New word thread.

[Mr.Smoketoomuch]

idioglossia
1) A private form of speech invented by one child or by children who are in close contact, eg: twins.
2) A pathological condition in which a person's speech is so severely distorted that it is unintelligible, eg: the nutter on the bus.

[Spring Heeled Jack]

Re: idioglossia, I once read in a biography of L. Ron Hubbard - not one of the authorised ones, obviously - that as a child he became so obsessed with the word "exobiddle" that his mother eventually washed out his mouth with soap to teach him not to annoy everybody by talking total bollocks. Apparently she did not succeed.

Might I suggest the adoption of this hitherto meaningless word to refer to statements made by a religious spokesperson which don't actually mean anything? "God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform, so it's really all for the best that your baby died of cancer" - that sort of thing.

Also, it would REALLY piss off the Scientologists, and I don't see how they could sue.

[alganbagerap]

A borrowed list. Probably not new, but mighty meaty:


for the epeolatrists:

basorexia: an overwhelming desire to neck or kiss.
lygerastia: the condition of one who is only amorous when the lights are out.
brontide: the low rumbling of distant thunder.
dactylion: the tip of a middle finger.
nudiustertian: pertaining to the day before yesterday.
gargalesthesia: the sensation caused by tickling.
petrichor: the smell of rain on dry ground.
dendolatry: worship of trees.
lethologica: the inability to recall a precise word for something.
psithurism: a whispering sound, i.e: the sound of wind in trees, or rustling leaves.
witzelsucht: a feeble attempt at humour.
epeolatry: worship of words.
woundy: excessively; extremely.
tacenda: things not to be mentioned.
naupathia: sea sickness.
baisemain: a kiss on the back of the hand.