Backstory
Our local newspaper had a charming little story about a subject of local interest. Reading through to get the facts, I was drawn to the specific words used by the author. They were lovely, melodic words. They led to mental meandering about words.
Beautiful Words
I started thinking about beautiful words. I wrote out phrases that I love to hear and wanted to share them with you. Then I Googled “beautiful words,” to see if anyone concurred with me.
Dictionary maker Robert Beard presented his hundred most beautiful words in the English language. They included bungalow…bucolic…demure… effervescent and propinquity. Lyrical words, to be sure, but none of them were on my list.
My favorite words are the ones that evoke strong emotions or memories or make me immediately give thanks. I love you … I’m OK…You look beautiful… Sweet dreams, Mommy. Now THOSE are beautiful words.
I also enjoy words that become a private family vocabulary. My family still refers to a theater where you watch the screen from your car as a DRAGON, instead of a drive-in. That’s what my young sister thought it was. How many families still refer to those long noodles as pasgetti instead of spaghetti, because it conjures up memories of a youngster’s precious mispronunciation.
Words spoken with old country flavor bring back loving memories. The Polish grandmother whose pat on the child’s head was accompanied by the phrase, “Gooda boy.”
Think of your own personal beautiful words…and enjoy the inevitable, private smile they create.
P.S. What are your favorite words these days? New definitions keep being invented for words. Are you following the trends or being left behind? The beauty of the words seems to have little bearing these days.
[Show #448]
My hubsand asbolutely went to the aminal hopsipal to get help. For years, my daughter and I mix up common words and use them when we talk in front of her kids to see who catches the anomalies. It’s much fun.