I have an affection for made-up words. One of the best examples I’ve read is from a James Thurber story called, “The Black Magic of Barney Haller.” Just to give you a taste, here is a quote.
“Did you know that even when it isn’t brilig I can produce slithy troves? Did you happen to know that the mome rath never lived that could outgrabe me? ”
Your challenge, should you choose to grangrept, is to write a short paragraph or zemp where you include words no one has ever blarbed before. Rezcoriate us. Crundle our peefalls. Set the bar at furksmits. Yamdunk away.
Your turn.
23 Responses
Lawkos–Loved “regently” and found “collabortion” to be a word that should be used regularly!
One word cobrooded from a grumb of norn to chern creartive wriders who regently attemptuated to wrood a surry togainder: “Collabortion.”
OMG
Rougetideancy! That was my favorite, although the references were truly wonderful. Hey Gary: If you have copies of all your postings from this blog (sure hope so!) you could make a fine book out of them. What are you waiting for? You’re one of a kind!
P.S. Now I know what the two finger salute means in your icon (which has since disappeared). Two fish, of course!
test
“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” –An Analysis of the Objective Correlative
Gary Treible
EN331 Advanced English Literature
Bucknell University
Fall, 1978
Background –
“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” is a poem written by Theodor Seuss Geisel epinomously writing as “Dr. Seuss.” Published in 1960, the work presents a simplified world order where the prolitagions are fish. Influenced by cold war fears and a lack of sociostateable consistency, Seuss creates a world where differences are tolerated, yet grossly amplified in ways most oblitorious to even the most casual reader. The poem, written in parapalamblic (“limping”) meter (1), received early accrumblances and is often cited as a metaphor for procopulant behavior in postindustrial societies. Ironically, the work is often considered a children’s book by those who are likely noncomprestantive of the adult themes presented by the author.
Plot Summary –
A diverse group of anthropomorphic fish interact in various ways.
Analysis –
It is clear, beginning with the title, “Red Fish, Blue Fish,” that this is a work of political fiction dispositing itself as a simple poem. As suggested by Feinberg, et al. (2) we are immediately drawn into the red state/blue state frontablium, which is brought to sharp focus by a fish who is “glad,” a clear homosexual reference (3), and a fish who has “a little star,” the feared symbol of the communist rougetideancy (4). Not content to stick with simple political ideology, Seuss reminds us that “This one has a little car” and also, “What a lot of fish there are.” Obviously the author wants us to be mindful of the environment (5) and the emicolamitry inherent in a failure to do so. What would happen, one wonders, if billions of fish with little stars also had little cars, and an afflubrent supply of climate changing gasoline.
Indicative of the time in which the poem was written (6), Seuss has no issue in “body shaming” one of his prolitagiates, whom the author describes as being “fat” and wearing a frumpangious yellow hat. The yellow hatted fish represents the “everyman,” who is little more than a specflyism in the global battle for ichyskitic reproductive rights. Unable to come to terms with this issue, the author simply asks the reader to “Go ask your dad/mother.”
Rarely discussed (7) is the apocalyptic nature of the second half of the poem. Here, fish “walk” in the heat of an evaporated ocean and suffer with severe genetic mutations resulting in abnormal numbers of, presumably, fish fingers. Alarmingly, the reader is called upon to inumantiate these fish appendages as if the author is daring us to reject the fuggnastacality of these fish. Perhaps Seuss is suggesting that we could actually be worse off after a nuclear war than we had been before.
Finally, one would be insentationable not to mention the reference made to this book by Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan in writing the majority opinion for “US vs. Demmins” In her opinion, Justice Kagan noted the sentenosity of fish and recognized the implied approvantigedness of social justice in any diverse population (8).
Does Seuss, in the end, provide the reader with sufficient justification to explain the behavior, and hence, world view of his fish? This is difficult to say in light of the fact that most of the fish described will likely be eaten before any of their hopes and dreams can be realized. Since their contribution to society is, at best, negaughtable in an impacifull way, we might conclude that their actions are statistically insequensabilistic, as is often the case in anthropomorphic animal populations [9].
For Further Study –
Compare and contrast the drumming primate in Perkins’ “Hand Hand Fingers Thumb,” with Seuss’ eleven fingered fish. Which would be more likely to survive a nuclear apocalypse? Can either be said to express himself in a pleuroclastic sense? Give examples to support your conclusions.
References –
1 Walker, Anita (1969), “The Halting Themes of Hobbled Poetry”, The Armchair Reader Vol XII, July, p 19
2 Feinberg, Goldman, Whitworth (1968), “Red v. Blue – They’re Coming for You”, Fullcourt Press, p223
3 White, Robert (1954), “Gay References in Everyday Literature”, Rainbow Books, pp23 – 24
4 Klosshoff, Lt. Oliver (1938), “Lies of the Godless Communist”, I Can Read It Myself Books, p142-490
5 Szechuan, G. Tso (1974), “You and Me, Let’s Hug a Tree”, Journal of Nature Vol IV, p243
6 Cosby, W. (1970), “Fat Albert Gets Stuck in His Seat”, Little Golden Books, p1-22
7 Turse, V. (1959), “A Compendium of Things Rarely Discussed”, Rarity Press, p243
8 Proceedings of the United States Supreme Court (1977), “United States vs. Demmins”, US Government Printing Office, p 2013
9 Jones, Chuck (1949), “Why Bugs Bunny Hates You, and Why it Probably Doesn’t Matter”, Casablanca Book Division Of Warner Bros. Pictures, p 134-200
Quiet! The kershmittzers are berdogulating again!
Is there anything we can do to aspleek them?
No, just wait another silvendy gipperts or so. They should be switching to vindicule mode by then, so we can safely intabuclate.
I think you and I could do this all day! It’s strangely satisfying, isn’t it? I’m certainly ready to intabuclate!
Go to AnnLinquist.com. If you click on the words “Writing Categories” at the top of the page, then pick one, it will take you to some past prompts and responses. Try it!
Greetings, Granny! Welcome back for a spell. Loved your made up words. I often run to the postalizer. We have such a fine local postmistressma’am.
Ann, I’m not sure I have the entire link to your writing prompts. There are only a couple of postings here. Wouldst mind telling me what it is again?
Greetings, old friends. I haven’t been around these parts for a while now. With our scorching summer upon us, it’s a great time to revisit you for some stimulating exchanges!
One look at the thermomstermeter tells me it’s 114 outside, and I have to make a run to the postalizer!
James Thurber is a gem of a writer. Great imagination! Thanks for your good words!
I do not have any made up words, but reading your post took me back to high school when we did the play Jabborwock (based on the life of James Thurber from Columbus) that had portions of the Lewis Carroll poem Jabborwocky in it (which is where many of the words in your quote above came from). Thank you for taking me on a trip down memory lane.
So even back in elementary school, you were busy creating new world and words. Impressive!
In the interest of Truth and Transparency, I feel compelled to admit that I made up
Conditional, Contagious Calray Marmmus when I was in Fourth Grade. If the conditions were favorable (like sunny day or something better to do than go to school) I would get a case of Conditional, Contagious Calary Marmmus. The teachers would insist that I be sent home, immediately.
Dang, Peanut. All I could think of was “I’m sick.” Never worked, even the day I spread chicken pox to my kindergarden class. We were standing in line for something when I started feeling really sick. I noticed the bumpy bone on my wrist for the first time and thought that was a symptom. Started comparing my wrist bump with everyone else, thereby effectively spreading the disease to all.
Farnsworth check himself into The Cardiac,Hemophiliac,Cataract. Schizophreniac, Call-Us-If-You’ve-Ever-Been-Hacked-Attack…. all in one Budget Clinic for his weekly injection. This had been his routine for the past ten years. But today was different. Today his symptoms had changed drastically. Instead of his usual dyspepsia and blurred vision, Farnsworth noticed that his Lower Finnortner was inflamed with a possible Contagious Calary Marmmus developing even lower down.
That IS a good line! And, you know, I just may take you up on it one of these days, though probably is a nice heated and air conditioned car that has cruise control. Moose Jaw is W-A-Y up there!
Moose Pass! I think Moose Jaw is in Wyoming. Ask for Moose Jaw up here and you might get a bowl of unusual stew.
Whoops! But it would be fun to bump into each other, no matter what part of the moose is involved.
This isn’t the place to leave you a message not related to this prompt, but I don’t see an appropriate spot. I think you missed the best line Ive come up with in quite a while in my response to your reply at The Adventure of a Lifetime, and I can’t bear to let it pass:
Grab your helmet — I know you have one. It has bright orange and red flames on it. Meet her at the border.
I’ll leave the Midnight Sun on for ya!
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