Ugly/beautiful sounding words
hlmw
language. Words create emotional as well as other responses beyond their
actual meanings.
I once read that the word 'empathy' was the most beautiful word in the
English language.
Sarcasm is an ugly sounding word.
Euphemism sounds snotty, stuck-up, or even condescending.
Is beautiful a beautiful word or am I just thinking it is?
Lorna
Robert Lieblich
I'm sorry, Lorna, but this is all a bunch of crap. If "murmur" is
such a lovely sounding word, with liquid consonants and all that,
why does "murder" sound almost exactly the same? People let the
meanings of words leak into their feelings about them, and the next
thing you know you'll hear that "lovely" is a lovely-sounding word,
and "ugly" is an ugly word (and "beautiful" is a beautiful word,
right?), and so on. Okay, a few words are onomatopoeic, so by
definition they sound like what they describe. But is the "buzz" of
a bee a pretty word or an ugly word, or does it depend on whether it
elicits memories of honey or of stinging?
And then there is the problem of switching languages. "Spice" seems
like a nice enough English word. But it sounds almost exactly like
"Scheiss." Look that up in a German-English dictionary.
If you really believe what you posted, you're deluding yourself. If
anyone comes along and agrees with you, watch out for sarcasm.
--
Bob Lieblich
Now, there's a lovely-sounding name
Eric Walker
Well, one might start by considering what are often considered
the most beautiful _lines_ in English. So far as I know, the
traditional top-two candidates are--
A woman wailing for her demon lover
&
A rose-red city, half as old as time
My vote is definitely with #2. Perhaps, then "rose-red" (if
that qualifies as a "word") is one entrant.
--
Cordially,
Eric Walker
Owlcroft House
Eric Walker
[...]
>I'm sorry, Lorna, but this is all a bunch of crap. If
>"murmur" is such a lovely sounding word, with liquid
>consonants and all that, why does "murder" sound almost
>exactly the same?
Does it? Does a <d> sound seem like an <m> sound?
Perhaps, though, the criterion would be how it sounds to a
person who speaks no English at all.
Alan Jones
"Eric Walker" <ewa...@owlcroft.com> wrote in message
news:rjnyxrebjypebsgpb...@news.cis.dfn.de...
[...]
> ....... what are often considered
> the most beautiful _lines_ in English. So far as I know, the
> traditional top-two candidates are--
>
> A woman wailing for her demon lover
>
> &
>
> A rose-red city, half as old as time
[...]
Can an isolated word be beautiful? "Swallow"? The magical 'l' and 'w' are
there in verb and noun, but . . .
If we're allowed lines, try:
"The moan of doves in immemorial elms"
or
"... And on a sudden, lo! the level lake
And the long glories of the winter moon".
In each of these the effect largely depends on a single word ("immemorial"
and "glories") but only in the context of the patterning of other vowels and
consonants. There' s also the effect of contrast in the wider context: the
second is preceded by the harshest of consonant clusters and spiky vowels
telling how the armour-clad Bedivere carries Arthur down the rocks to the
lake. And then there's the story itself, with a power and elegiac beauty
quite apart from the words that embody it in this re-telling.
Alan Jones
hlmw
Robert Lieblich wrote:
> hlmw wrote:
> >
> > What are some of the ugliest and/or most beautiful words in the English
> > language. Words create emotional as well as other responses beyond their
> > actual meanings.
> > I once read that the word 'empathy' was the most beautiful word in the
> > English language.
> > Sarcasm is an ugly sounding word.
> > Euphemism sounds snotty, stuck-up, or even condescending.
> > Is beautiful a beautiful word or am I just thinking it is?
>
> I'm sorry, Lorna, but this is all a bunch of crap. If "murmur" is
> such a lovely sounding word, with liquid consonants and all that,
> why does "murder" sound almost exactly the same?
the rest snipped....
I am sorry too, your reply is a bunch of crap.
Lorna
Don Phillipson
news:3C9D505B...@telusplanet.net...
This is not a new debate but began in classical
antiquity, when the probandum was:
"Who drives fat oxen should himself be fat."
Focus on individual words seems wrong, because
connotations (and sometimes denotations) are so
fluid, cf. common misuses of "jejune," "socialist" etc.
It is however meaningful to consider poetry, where
the acknowledged aim is to make a collection of
words that is exceptionally pleasing. -- So you
get such candidate phrases as "the murmuring of
immemorial elms," which many find notably beautiful.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
dphil...@trytel.com
blp
Here are some of the ugliest words in the English language that are decent.
1. Fructify - to make fruitful
2. Kumquat - a small citrus fruit.
3. Quahog - a thick shelled American clam.
4. Crepuscular - relating to or like twilight.
5. Kakkak - a small bittern of Guam.
6. Gargoyle - a gutter spout shaped like a grotesque figure.
7. Cacophonous - harsh-sounding.
8. Aasvogel - an African vulture.
9. Brobdingnagian - marked by tremendous size.
10. Jukebox - a cabinet record player activated by inserting a coin.
Note: Exclusive from The Book of Lists.
M.J.Powell
<hl...@telusplanet.net> writes
I think 'ceiling' is the most beautiful word.
Mike
--
M.J.Powell
Mark Wallace
"M.J.Powell" <mi...@pickmere.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:sk$ZzMATU...@pickmere.demon.co.uk...
TINNY!
--
Mark Wallace
____________________________
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http://humorpages.virtualave.net/m-pages/mother.htm
____________________________
M.J.Powell
<mwallac...@noknok.nl> writes
>
>"M.J.Powell" <mi...@pickmere.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:sk$ZzMATU...@pickmere.demon.co.uk...
>> In article <3C9D505B...@telusplanet.net>, hlmw
>> <hl...@telusplanet.net> writes
>
>> >What are some of the ugliest and/or most beautiful words in the
>English
>> >language. Words create emotional as well as other responses
>beyond their
>> >actual meanings.
>> >I once read that the word 'empathy' was the most beautiful word
>in the
>> >English language.
>> >Sarcasm is an ugly sounding word.
>> >Euphemism sounds snotty, stuck-up, or even condescending.
>> >Is beautiful a beautiful word or am I just thinking it is?
>>
>> I think 'ceiling' is the most beautiful word.
>
>TINNY!
Not with my voice.
Mike
--
M.J.Powell
Polar
Eons ago, someone told me that "cellar door" was the most
beautiful-sounding word/phrae in English. I guess if you don't
kow the meaning, and just listen to the pure sound, they could
have a point.
[...]
.
>>
>>TINNY!
>
>Not with my voice.
>
>Mike
--
Polar
Daniel Seriff
>>> What are some of the ugliest and/or most beautiful words in the English
>>> language. Words create emotional as well as other responses beyond their
>>> actual meanings.
>>> I once read that the word 'empathy' was the most beautiful word in the
>>> English language.
>>> Sarcasm is an ugly sounding word.
>>> Euphemism sounds snotty, stuck-up, or even condescending.
>>> Is beautiful a beautiful word or am I just thinking it is?
>>
>> I think 'ceiling' is the most beautiful word.
>
> TINNY!
Definitely tinny.
Other tinny words:
coyote
paper
fork
jumper cable
Rice Krispies (tm)
Some woody words:
rutabaga
garbage
television
tiger
candle
desk
lamppost
--
Daniel Seriff
I never worry that all hell will break loose. My concern is that only part
of hell will break loose and be much harder to detect.
-Carlin
Eric Walker
[...]
>Definitely tinny.
>
>Other tinny words:
[...]
Does anyone recall the Monty Python sketch in which Graham
Chapman's character--squire of the manor, armchair, pipe--keeps
referring to certain words as "good, good--very _woody_ sound"?
Tiafa
I'll vote for 'love'
Mark Wallace
>
> [...]
>
> >Definitely tinny.
> >
> >Other tinny words:
>
> [...]
>
> Does anyone recall the Monty Python sketch in which Graham
> Chapman's character--squire of the manor, armchair, pipe--keeps
> referring to certain words as "good, good--very _woody_ sound"?
That was the reference. Keep up, E.
Ooh, no! Can't call you 'E'! Too tinny! Get a woody name!
--
Mark Wallace
____________________________
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including the latest in signature encryption
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____________________________________________
Mark Wallace
"Tiafa" <r...@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:lIVn8.1649$eF4.1...@news02.tsnz.net...
<pukes>
I'll go for 'rumour', and almost anything ending with 'tic' or
'staltis'.
--
Mark Wallace
____________________________________________
Ever been stuck on a word, or a point of grammar?
You need to visit the APIHNA World Dictionary
http://humorpages.virtualave.net/m-pages/apihna-0.htm
____________________________________________
Scott
Polar <sme...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Eons ago, someone told me that "cellar door" was the most
> beautiful-sounding word/phrae in English. I guess if you don't
> kow the meaning, and just listen to the pure sound, they could
> have a point.
"Susurrations"
--
to respond, change "spamless.invalid" to "optonline.net"
Please post replies, unless they are off-topic.
Dr Robin Bignall
<mwallac...@noknok.nl> wrote:
>
>"Tiafa" <r...@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
>news:lIVn8.1649$eF4.1...@news02.tsnz.net...
>> "M.J.Powell" <mi...@pickmere.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:sk$ZzMATU...@pickmere.demon.co.uk...
>
>> > I think 'ceiling' is the most beautiful word.
>>
>> I'll vote for 'love'
>
><pukes>
>
>I'll go for 'rumour', and almost anything ending with 'tic' or
>'staltis'.
There's a strong rumour that your peristalsis is authentic.
<pukes>
--
wrmst rgrds
RB...(docrobi...@ntlworld.com)
Daniel Seriff
>>> Definitely tinny.
>>>
>>> Other tinny words:
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> Does anyone recall the Monty Python sketch in which Graham
>> Chapman's character--squire of the manor, armchair, pipe--keeps
>> referring to certain words as "good, good--very _woody_ sound"?
>
> That was the reference. Keep up, E.
>
> Ooh, no! Can't call you 'E'! Too tinny! Get a woody name!
I have a notoriously tinny name, as well. Sad, but true.
Mark Wallace
"Daniel Seriff" <micro...@sericap.com> wrote in message
news:B8C6790A.2EF51%micro...@sericap.com...
> on 3/26/02 4:21 AM, Mark Wallace at mwallac...@noknok.nl
wrote:
>
> >>> Definitely tinny.
> >>>
> >>> Other tinny words:
> >>
> >> [...]
> >>
> >> Does anyone recall the Monty Python sketch in which Graham
> >> Chapman's character--squire of the manor, armchair, pipe--keeps
> >> referring to certain words as "good, good--very _woody_ sound"?
> >
> > That was the reference. Keep up, E.
> >
> > Ooh, no! Can't call you 'E'! Too tinny! Get a woody name!
>
> I have a notoriously tinny name, as well. Sad, but true.
I give myself a new name almost every time I branch out into a
different style, so I often have to switch from being tinny one
minute to woody the next. It can have terrible effects; especially
given that the ear is so closely related to one's sense of balance.
If I fall over, it is obviously because I have been writing several
different things, and is in no way connected to brandy consumption.
--
Mark Wallace
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Doctor Charles.
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