Which is the coolest-sounding word in your language? - Page 2

Sparrow · 04-18-2010, 08:10 AM

Shingle has always been my favourite word; the perfect word for the wave washed stones on a beach.

Stitchawl · 04-18-2010, 08:53 AM

There was a linguistics conference three years ago that I attended in Bangkok. At lunch I was sitting at a table with a linguist from Mexico and one from Thailand, listening as they talked. Mexican culture and Thai cultures both tend to be quite relaxed and laid back, but this really clarified the situation....

Thai Linguist: "I have been thinking about your Spanish use of the word 'mañana.' I think it is a wonderful word with so very many shades of meaning, and the Mexican people use it with so much effect!"
Mexican Linguist: "Thank you, yes. We use this word often, and it has many shades of meaning to us. Please tell me... in your Thai language, do you have such a word?"
The Thai linguist thinks about this a moment and replies:
"No, I don't think we have a word that conveys quite so much urgency!"

Stitchawl

Bilbo1967 · 04-18-2010, 09:07 AM

For no reason that I can think of, I've always had a soft spot for the word "enunciate".

DixieGal · 04-18-2010, 09:11 AM

Eleven and Twelve, but only when written out, not as numerals. Very elven.

Bilbo1967 · 04-18-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Eleven and Twelve, but only when written out, not as numerals. Very elven.

As an aside, "eleven plus two" is an anagram of "twelve plus one" as well as being mathematically correct

Graham · 04-18-2010, 09:18 AM

'Arctic' has a certain resonance.

First for its coolness, but second its elements. 'Arc' seems to hint at the thin curved edge of the world, while 'tic' recalls the shivering you might do while there.

Graham

ziegl027 · 04-18-2010, 09:21 AM

I'm pretty fond of "Serpiginous" (snake-like, generally used in a medical sense as in "skin lesions with serpiginous margins")

GeoffC · 04-18-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

'Arctic' has a certain resonance.

First for its coolness, but second its elements. 'Arc' seems to hint at the thin curved edge of the world, while 'tic' recalls the shivering you might do while there.

Graham

and that would make Antarctic ?

a coldness like the pitter patter of ant feet on cold skin ?

Bilbo1967 · 04-18-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

'Arctic' has a certain resonance.

First for its coolness, but second its elements. 'Arc' seems to hint at the thin curved edge of the world, while 'tic' recalls the shivering you might do while there.

Graham

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

and that would make Antarctic ?

a coldness like the pitter patter of ant feet on cold skin ?

Yes - excellent! Although the fact that the majority of people in my experience fail to pronounce the second 'c' kind of spoils the effect sometimes.

Graham · 04-18-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

and that would make Antarctic ?

a coldness like the pitter patter of ant feet on cold skin ?

Brrrr!

Graham

MickeyC · 04-18-2010, 09:57 AM

"Humuhumunukunukuapua'a" or Hawaiian Trigger Fish to you. Okay, it may not be the nicest word I know but it is arguably the longest.

I suppose you could make a case for the word 'Okay'. It is the most recognized word in the world. You hear it in every country and, ironically, it's an artificial word made up by young upper middle class males in Boston, at least according to Bill Bryson in The Mother Tongue

DixieGal · 04-18-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

As an aside, "eleven plus two" is an anagram of "twelve plus one" as well as being mathematically correct

Is that true? I can't see (or think) well enough this norning to figure it out.

alecE · 04-18-2010, 05:07 PM

I'm sure I read (years ago) that 'Okay' - originally 'OK' came from an American Civil War report which stated 'orl korrect'?

BTW I vote for 'glissade', flows so smoothly off the tongue.

dfigueroa · 06-03-2010, 08:34 PM

Spanish is my second language, but I love the word 'idiatico' (no, silly, it doesn't mean idiot), lol

happy_terd · 06-03-2010, 08:46 PM

I got the winner

Titicaca

(sounds dirty)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titicaca

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04-18-2010, 08:10 AM	#16
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Shingle has always been my favourite word; the perfect word for the wave washed stones on a beach.

04-18-2010, 08:53 AM	#17
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	There was a linguistics conference three years ago that I attended in Bangkok. At lunch I was sitting at a table with a linguist from Mexico and one from Thailand, listening as they talked. Mexican culture and Thai cultures both tend to be quite relaxed and laid back, but this really clarified the situation.... Thai Linguist: "I have been thinking about your Spanish use of the word 'mañana.' I think it is a wonderful word with so very many shades of meaning, and the Mexican people use it with so much effect!" Mexican Linguist: "Thank you, yes. We use this word often, and it has many shades of meaning to us. Please tell me... in your Thai language, do you have such a word?" The Thai linguist thinks about this a moment and replies: "No, I don't think we have a word that conveys quite so much urgency!" Stitchawl

04-18-2010, 09:07 AM	#18
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	For no reason that I can think of, I've always had a soft spot for the word "enunciate".

04-18-2010, 09:11 AM	#19
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Eleven and Twelve, but only when written out, not as numerals. Very elven.

04-18-2010, 09:18 AM	#21
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,742 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	'Arctic' has a certain resonance. First for its coolness, but second its elements. 'Arc' seems to hint at the thin curved edge of the world, while 'tic' recalls the shivering you might do while there. Graham

04-18-2010, 09:21 AM	#22
ziegl027 Addict Posts: 264 Karma: 764 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Device: Sony Touch, Kindle DXG	I'm pretty fond of "Serpiginous" (snake-like, generally used in a medical sense as in "skin lesions with serpiginous margins")

04-18-2010, 09:57 AM	#26
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	"Humuhumunukunukuapua'a" or Hawaiian Trigger Fish to you. Okay, it may not be the nicest word I know but it is arguably the longest. I suppose you could make a case for the word 'Okay'. It is the most recognized word in the world. You hear it in every country and, ironically, it's an artificial word made up by young upper middle class males in Boston, at least according to Bill Bryson in The Mother Tongue

04-18-2010, 05:07 PM	#28
alecE Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 546196 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK canal boat Device: sony prs505, prs650, kobo Glo HD liseuses	I'm sure I read (years ago) that 'Okay' - originally 'OK' came from an American Civil War report which stated 'orl korrect'? BTW I vote for 'glissade', flows so smoothly off the tongue.

06-03-2010, 08:34 PM	#29
dfigueroa La Guera en Manzanillo Posts: 33 Karma: 50 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico Device: Kindle 2 Global	Spanish is my second language, but I love the word 'idiatico' (no, silly, it doesn't mean idiot), lol

06-03-2010, 08:46 PM	#30
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	I got the winner Titicaca (sounds dirty) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titicaca