C.A. Simonsen's Blog

Language Getting Shorter

Here are more for you (mostly pilfered by listening to my students)...

1. Lending library - library
2. Artisan - artist
3. Renovations - renos
4. Bicycle - bike
5. Charisma - ris/riz
6. Walking stick - cane
7. Merchandise - merch
8. Vacation - vay-cay
9. Sirrah - Sir
10. Representative/Reputation - Rep
11. Preparation - Prep
12. Mathematics - math

Language Getting Shorter

For those of you waiting breathlessly...

1. Damnable - Damn
2. Bullock - Bull
3. Apartment house - Apartment
4. Doughnut - Donut
5. Alarum - Alarm
6. Signpost - Sign
7. Reading textbook - Book (or text)
8. Oftentimes - Often
9. Fortification - Fort
10. Cincture - Cinch
11. Lodging house - Lodge
12. Formulate - Form
13. Pantomime - Mime
14. Situation comedy - Sitcom

Language Getting Shorter

More shortened words for the teachers and word lovers out there...

a) Fanatic - fan
b) Eiderdown - down
c) Alleyway - alley
d) Influenza - flu
e) Writing desk - desk
f) Latchkey - key
g) Maid servant - maid
h) In point of fact - in fact
i) Jailhouse/Prison house - jail/prison
j) capable - able
k) brassiere - bra
l) gymnasium - gym

Reading Dickens or Hardy, Austen or Shakespeare reminds a person of many early forms we've nearly lost.

Classics

Today, I thought I'd toss out a controversial topic, that being which "classics" did you love and which fell flat for you? I expect everyone read a classic in his/her life and thought, "What the? I don't get the attraction."

Personally, I adored Frankenstein, To Kill A Mockingbird, Steppenwolf, Of Mice and Men, Jekyll and Hyde, The Great Gatsby, Moby-Dick, Les Miserables, and A Christmas Carol.

I was not grabbed by The Turn of the Screw, Slaughterhouse-Five, The Magic Mountain, The Sun Also Rises, To The Lighthouse, Brave New World, The Tin Flute or Look Homeward, Angel.

Language Getting Shorter

Here are a few more examples of language getting shorter over time (for English teachers out there).
a) annotation - note
b) electric execution - electrocute
c) copper - cop
d) footrace - race
e) telephone marathon - telethon
f) assuredly - surely
g) cab driver - cabbie
h) hedgerow - hedge
i) if you please - please
k) comatose - coma
l) narcotics officer - narc
m) of the clock - o'clock
n) evening tide - eventide - evening

Language Getting Shorter

If you're a teacher, your students might find these examples of word abbreviation interesting...
a. fare thee well - farewell
b. encampment - camp
c. public house - pub
d. moving picture show - movie
e. luncheon - lunch
f. tarpaulin - tarp
g. motorcar - car
h. sheep herder - shepherd
i. God be with you - goodbye
j. whole be thou - hello
k. submarine sandwich - sub
l. Canterbury gallop - canter
m. periwig - wig
n. motor hotel - motel
o. smoky fog - smog

Canadiana

Greetings from chilly Canada. I am new to Goodreads and it may well be that no one sees this awesome list, but here goes...my all-time top ten Canadian novels:

10) Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
9) Medicine Walk, R. Wagamese
8) The Sisters Brothers, P. de Witt
7) Sweetland, M. Crummey
6) The Handmaid's Tale, M. Atwood
5) The Stone Angel, M. Laurence
4) World of Wonders, R. Davies
3) Fugitive Pieces, A. Michaels
2) The English Patient, M. Ondaatje
1) Fifth Business, R. Davies

Check out one of these fantastic titles. You won't be disappointed.

Thank You, Indigo

Many thanks to Indigo-Chapters Canada for stocking copies of Fountaineville.

It's a surreal experience for new authors to see their books displayed on shelves browsed by living, breathing humans.

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