#19: Filling Your Lexical Gaps Since the 90s

[MigdalaVered]

a girl from chester came to do an internship at my mother's workplace in the US and we got to be friends. and at christmas, she was telling my mother about how she decorated her room with fairy lights and it was this weird moment because "what on earth are fairy lights?" and then my friend tried to explain it.

and now i don't know what i used to call them before the term.

i used to use big and strange words a lot, but i work with kids and had to explain myself a lot and it was hard so i stopped.

[taysteekiwiz]

this is so fun!

[AbbieTheDinosaur]

I love your hair!

[gothhicgoddess]

One of the words I learned was interobang. To put it simply---> ?! That is an interobang. :)

[Pato100000]

"Cataglotting is kissing ... with tongues."

So dramatic!

[splicegrrl]

i love "inaniloquent"!! i am definitely gonna use that one! and cataglotting, which i'm sure is already taking the world by storm, especially in ryan gosling contexts.

[DarkenedYeastExtract]

The Cambridge Clataglotters, as opposed to the Swindon Town Swoodlilypooers.

[Wolfiedotcom]

Do you know what word fills a lexical gap? Pointful. Think about it. How many times has someone done something so pointless you just want to make a sarcastic comment? Well here's the word that fills the gap! I use it all the time! XD the word pointful is pointful

[WelllWhatCanISay]

You'd love save the words . Just google it; it's awesome :)

[greendayidiot13]

Use the website howjsay to find out how to pronounce words properly :)

[DJAustay]

CATAGLOTTING IS THE BEST WORD EVER.

[nicciweasley]

How do you cut your own hair? Have any tips? I cut my own hair too, but I kinda suck at it... :-/

[shotgunpanda]

Thank you for introducing me to this site, I enjoy sesquipidallian loquaciousness when I'm in a silly mood, even if I am (rightly) criticised for it by my friends.

[chillipeanuts]

what's your slang like?

[rachelisdobbysfriend]

There isn't a plural for 'you'.

[nicholas9999]

I can't get this video to play

[HazzaPistheDocsBFF]

Too many people have become aware of my 'daily challenges' so whenever I'm doing something odd people don't take much notice. So when I used the words 'oratory', 'surfeit' and 'florid' in casual conversation little notice was taken hahah.

[missloisjones]

Hiraeth is a good Welsh word with no direct translation. Means a kind of a deep longing or nostalgic sadness for home/somewhere you belong. Quite beautiful :)

[7topbanana]

@missloisjones I love that! I've been hoping to come across this word again for a while, as I am welsh but not a native speaker. You've just made my day, thank you Lois! :) x

[WilliamPbrane]

I'm very cheiloproclitic, and that caused basorexia when you mentioned cataglottism. How do you feel about alphamegamia? 

[escibs]

I really like Zielschmerz. From the dictionary of obscure sorrows tumblr you linked.

[CodenameJD]

So magazines like Heat or Hello could be called Adoxography Weekly ^_^

[Conundric]

I was just hearing about an how the internet and phones are limited our vocabulary, nice to see you aren't taking part in that! 

[panicWonderland]

I was told to use better vocabulary for my GCSE English Lit exam so I used a similar website. I've forgotten all the words I learnt though. :(

[madperson42]

Cool words, me and my history class friends do this all the time. We pick a word of the day and then try and drop it into conversations. My favourite was erenaceous; of or pertaining to hedgehogs

[ntcssj]

Well, I had to learn a new Spanish verb for a quiz that was today, so that's sorta expanding my vocabulary! Plus, I already knew the word condensing in context of course, but like some other words, I hadn't fully grasped the term, so this week I have and that's also sorta vocabulary expansion, I guess... yeah. :P

[theflorgeormix]

brilliant - Rosianna You are an extremely nice person

[MissKoalaFace]

Harry and Hermione tarantised (?) after Ron ditched them in Deathly Hallows movie Part 1.

[isabelrae]

Never again will I say "make out"

[fangirltainment]

WITH TONGUES

[GiraffeWithStripes]

Ah ha! Lovely Doctor Who reference :D

[lidiluvu]

I am very proud to have known about three of the words on the unusual words list!

gymnophoria was so unexpected, but it made me laguh really hard!

[antmoorfield]

What do you think about the Latin origins of all of these words, though? I feel like the straightforward nature of words of Germanic origin (such as Witzelsucht, which is gorgeously simple) makes them so direct and yet full of meaning and power. Latinisms can dilute the intensity of speech, I think.

Maybe that's just because I'm such an Alemannophile. (Crap.)

[Livasaur]

I'm going to show this to my english teacher so he can get some decent ideas for his 'word of the week' for once, because they're usually rubbish

[Brentftw]

Good sound effect for cocking a glass shotgun, which I suppose is appropriate as it was also an invisible shotgun.

[kira902k]

Hahaha I love how you were able to smoothly fit those sentences into conversation. Specifically the Ryan Gosling one.

Also the other words were interesting. :)

[FreqyBiker]

HotForWords has got nothing on you, that's some fabulous linguistic digging you have going on there.

[oforth]

sgiomlaireached! totally guilty... yet unashamedly so.

[morelightthanheat]

I've always liked bombilate because I've assumed the word is related to Tom Bombadil's name, what with all the singing and humming.

[lucyedgehill]

Brilliant words!

[nellmenefeelibey]

I love "tarantism!" I've got to use that in the future.

Now that I think about it, it's probably from the same route word as "tarantellegra", which is the spell that Bellatrix uses on Neville to make him dance uncontrollably. 

[sacmagiquesacmagique]

Apparently the most specific word in any language is 'mamihlapinatapai', a word in the native language of Tierra del Fuego meaning "a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other will offer something that they both desire but are unwilling to suggest or offer themselves". :)

[jamreaper]

you see, with words as obscure as this, I think i am going to make up words that sound plausible and find out how many people pick up on it

if i just say i found a website with loads of obscure words, then people will immediatly think i am telling the truth so i can make up whatever gibberish i like ... operation "lie-ing through teeth"

(fail not knowing how to spell lie-ing the correct way)

[SteefAwesome]

Witzelsucht makes sense, I'm pretty sure 'Witz' is German for 'joke.' (German people, please correct me if I'm wrong though, I'm neither German nor English, and as such have never heard someone say this.) Funny video! :)

[anjaisbored]

@SteefAwesome You're correct. "Witzel" comes from the verb "witzeln" which means "to joke" and "-sucht" means addiction. So, I would have drawn the wrong conclusions...

[aarkangel]

BTW have you come across a rather good daily word game called Artwiculate? Reckon it might be your cup of java artwiculatedotcom

[aarkangel]

If I didn't know better I'd have thought you were speaking baragouin but your scaturient video finally won me over.

[benjiappleton]

@missxrojas you've inspired me and a friend to try and drop as many of these words into conversations tomorrow!

[WhodHaveThunkIt]

Douglas Adams wrote abook with John Lloyd called 'The Deeper meaning of Liff' which used random British town names for describing things that didn't have a word. I have far too many favourites to list but I reckon it'd be right up your street!

[RememberTheTrees]

I like this video a whole lot.

[OddmentTweak]

Tarantism...story of my life!

[jullachris90]

I learned a word from mickeleh - brio! It means enthusiastic vigour - something I think John and Hank has a lot of, but you don't always have that much of it. I like you anyway :D

[MyPlasticbag]

Synonym for Hamartithia - 'Britta (v.)' - thumbs up if you get this reference.

[MrSmiles51]

we have way too many words in English. This makes it harder for the non-english speaking world.

[fredtheneedle7]

No freaking way do you cut your own hair!

[allshalldelight]

I just really like words, everyone.

[PetrosofSparta]

Right. From now on whenever I meet a girl at a bar I shall no longer "make out with them". I shall be "Cataglotting" with them. Congratulations Rosianna, you've officially made my sex life have a deepened vocabulary; your life is now complete I bet.

[HannahIsUnoriginal]

There are some amazing words on that website. Why isn't 'gongoozler' a word used in everyday speech? It means 'an idle spectator'. Also, gymnophoria (the sensation that someone is mentally undressing you) and brontide (the low rumbling of distant thunder).

[HannahCruickshank]

Also, the tfios chat yesterday was great! I really enjoyed taking part and reading everyone else's thoughts and opinions.

[HannahCruickshank]

This is one of the best NYR videos! I love finding out new, interesting words but I rarely remember them. Such a good series :D

[alibabalady]

this video was probably supposed to motivate me into improving my vocabulary but instead i'm determined to play 'doctor in the house' next year! So a great video :D

[hathaheeheehaha]

As a maths student I've fallen in love with the word zenzizenzizenzic - the 8th power of a number. If only it came up more often!

[cookiemonsta188]

Ron Weasley says bloody hell alot..... he must have hadeharia

[Addi3]

I'm suddenly feeling excessively wordy! 

[alopith]

There's a book called The Meaning Of Tingo that has lots of lovely untranslatables. Tingo itself, if I remember correctly, means 'to borrow things from a neighbour's house one by one until there is nothing left'.

[weepingangelsoutside]

Your accent is so pretty :) and you have intelligent things to say that go along with it

[fizzygirl101]

I frequently ask myself; why am I addicted to your videos? Oh, this is why.

[bridifer]

I love this video and unusual words! Two of my favourites are fremescence- the sound of an unhappy collection of people and izles- sparks that rise from a chimney.

[alucidminute]

I thought you'd really like this one! i was looking forward to this video ahha I love the tumblr one, I think I found it through yours actually :D

[ANTHONYRAPPISAGOD]

you are so awesome

[MJLongman]

I think I suffer from tarantism...

[benjibunny14]

raxacoricofallapatorius, use is every day!

[Fireworkbug]

You should get Foyle's Philavery - it's a collection of unusual words. For example:

Mellisonant: sweet sounding, dulcet

Fabiform: Bean-shaped

Clype: to tell tales on, to snitch on

:)

[missxrojas]

@Fireworkbug I actually own it! And Foyle's Further Philavery too.

[bridgetisadreamer]

This is my favourite NYR video of yours so far :D I love the passion behind your pursuit of words :D

[missxrojas]

@bridgetisadreamer Why thank you :)

[seven2one]

i would LOVE more rosi tells us fancy words videos.

can... we... have some?

[missxrojas]

@seven2one I'll add it to the "February" list!

[seven2one]

@missxrojas hooray! fancy words and lexical gaps are some of my favorite things.

[trippelet]

*put, sorry!



[trippelet]

You should but the words and their definitions in the doobly-doo!

[missxrojas]

@trippelet I've linked to the website!

[BlameItOnGreg]

I think no one questioned your crazy sentence because there was enough context to understand it. I got what you were saying even without knowing those two words. You could have inserted nonsense words in those locations and it still would have been understandable.

[missxrojas]

@BlameItOnGreg You are wise, padawan.

[judyandthecat]

awesome words :D i had a physiology exam today and I had to use far to many words i don't know (or at least not used to say^^) (btw: Why is the title: New Project 1?)

[smilenose]

ALL OF THE THINGS!

[tanner1ie]

Somebody make a gif of 1:49, quickly - we can make Rosianna's "With Tongues" a meme :) .

[HBonhamCarterFan24]

Where can I find Nabokov's list of words?

[missxrojas]

@HBonhamCarterFan24 just search "Nabokov, Toska" on google, and something should come up!

[yesnomaybesophie]

:) (fact: witzelsucht seems to be german, but i've never heard anyone use it around here. witz=joke and sucht=addiction.)

[CharlineLikesC]

@yesnomaybesophie Actually there are some german words that passed into the english language and not all of them are used the same way as in German.For example Wanderlust as Fernweh.->Siehe: Sven Siedenberg: Besserwisser beim Kafeeklatsching. Deutsche Wörter im Ausland. I always smile if I hear german words in an english context,like when I read the Doppelgänger in TFIOS and there is one video where John says:"If there would not be Schadenfreude,there would be no Freude at all"

[oogellyboogelly]

Watching This and then Googleing Ryan Gosling :P

[owlstigersbearsohmy]

"Cataglotting: it's kissing, with tongues." - this made me laugh an impressive amount for such a short sentence, definitely the opposite of witzelsucht!

[deadmandanny88]

Kissing with tongues :o

[missxrojas]

@deadmandanny88 I know! So vulgar!

[deadmandanny88]

@missxrojas So French!!

[robinocracy]

I find there to be something kind of enchanting about learning news words, especially when they sound poetic.

[eshninerforest]

What languages are these odd words & where are you looking them up?

[missxrojas]

@eshninerforest English, and there's a link in the description!

[frustrationhole]

the gesticulation at 1:40 is too ridiculous for words

[missxrojas]

@frustrationhole thank you, thank you very much :)

[nukemz]

mulligrubs, yeah that describes my mood at work today, great video Rosianna :)

[djpj22]

I used the words vespertine, anathema and helminth!

"This one time, in a vespertine stillness, this utter helminth called "The Doctor", Doctor Who. People who do that are anathema to me" See if you can work what it means =P

[missxrojas]

@djpj22 I know anathema is loathing/loathed! Vespertine... sounds like snakey or something. A living stillness? Helminth... no idea.

[djpj22]

@missxrojas Helminth is a greek-based insult, it means a worm, but a parasitic worm specifically. Lovely if you're describing someone you don't like =) and vespertine means like "of the evening" or "belonging to the evening". It's a cool word! I hope you use them =P

[mroom1469]

love these videos. i dont want january to end rosianna!

[missxrojas]

@mroom1469 Haha, thank you, and I'm sorry!

[amyevekeegan]

Ohh, I quite like the word mulligrubs. Love your fairy lights, haha. :)

[RackiePlib]

Abstract fairy lights I'm using that next time someone tells me to take mine down

[missxrojas]

@RackiePlib It works!

[thesonicpaintbrush]

You're so artistic, I could cry.

[liltaza07]

First !?

[leapoffaith20]

@liltaza07 3rd!

Oh wait, this is pointless

[liltaza07]

@leapoffaith20 I didnt know what elsc to write HAha .