Friday, September 13, 2013

Pet Words: What Do the Words We Use and Love Reveal about Us?

Click here to read "Pet Words" which was posted today by Brad Leithauser in the New Yorker online.

Read and take notes. Write a crisp (100 word or so) summary to show that you understand what Leithauser is saying and jot down some things you find interesting about how he says it.(Think about words and sentences and paragraph organization. Think about anything that interests you about how it is written.) Bring these notes to class on Tuesday.

Then, respond to one of the following prompts in the comment box below:

1) Tell us about your favorite words and what they reveal about you. (The "Pet Words" article has many examples of favorite words and Leithauser's speculation on what those favorites might reveal. You can use the article as a model for your response.)

Or

2) Tell us about the favorite words of someone you know--words that the person uses often and that you associate with the person.What do you think these characteristic words reveal about the person?

Or

3) Pull a book you've already read off a shelf. (Or access it on an electronic device.) Skim through it. Are there any substantial words that you notice seeing again and again? What might those words reveal about the author and the book?


27 comments:

  1. There are various words found prevalently in my writing. In “Pet Words”, Brad Leithauser explains that authors choose words they use frequently due to attractive sounds, meanings, or the need to have a term on which to hang all sorts of deep emotions. I may follow this trend as a writer; however, I cannot say I have been writing long enough to know exactly what “special” words I’ve chosen. Rather, today I can only focus on the improvements I need to make – one being my tendency to overuse adjectives. I am wordy in my writing, resulting in work that sometimes reflects as confused instead of confident. For example, repeated words like “extremely” or “really” make it seem as though I am unsure about the point I am making, or even overanalyzing a subject, making irresponsible conclusions to support a specific point. Sometimes I use parentheses with a single adjective within them before a subject – an inclination I usually recognize as a no-no but ignore. One goal I have now that we are focusing on the technical aspects of writing is to realize that it is okay to eliminate errors – whether they are grammatical or showing wordiness – no matter how “right” they felt initially. This is a necessary editing step in writing. I hope to build my skills so that my writing for school, leisure, and future career endeavors can be more concise. I am sure one day in the future, I will recognize my true “pet word”.

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  3. Through out the years I have had many pet words, when I was little I loved to repeat the words acally(actually) and awicious(delicious). These days I find that I get new pet words as I read and then I use them in conversation. Right now I really like the word derision or derisive. I have however not really figured out what these new "pet words" say about me. The old ones are actually directly related to me now. I do have a penchant for being right and for good food. Perhaps all my "pet words" will reveal themselves in time.

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  4. Words have always meant a lot to me, but not when I am the one saying them. Words I say tend to be "you," "others," "when," and "if" which seem to show my indecisiveness. I don't have a whole lot of confidence so I tend to rely on how I speak to convert to writing, as I always have. I like to find interesting, fresh, new words from books or poems I stumble upon. Other cities or people can introduce me to a new catch phrase that annoys me but I still say it. The meanings of these things change through regions, but I think that the way something is said, tone wise, makes it have a new meaning.

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  5. It is very hard to think about what words you use the most often or make a conscious effort to put in your writing, but for me, I love listening to other people talk and being able to pick up on words they say frequently. One of the worst perpetrators of overusing a pet word is my sister. Her adjective for everything is "perfect". Whether it's food, the weather, making a plan, or a movie, everything is perfect. It has become so natural for her that the rest of my sisters and I doubt she even knows any other adjectives. I don't know if it's subconscious strive for perfection or she just likes the feeling when she can convince herself that what she is doing is perfect, but it is definitely her "pet word." She is so oblivious to this pet word that when she says it subconsciously the rest of us just laugh and she stares around confused. Her obliviousness makes me wonder what my pet words are and if you asked someone else would they have a whole list of them for me? I'm curious to how people would imitate my speech and word choice because I can't think of any personalized pet words without guarding my mind against them.

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  6. Of all the people I know, I have found it particularly easy to pick up on the pet words used by Ella Bonfield. Though they change from time to time, when they are favored by her she can’t help but use them over and over again. One particular type of pet word of hers that I have picked up on is the use foreign words such as: tres or danke. Instead of using english words to say very or thank you, Ella constantly says the foreign versions of the words. The use of her adopted words may be connected to a need to prove to people that she is cultured, sophisticated, and above all else educated. Knowing Ella as personally as I do, I know that she takes pride in being educated and works hard to maintain her level of academic excellence. With knowing this bit of information about her it is easy for me to see how her subconscious mind thinks to use these words to prove her education to others and show them that she is a smart, literate person.

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  7. The first words that came to mind when I thought of my favorite words were articulate, various, and implication. There is a certain sense of satisfaction that I experience from finding that perfect word, the one that undoubtedly completes what I want to say. I like to enhance my language with a formal replacement for a standard or colloquial word, and I notice that I have a broad set of "acquaintances" that I typically employ. Of these, I use articulate, various, and implication the most. They are usually substituted for explain, many, and consequence. I believe this is because I am always trying to articulate my own thoughts, I am always taking note of what others imply, and I talk about many things. This may seem like a simple explanation, but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. I often think about the big picture, and I suppose these are the words that arise when those thoughts cross my mind.

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  8. In my own writing I often find myself using words related to home. Perhaps this reveals a desire for comfort and familiarity, or maybe I just like the feeling the word “haven” brings with it. I don’t specifically stick to the word home, choosing to use modifications such as sanctuary or in some contexts prison or penitentiary. A person’s home is where they had their beginnings, their ups and downs, and most importantly where they got their sense of being. There are so many emotions tied in with this one word, this idea of a home. You can be homesick or homeless. It can be your shelter and parish or your personal hell. It is the cause for what drives us and is relevant to many decisions we make in life. For me it is the big picture, my main idea and focus in most writings. I always gravitate towards the security of using alterations of home. It is a concept I have grasped and the familiarity is what leads me to intertwine this word, this concept, into my writings.

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  9. When it comes down to it, it is hard for me to think of words I tend to favor, but after reading this prompt I begin thinking into it during my conversations. One word I found myself using over and over is the word “like.” My mom has often pointed out that I use it an excessive amount, however it has never stuck out to me until today. My overuse of this word shows my hesitation and uncertainty I often feel. Being a shy and worrisome person I regularly think too much into a situation and begin to doubt myself. Thinking about it, I will now be aware of when I use the word and try to eliminate it from my vocabulary, realizing it will make me sound more confident.

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  10. Although I cannot pick up on pet words of my own, I have found a few in one of my friends. One of my close friends, Morgan, is known for being overly friendly, excited, and outgoing. She likes to use words that aren't really words, such as "lawlzies". She also like to express her sophisticated side, with phrases like "so artistic and ingenious" to describe something like a postcard. When she feels like sounding intelligent and knowledgeable, she likes to give herself a sense of expertise by adding general words of that specific jargon. However, it's not just the words that change, but also her voice, becoming deeper, higher, or slower. All of these make up the person that Morgan is, an actress; and you don't really know when she is putting on a play until you get to know her (and her lack of expertise).

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  11. The article talks about so-called “Pet Words” and how they may contribute to a successful rhetoric. The most prevalent example given is Shakespeare’s 840 uses of the word “Sweet” in his complete works. Every author has several words that they always return to, because they like the sound, or how level it is on a page, or how it flows in a specific sentence, or whatever other reason they may have. These words recur in an author’s writing, not simply because they resonate well with the author themselves, not even because they fit well with a specific thematic style, but because the words fit together nicely within the confines of any given writer’s personal style. Take, for instance, Shakespeare’s word of “Sweet.” The word sweet can be used to indicate love and kindness in a warm embrace between two lovers, or can indicate the loss of such compassion in someone who has died. Shakespeare liked to contrast these two extremes, and sweet was one of the few words that he could consistently use to convey that contrast. Therefore, the word sweet contributed, not only to the effectiveness of his work, but it also made his personal feelings towards his own work more positive, as he got to use a word that he liked more often than he would have if he chose a different thematic element to focus on. Overall, recurring patterns of words mean moer than just the sound of the word or it’s being a palindrome or whatever other quirks may make it appeal to some people, but the effective use of pet words just may make a piece of writing more effective in the end.



    2. I enjoy words that have simple meanings, but stretch out the word structure to fit into more complex sentences, such as inanimate meaning not alive, or indeterminate for “Not visible” I think this reveals my love for long, complex, flowing sentences that really only relate back to a simple, understandable concept. Almost as if, after you’re busy dissecting the sentence itself, the thematic reward is simple enough to grasp so that the reader can simply move on without needing to ruminate on it, and therefore can be more absorbed into the story (And the message) as a whole.

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  12. In my writing there are a variety of words that I like to use. I like to keep my writing exact and to the point. This is why the words I tend to use the most relate to value and meaning. This is why I tend to like words that get to the perfect amount or meaning. Words like exact, variety, distinct, and unequivocal. The words show that once I have made my point that I am finished and I don't have a further need to dwell on the topic. I like my writing and my speech to be straightforward and obvious this helps the reader look and see where is his point … oh its right there. These words show that I am a clear cut progressive person. As well as a person who will not spread the jam on their toast that is highly exuberant adjectives. I like to keep my writing simple yet to the point just like the way I am.

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  13. I do not necessarily think that I use a particular word often enough for it to be called my "pet word," but if I had to pick one, it would be the word "convey." I find myself using this word more now especially since I am taking AP English and rhetorically analyzing works, and explaining how authors use different tools to convey certain messages. I like the way that the word "convey" sounds, and it creates a mental image of something physically being transferred form one person to another. This image adds to the word in a way that makes it more effective than words like "express." Instead of an author expressing an idea and just putting it out in the open, an author who conveys a message is sending something that is being received. In other words, "convey" conveys its meaning very well. Convey is not necessarily a very sophisticated word, but it is still standard or formal enough to be used in most situations. This seems to fit my vocabulary, but I am not sure exactly what it reveals about me. Perhaps it shows I like words that have a meaning that I can get a mental image from, because it makes a point easier to understand. It is less abstract and more to the point, which is what I often prefer.

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  14. My cousin Jocelyn is from England and she uses many pet words that aren't used as much here in the United States. Her pet words include, "brilliant, sorted, ace, safe" and other british slang. I find these words not only say a lot about her but they say a lot about where she comes from. They describe things that are said just as easily here but somehow since it is now from a different country the language sounds better, more abstract than American slang and thats why I believe I picked up on it. These pet words are terms used everyday by people in England and that's why I think it makes them pet words, they're words everyone are familiar with and therefore are used the most. They're almost like safe words, everyone knows them so everyone uses them.

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  15. The article talks about "pet words" being words that writers use often and might not even notice it. The question is: are my pet words my favorite words? It took me a while and I came to the conclusion that it might not be. My writing differs a lot depending on occasions; I can sound formal and elegant at some point and the next utterly informal and even use slang. Having said that, it is difficult to point out a single word that I most use in my writing. My "pet word" used in writing could be the word "which" because it often comes up in my work. I think I used it a lot because it opens my writing to many possibilities. Now, my "pet word" in a daily use would be a few, and they are often compound or words that go together like "I know" and "pretty much". I noticed that they are words that make me sound confident and I did not know that about myself. I will definitely study my vocabulary more and see if I get new pet words as time goes by.

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  16. Over the years in my vocabulary development, I have found that my "pet word" is "Oh". Surprisingly this is a real word, and based on the Merriam-Webster definition my kinship to this word, could be out of lack of a better word to show emotions.This could be either a step back,or a step forward in terms of enhancing my speaking vocabulary.If I learn more words, then I can substitute "Oh" with a better sounding word(s). Contrarily the more I learn new words the more I'll want to hold tight to "Oh" to avoid change.

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  17. I don't know my pet words, and I don't really have a favorite word because i don't write creatively enough. I was on a hike up in New Hampshire and we were climbing a mountain, and there was a stream next to the trail. the trail was very steep so as you were climbing, every so often, you would see a beautiful waterfall. I was in the front of the pack and every time you could see a waterfall i would say something like "look that waterfall is so beautiful". The people hiking with me caught on quick, and pointed out to me that i was using "beautiful" a lot. Even after they had pointed it out to me I still used that word because to me it was the perfect word to use to describe the beautiful waterfalls. I think that this can be seen in my writing as well. I use very simple words when I could use more complex. I could have said that the waterfalls were gorgeous, or stunning, or majestic, but I didn't, "beautiful" kept on being the word I chose. i have noticed myself doing this in my writing, I would think of a sentence in my head but I would have to dumb it down for myself to spell. T I prefer to argue verbally, instead of written, because I can be perceived as an intellectual if I argue verbally. The truth is I probably have many pet words, but I just don't know them.

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  18. Melanie M.

    I skimmed through the book All Souls to see if Michael Patrick MacDonald had any "Pet Words". A word I found used throughout his writing was the "F-word", in different forms. MacDonald uses an informal writing style in this book, and swearing lowers the writing to vulgar or even taboo on the formality scale. For this book in particular, writing with a more informal style helps portray how difficult it was growing up at this time in Southie, and how hard it must have been to deal with multiple deaths of his loved ones. I believe the readers would have felt less empathy if MacDonald had made the choice to write with more formal language. the I think the repetition of the "F-word" in All Souls shows the deep emotion MacDonald feels, especially when writing about a topic so close to his heart. As for me, I am not sure what my personal "pet words" are, although I'm sure I use them in my writing. After reading and analyzing "Pet Words", by Leithauser, I will try to become aware of my personal pet words, as well as favorite words used by other authors.

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  19. My friend Emily has a grandmother who is possibly the sweetest woman alive. In nearly every sentence, she uses some variation of the word "honey" when she addresses you. I find the habit to be endearing, especially because it's so genuine coming out of her mouth. Janice would give you the world if you asked her for it; she is so kind hearted and compassionate, I often consider her my "second grandmother". The word, in all its forms, slips her lips more time than one can count, but nevertheless the honesty and validity behind it remain true. She says it in a way that never has you questioning it's credibility, and the gesture never loses it's meaning.

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  20. After glancing through Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to arms, I couldn't help but notice that the word "kiss" or "kissed" was repeated many times. A major part of that comes from the subject itself, being a wartime love story. However, "kissed" could have relevance to Hemingway's broader writing style. A Farewell to Arms is a confliction between upbeat wartime friendship, romance, and deep sorrow. Throughout all of this action however, Hemingway maintains his straightforward, simple writing style. Therefor repeating the action of “kissed to create intense romance.

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  21. My friend Bobby has a tendency of using the word "dude" very often. The tendency he has to using this word becomes very aggravating and frustrating at times. The over usage of "dude" makes me think that he has a limited vocabulary(although he really doesn't) just because of how often he uses it. He thinks that he is cool for using this word and that if he uses it, what he is saying suddenly becomes as cool as he believes that he is. He may be my friend but this "pet word" has to go. Whenever I hear anybody say a sentence containing "dude" I think of him, no matter how annoying this word is to me it doesn't change who he is and how I have come to know him. Bobby and "dude" are a common association to my friends and I, even though he thinks that he is so cool and tough for using this word all of the time he is a nice guy. He may appear inconsiderate to people that first meet him, but he really is caring towards others.

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  22. After reading "Pet Words", I could not think of my own personal "pet word". However, I have noticed a fellow classmate using the word "like" very often. He uses the word whenever he is trying to describe something out loud to a group of people. The use of the word could possibly be because of nerves or just as a way for him to break for a second to regain his thoughts. When he uses the word "like", what seems to be every word, people often start laughing and pointing it out. I do not find the word choice to be a problem, I simply feel that it is his way of gathering his thoughts, without pausing completely.

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  23. Winslow L

    I admit I had some difficulty finding my Pet words. My parents, friends and I thought hard on this but we couldn't think of any words that i consistently overuse. So instead of analyzing my verbal dialogue, I went to my writing to search for pet words. I was very surprised to see the repeated use of the word understand--not just understand but variations such as understood, understanding, misunderstood etc.. I think the multiple variations of this word is what makes it so useful for me. Variations can be used as verbs, adjectives and nouns. They can describe knowledge and a lack of knowledge. They can be used in the most informal and formal of conversations. It was even difficult for me to not include the word in this passage but the article did say to feed your pets. This might mean I'm a person who uses less complex, comprehendible language to make my responses easy to understand. I think that means I'm a person who is less hung on details and more interested in finding the main idea. Understood?

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  24. Perhaps the most cliche pet word of all time provides the best example of pet words in action. When my grandmother uses the word "Honey", I can't help but think that she's talking to me with a form of endearment in her voice. Whether it's a conversation about my future, or simple things like asking how my week was, the use of the word always has a delightful effect on me. I find it very hard to dislike my grandmother at all for any reason, and I believe that the use of the word "Honey" as well as many other pet names is used to her advantage, she gets whatever information she wants out of me (birthday presents, report card grades, etc.). After all, how can I resist when she calls me by the name of something as sweet and golden as "Honey"?

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  25. My favorite word to call younger children is cutie. I call my little sisters, my boyfriend's sister, or any baby I see. I say it often, and I can't really help myself, it kind of just comes out of my mouth. I believe I use it as a form of endearment. I know that if an adult called me a "cutie" I would be a little irritated or even weary of them. Although, when I say it, I know I'm just using it as a term to express my love for the person I am talking to. I never use it when talking to teenagers my age though. It seems to be just a younger child thing. It could possibly be me expressing my dominance in a subtle way (although I do not intend on saying the word for the purpose). I'm not saying it to try to demean or condescend, I sincerely use it just because I think my sisters or younger friends are cute and just their personalities makes me want to call them a "cutie".

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  26. Pet words, is a very interesting topic for someone as oblivious to repetition as myself. The best way I may summarize what i had read, is by answering the first two prompts. Most of my writing comes through with music, and i take pride in relating it to people and events in my life, although I can admit that there are some chosen few words that come up often when describing either my own life, or my opinion of friends. I like to attribute many things to light. When describing situations or behavior, i might say it is dark and depressing, or i could relate it to being blinding and obvious. I would like to believe that this reflects on how my imagination drifts when in situations like that, and that is what makes my experiences relatable.

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  27. My sense of word choice seems to include various phrases that are incorporated in both written and spoken language. For example my most often used phrase as of late would be "in a sense". To collaborate it into my personality it could tie in that I am possibly uncertain in my life. Possibly and probably come up a lot along with the word "interesting". Whenever there is something I can't describe I just use the word interesting. I, as a person, tend to use these phrases and words to possibly incorporate a sense of uncertainty as mentioned prior or that I am leaving room for people to correct me. If I were to list of twenty words of my own shortly after interesting there would most likely be diction such as lingo, snazzy, snappy, buddy, dude, etc. I am guessing I use those variety of words on top of my own "interesting" and "in a sense" to put myself off as a calmer demeanor and to give myself a quirky-ness to make myself seem more likable. I tend to constantly add snazzy into a sentence whenever possible along lingo and others and in comparison to interesting they are words used only under certain areas. I would never use snazzy or anywhoozle in a written piece unlike in a sense or interesting. To put it generally my overuse of interesting and in a sense can create my characteristic traits of being a uncertain derpy person.

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