Re: Have you ever felt the need to create a new word?

["David Loveless" <daveloveless -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Melissa,

I too am fascinated by the history of language and its evolution. I
took several linguistic courses in college from a highly talented and
amusing linguist. I know he has two or three books on the subject that
are designed specifically for people interesting in learning and
understanding more about linguistics.

His name is Dallin D. Oaks. His father, who has the same name and is a
prominent religious leader and former University President, also has
several books out, so make sure you get the right Dallin Oaks. The
titles should instantly give away which Oaks is which.

If that doesn't help, I've always found a quick review of the Oxford
English Dictionary to be highly enlightening. Then again, how many
people with social lives do you know of that read the dictionary for
fun?

Dave

On 4/25/06, Melissa Nelson <melmis36 -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> This thread has really grabbed my attention. It has got me wondering if
> anyone on here knows of a good book on where words got their meaning. I took
> a history of language course a few years ago at MTU, which was fascinating
> as far as whether words were Germanic etc. However, this thread has reminded
> me that since I have gone to work for a NATO contractor I have noticed that
> the military has it's own language in many ways and I think it would be
> really interesting to read up on that aspect a little more. Does anyone on
> here have a good book on the history of language, something more in depth
> than grammar etc. I know you can look up origins etc in the dictionairy. I
> spent a lot of time doing that to get my STC degree, however I really do not
> remember reading anything specifically devoted to that. I would love to read
> something on how the military changed the language etc.
>
> PLease pardon my language and rambling as I am recovering from surgery and
> am writing this on percocet and spelling is my main goal at the moment! :)
>
> Melissa
>
>
>
>
>
> From:  "Nuckols, Kenneth M" <Kenneth -dot- Nuckols -at- mybrighthouse -dot- com>
> To:  "Kathy Bowman"
> <Kathy -dot- Bowman -at- saabsystems -dot- com -dot- au>,<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Subject:  RE: Have you ever felt the need to create a new word?
> Date:  Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:11:46 -0400
> >Kathy Bowman asked...
> >
> > >
> > > Have you ever felt the need to create a new word?
> > >
> > > For example, in a military sense a target can be 'engageable', ie it
> >is
> > > able to be engaged. This leads to the term 'Engageability' on a
> >screen,
> > > meaning that it is (or is not or will be) able to be engaged. The
> >screen
> > > could show "Ability to be engaged' or 'Able to be engaged' but there
> >is
> > > limited room and we are stuck with 'Engageability'.
> > >
> >
> >While I agree that language evolves, I'm in no hurry to rush the process
> >along. I have to confess that in fits of limited time and limited
> >resources I've been tempted to -able -ize -ility, or -ation existing
> >words to fit the situation, but I always feel like I'm cheating if I do
> >it.
> >
> >What I wish for (and I imagine it exists and I'll expose my ignorance
> >for not knowing about it) is a dictionary where you can look up words
> >"BY DEFINITION" to see if a term already exists.  When faced with your
> >situation, my first thought is, "what single word already exists that
> >means 'the potential to be engageable?'" A thesaurus is suspect at best,
> >and can never be relied on to provide a proper term without also having
> >a dictionary at hand. What I'd love to find is a dictionary where I can
> >look up "the potential to be engaguable" and find out what existing
> >words there are that could suit. I'd rather use a word that already
> >exists and conveys a clear meaning to my user than "cheating" and making
> >something up.
> >
> >Can anyone recommend a good online (prefereable) or in-print dictionary
> >where one looks up definitions to find words instead of the other way
> >around?
> >
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