Have I ranted lately about how much "that's not a word" irritates me as a statement?

[conuly]

Clearly, if I can say it, and it doesn't violate the phonological rules of the English language, and both you and I understand what I mean - it's an English word! It may not be a word in your dialect, or indeed the standard dialect. Heck, it may be so weird that it never enters the dictionary. But it is a word.

(And if it *is* in the dictionary, and you know it, you need to STFU, because however you are choosing to redefine the word "word" you can rest assured that language doesn't actually work that way. Don't use it if you don't like it, but please - don't argue with the lexicographers about their arcane arts. I don't know exactly how they do their job either, but I'm sure they're better at it than you or I.)

Back to my subject, it also irritates me when people go "is that a word?" about something they've awkwardly neologized.

Here's the thing. If it incorporates a root and any number of legal morphemes, such that it's clear and obvious what you mean? It's a word. Have fun with your own language and stop worrying about it so much.

(Then you can go and rant about it instead, isn't that much more fun?!?)

And don't get me started on how some neologisms are accepted almost instantly, but others are always considered "not a real word". Who makes these rules?

Comments

[leora.livejournal.com]

Uh, except when playing Scrabble and Boggle or similar word games where it can be really annoying if you're not using more or less the same rules for what is acceptable.

On a side note, I'm still working on making "uneeled" the bingo I didn't get to play in Scrabble a word. I can use it in a sentence and you totally can understand it. I hit Amy with an eel, I hit Bob with an eel, but I missed when I aimed at Caroline and she got away uneeled.

Ever since I have coined this word, I have had a friend who has a goal of remaining uneeled.

But I still can't play it in Scrabble.

[conuly]

Yes, Scrabble and Boggle excepted, although I maintain that wabe is a word. What else are you gonna call that area around the sundial????

As for using it in Scrabble, go ahead and bribe a lexicographer. Some of their work has to be done through the exchange of money, right? People must buy words into the dictionary all the time!

[leora.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't make it into the official Scrabble dictionary it won't work for online games. While we house-rule "ew" as okay, because given how many somewhat silly two letter words they do allow we feel it is inconsistent for "ew" not to be there. But in online games it can't be played (unless you play challenge games, but I prefer not to).

House rules are good things though.

[conuly]

Okay, so you just have to bribe the right lexicographer.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I tried to play "exiles" in Scrabble and was told it wasn't a word. How is it not?! It could have an -s added to it in either its noun or verb form. It wasn't in the dictionary we were using though! I would have gotten triple letter on the X and double word score, grr!

[leora.livejournal.com]

Okay, yeah, "exiles" is pretty clearly a word that should be accepted.

[feebeeglee.livejournal.com]

harmless_drudge talks about this regularly. You might enjoy it.

[conuly]

Yes, I might :)

[breakableheart.livejournal.com]

Busticated.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Hey, have you seen Erin McKean's TED talk? She talks about exactly this!
Link:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/erin_mckean_redefines_the_dictionary.html

[beezelbubbles.livejournal.com]

Argh. I get "Is that a word?" (what seems like) all the time from one of my *writing* professors. And I'm not talking about when I do sort of make something up to convey exactly what I mean, either, it's been words like cabal and dwarven.

[conuly]

You're writing about dwarven cabals?

[leora.livejournal.com]

Uh, except when playing Scrabble and Boggle or similar word games where it can be really annoying if you're not using more or less the same rules for what is acceptable.

On a side note, I'm still working on making "uneeled" the bingo I didn't get to play in Scrabble a word. I can use it in a sentence and you totally can understand it. I hit Amy with an eel, I hit Bob with an eel, but I missed when I aimed at Caroline and she got away uneeled.

Ever since I have coined this word, I have had a friend who has a goal of remaining uneeled.

But I still can't play it in Scrabble.

[conuly]

Yes, Scrabble and Boggle excepted, although I maintain that wabe is a word. What else are you gonna call that area around the sundial????

As for using it in Scrabble, go ahead and bribe a lexicographer. Some of their work has to be done through the exchange of money, right? People must buy words into the dictionary all the time!

[leora.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't make it into the official Scrabble dictionary it won't work for online games. While we house-rule "ew" as okay, because given how many somewhat silly two letter words they do allow we feel it is inconsistent for "ew" not to be there. But in online games it can't be played (unless you play challenge games, but I prefer not to).

House rules are good things though.

[conuly]

Okay, so you just have to bribe the right lexicographer.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I tried to play "exiles" in Scrabble and was told it wasn't a word. How is it not?! It could have an -s added to it in either its noun or verb form. It wasn't in the dictionary we were using though! I would have gotten triple letter on the X and double word score, grr!

[leora.livejournal.com]

Okay, yeah, "exiles" is pretty clearly a word that should be accepted.

[feebeeglee.livejournal.com]

harmless_drudge talks about this regularly. You might enjoy it.

[conuly]

Yes, I might :)

[breakableheart.livejournal.com]

Busticated.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Hey, have you seen Erin McKean's TED talk? She talks about exactly this!
Link:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/erin_mckean_redefines_the_dictionary.html

[beezelbubbles.livejournal.com]

Argh. I get "Is that a word?" (what seems like) all the time from one of my *writing* professors. And I'm not talking about when I do sort of make something up to convey exactly what I mean, either, it's been words like cabal and dwarven.

[conuly]

You're writing about dwarven cabals?