Monday, August 4, 2008

Fun Monday Words





This week's host for Fun Monday is Mothers of brothers,
and this is what she wants:


Words are our building blocks, our stepping stones, and, for many of us, our salvation. We string them together so quickly at times, we often lose sight of how precious they are. So tell us about your favorite word… or if you can’t pick just one, tell us about a few. Are there certain words that feel good the way they roll of your tongue? Do some words make you feel smart? Or silly? Or happy? Which words do you find yourself selecting to put in your posts? Since this response could be a short one, feel free to poll your family and friends and include some of their favorite words as well. If you think a definition is required, please share one. Please keep the words rated G for all audiences. Any language is acceptable, but please provide a translation. And stick to real words as opposed to ones made up along the way. We then challenge everyone to visit the posts on Monday and try to use other bloggers’ favorite words in your blog next week. We can’t wait to expand our vocabulary!



First let me tell you something about myself.
As some of you might already know,
I'm born, raised and living in Belgium
English is not my native speech.
It is Flemish, which is very similar to Dutch.
Similar but different, and I do want to point that out here.
We learn more than one language at school,
and I'm rather proud of the fact that we, humble Belgians,
can communicate with so many people.
I have always been fascinated by the English language myself,
and I started this blog to indeed try to expand my vocabulary,
improve on my writing and get the spelling right.
I know I probably still don't get everything right yet,
but every day I learn a little bit more.
Reading your blogs helps a lot , and I have my dictionaries close at hand.
I don't need them as much as I used to
but I prefer to look it up whenever I'm not sure.
Some of the early comments sure made me need them.
By now I know what "botched up bread" means,



and I know what dandelion puffballs look like,
all thanks to Christine and her lovely comments!

One of the favourite words I learned is "flabbergasted".



I came across it when I did Quilly's alphabet in pictures.
I read a chapter a day in both of my dictionaries
looking for a new word each day.
I illustrated each word with a picture,
then visited the other players,
thus learning new words there also.
There's a notepad in front of me, that's where I write them down.
Every once in a while I try to read them.
I really should write them down more though!


There are a couple more I like just because the sound of them.

" Ambisinistrous" = equally clumsy with either hand.
Well, I am sometimes, to be totally honest.
I can picture myself meeting one of you at a party and say,
"Hi, I'm Jientje and I'm ambisinistrous!"
while spilling my glass of champagne all over your rug
I'd have to drink a couple of them before I can pronounce it though!
And if I drink them, I can't spill them anymore, now can I?

I like beautiful words.
I want to learn to use more, and find new ones.
I don't think any of you will have learned something new here,
but I'm sure I will by visiting all of you.
Me and my notepad can't wait to meet them,
all those interesting, funny witty words ...


Make sure you visit the other Fun Monday players here.


"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged,
it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly
in color and content according to the circumstances
and the time in which it is used."
Oliver Wendell Holmes.