From CafeWriting.com:
November: Option Five: Seven Things
In improvisation, one of our exercises is a game called “Seven Things,” in which we go around in a circle giving each other the challenge, “Give me seven things that [whatever]” We are not going to go around in a circle, here, but if you’re drawn to lists, this prompt is for you.
Give me seven of your favorite words. You don’t have to explain them, but it’s more fun for readers if you do.
- Vivacious – People who don’t know me really well sometimes think I’m bubbly. “Bubbly” implies “dingbat” to me, and I’m not a dingbat. I will claim vivacity, instead. It’s more sophisticated than perky, and more grounded than frothy, but still very much a word that goes with pink hair.
- Brilliant – I like saying this word. I like the way you can separate the i/a dipthong just a little and make it sound more grown up than when you let the last syllable be “yant”. I like the way it describes luminescence as well as intelligence. I’m not brilliant, but sometimes I can fake it well.
- Y’all – I picked up this word on the web, but never used it outside of text until moving to Texas. Most of the Texans I know aren’t from here either, but we’ve all adopted this word into our personal lexicons. Why? It’s sweet. It’s efficient. It’s cozy. And just enough southern to add regional flavor without coming off as a hick.
- Tintinnabulation – Anyone who loves Poe understands the appeal (no pun intended) of this word. In truth, I love onomatopoeic words in general, but this one is my favorite.
- Superfluous – I hear this word and I’m hanging out with my friends Devon, Michael and Karla in junior high, and we’re having fun mimicking our algebra teacher / gym coach (well, for the girls) Seena Rhine. She used this word a lot. If someone asked what it meant, she’d say, “look it up,” then tell them how to spell it. She was a truly kind person, but never coddled us. It’s funny, but I haven’t thought of her in years.
- Imagine – Fewer words have more power, more possibility, more danger, all wrapped up in their letters. If we can imagine it, we can achieve it, improve it, acquire it, appreciate it, and go to bed with satisfied smiles on our faces.
- Story – “Tell me a story.” “What’s the story, morning glory?” “That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.” “Get the story straight.” We live, breathe, act, trade parts of ourselves, share our traditions, hopes, dreams, fears, loves and losses, all through the medium of Story. We are a people of Story. Madeleine L’Engle wrote that we have a God of Story. Whether we are losing ourselves in fiction, or living vicariously through the accounts of real adventures, we are experiencing story, and creating our own stories. How can I NOT love this word?
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Cafe writing sounds like an interesting site, I will have to check it out. What you said about “y’all” reminded me of arriving in Scotland and finding that people there really do say “aye” and “didnae”. I love that regional flavour that little words can give.
Michele sent me
Conducive – i only started using it recently but it sounds a lot better than “contributing” or any other synonyms.
Phenomenal – this word, to me, is the highes echelon of the adjcectives describing something favorable.
morbid – this word can be fun, serious, gross, whatever you want it to be
y’all – so much easier (and more fun) than saying ‘you all’ i’ve never really lived in the south, but i heard enough of it in cincinnati and phoenix. plus i listen to country like it’s my job.
Karma – not really an english word i guess, but i like what it stands for; everything you do will come back to you either negtively or postively but it will come back
moist – this is just a word that i really feel when i read it or hear it
peace – not only a great farewell but also something for which we should all, idealistically, strive
these were just the first seven that came to me, i’ll probably think of others as soon as i hit submit.
I like the word “brilliant” as well, especially the way the British say it.
Tintinnabulation is a great word. I’m a handbell player, so the sound of ringing bells is rather special to me:)
I love the word brilliant, fabulous and terrific (I always say terrific)! I quite like your’s too!
Tintinnabulation is one word which always sounds musical to me! I love your list!
Just remember that it is always “y’all” and not “ya’ll.” Check out my post which you obviously helped to trigger.
Tintinnabulation I’m still laughing. I’ve added it to my good words list.I’ve also popped over to Cafe Writing and added it to my links and I left you a comment there in honour of NANOWRIMO.
I like the choices of words. I lived in Atlanta during the Olympics, and the phrase “y’all” was the unofficial official slang phrase of the event! Except that the folks there didn’t know how to spell it…which led to things like a poster saying “Ya’ll come back now real soon”. That way looks like it should be pronounced with a heavy arabic accent:-)
Michele sent me today,
N.
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Tintinnabulation – it is one of my favorites too (though I haven’t read much of Poe to appreciate what you intend). Nice list.