of you study sounds, yourselves?
When we add new words to our vocabulary, it's common that we mispronounce them at first, especially if we've only read them in print and/or gleaned their meaning from usage in a book or an article. So, how do we correct this problem?
The list I linked to in Wednesday's post contains a variety of online dictionaries that sound out the word—either in print or via sound files, and sometimes using both.
One of last month's words of the week was credenza, a beautifully sounding noun with a dark and ominous history to its meaning. I told you about this history, but failed to help you pronounce the word in either its past or present form. (Bad Communications Coach!) Going forward, Beyond Talk will include a pronunciation key for each Monday's weekly word, i.e., foe-NEH-tick for phonetic; krah-DEN-za for credenza (and in Italian, originally, kray-DEN-zha). Better yet, there will be a link to an online dictionary each week that provides a sound file of the word's pronunciation, just to make things crystal clear.
Incidentally, my east coast tour sparked a conversation with my blogging colleague, Mary Beth Haggerty, an interior designer based in the Boston area. Click here to read her take on the word credenza—and see some lovely contemporary furniture photos, too!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Frenetic: That rhymes with the word I really want to talk about today, phonetic. Many of you may already know that phonetics is the study of sounds and language. But how many of you study sounds, yourselves?
When we add new words to our vocabulary, it's common that we mispronounce them at first, especially if we've only read them in print and/or gleaned their meaning from usage in a book or an article. So, how do we correct this problem?
The list I linked to in Wednesday's post contains a variety of online dictionaries that sound out the word—either in print or via sound files, and sometimes using both.
One of last month's words of the week was credenza, a beautifully sounding noun with a dark and ominous history to its meaning. I told you about this history, but failed to help you pronounce the word in either its past or present form. (Bad Communications Coach!) Going forward, Beyond Talk will include a pronunciation key for each Monday's weekly word, i.e., foe-NEH-tick for phonetic; krah-DEN-za for credenza (and in Italian, originally, kray-DEN-zha). Better yet, there will be a link to an online dictionary each week that provides a sound file of the word's pronunciation, just to make things crystal clear.
Incidentally, my east coast tour sparked a conversation with my blogging colleague, Mary Beth Haggerty, an interior designer based in the Boston area. Click here to read her take on the word credenza—and see some lovely contemporary furniture photos, too!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
