Mincing Words
Two years ago we took a trip to Germany where, for the first time, I meet some of my husband’s family. Although I attempted to learn the language from a CD leading up to my visit, the second I opened my mouth it became clear I’d learned nothing. So you can imagine my relief when I heard on the radio recently that on future visits, I’ll be spared having to deal with the longest word in the German language. Thanks to a change in European Union regulations, a word pertaining to law for regulating the labeling of beef has been put to rest by the government. The word,
Rindfleischetikettierungsueberwachungsaufgabenuebertragungsgesetz
…is now kaput!
Even the Germans are toasting over this one. You’re probably thinking that chances are beef production wouldn’t have come up in conversation during my trip abroad, anyway. Damn good thing because if I’d tried to pronounce it, I’d most likely have choked and sputtered to the ground.
The news story about its omission, however, did make me think about the words I choose when speaking. Nobody wants to sound like the pedantic, pseudo-intellectual from Midnight in Paris (wait, did I just sound…? never mind).
Another place where I try to be careful with the words I choose is my writing. So you can imagine my surprise when a few readers of my new release, The Hourglass, told me that while they were reading my book on their Kindles, they had to look up a word I’d used. It seems my use of “curmudgeon,” to describe a character had stopped more than one person.
Two well-known curmudgeons
Curmudgeons are people who can be difficult and ill-tempered at times. Not all the time. There are moments when a little curmudgeon lives inside me. At least when it comes to certain matters…like politics or the checkout line at the grocery store. Other than that, I’m super positive.
Curmudgeons can be lovable, but they’re quick to spot the negative in any situation, often providing insights into life that speak to the cynicism within all of us. (ah-hem, let he who has never felt cynical be the first to cast a stone).
Famous curmudgeons include Ernest Hemmingway, Woody Allen and Andy Rooney. A character in my novel, CJ Morrison, has curmudgeon “tendencies,” yet his redeeming qualities aren’t far behind. The heroine, Brenda McAllister, learns fast that there is a deep sensitive man beneath CJ’s surface. Not merely the grouchy exterior (hence the curmudgeon reference) she first stumbles upon. It really does take knowing a curmudgeon to love one.
I’m happy to keep the more unusual words in the English language alive with my writing. But for those of you worried about the removed German word, the country hasn’t gone completely insane. They’re keeping the word
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitaenswitwe
…or as we say in English, Danube steamboat company captain.
Do you reach for big words in conversation? Got a word a day calendar that begs for attention?
