Kory
Stamper wrote a book entitled WORD BY WORD. In it she states that there are
people who spend their work time writing dictionary definitions for
Merriam-Webster. They are “word nerds” who devote a considerable amount of
their lives thinking about words, categorizing, describing and alphabetizing
them. They are lexicographers.
She
further observes that the last printed unabridged Webster’s Third New International Dictionary astonishingly “took a staff of almost 100 editors and
202 outside consultants 12 years to write.” When a dictionary finally is
published, these lexicographers have already moved on, working on an update,
because “A dictionary is out of date the minute that it’s done.”
Are you a
person who loves words? Do you play with them?
I confess
I do. One reason I have continued to write poetry over the years is because as
Samuel Taylor Coleridge said: “Poetry consists of the best words in the best
order.” I seek appropriate language to express my thoughts.
This is
not a slight of prose. I love experimenting with novels, short stories,
nonfiction and plays as well. But I think everyone who loves words should make
an effort to try expressing themselves in poetic form. It makes us better prose
writers in the long run.
As to
dictionaries, my favorite has always been The
Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (unabridged). We had it in our home
for many years and I loved examining the derivation of words. I still do,
although I had to give our huge dictionary when we downsized from our house to
an apartment. That and over a thousand other books were donated since I no
longer had the space to keep them.
However,
the internet today provides us with great help.
I can
google words and retrieve all sorts of valuable information.
Being a
word nerd helps me be a better writer. I am not satisfied unless I find the
right words to express my ideas.
In THE
BURNING, for example, I was writing from the point of view of George, a blue
collar worker, a simple man who suddenly had to grapple with overwhelming
problems. The language had to fit the character yet convey depth of meaning to
the reader. It was a challenge.
So back
to my original question: are you are a word nerd?
If so,
does it benefit you as a writer and/or as a reader?
Yes! I love words...I am definitely a word person
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT
Thank you for commenting, fellow word nerd. I think all good writers share this interest.
ReplyDeleteLately I've been choosing books in fields I'm unfamiliar with, such as specific sciences or areas of history, partly for the new vocabulary. I read with a dictionary at my side--the best part of the day is my afternoon reading time. Yes, I love words. And I especially enjoy discovering etymologies, as do you. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI also love to read and keep my dictionary nearby. It keeps my mind sharp.
ReplyDeleteI confess, I am also a word nerd. Even once wrote a newspaper column about words and writing, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think finding the right word does indeed improve our writing, but sometimes it drives me bonkers! Fun post.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kathy, sometimes we can go a little overboard trying to find just the right word. That's what good about editing. You can go back and improve on what you've written.
ReplyDeleteI am obsessed with words--their meanings, nuances and feelings--even their sound: polysyllabic, anyone? I am married to a word-warper. Ex: The birds are pruning themselves. Another ex: You know the little chimney fireplace for the deck? He called it a chimichanga! Nice post.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI like the term "word-warper." Think of your husband as using language creatively.