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Truth be told…
As a writer I’m interested in phonosemantics – the branch of linguistics that investigates how vocal sounds (phonemes) have archetypal meaning as well as emotional signatures that are perceived cross-culturally. Phonemes provide the building blocks of meaning for a word. … Continue reading
Tautologies & superfluities
The “keep it simple” (KISS) approach to writing is not all that new. Two thousand years ago, the Roman philosopher Seneca advised that in expressing oneself, “We do not need many words, only effective ones”. Thomas Jefferson, principal author of … Continue reading
Posted in Language Use, Words
Tagged crisp communication, oxymorons, quotes, superfluities, tautologies
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Flee the familiar
One of my favourite authors, Mark Twain, wrote a wonderful motivational piece that may be interpreted on many levels. He was also a steamboat pilot. I’m following his recommendation literally: ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things … Continue reading
The dragon’s secret
The Chinese Year of the Dragon (2012) has sunk its talons into the collective psyche of the western world. So I grabbed my trusty SKEAT’s Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language (revised edition, 1885) to cast light upon the origin of the word. Dragon is derived … Continue reading
Resonating with Byron
“Words are things; and a small drop of ink falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” – Lord Byron (1788-1824)
My karma ran over my dogma
However objective you may wish to be as a writer, there will always be a lens through which you perceive and colour the world. Your writing will reveal shades of your cultural identity, political affiliations, moral compass and “education”, for example. The … Continue reading
On the economy of writing
“It’s always just 26 letters of the alphabet and a handful of punctuation, and that is so staggeringly elegant… it’s just you and the page, and there is something very addictive about that.” – Alan Moore
Make your passion work for you
My deadline today was to write a blog post, after running the gauntlet of copywriting deadlines. So I’ve permitted myself the luxury of resorting to a short cut without sacrificing any value, by sharing some quotable quotes… After all, it was … Continue reading
