Day: November 12, 2015

Diphthong as described by Merriam Webster

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Words at Play : Funny-Sounding and Interesting Words

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#10: Diphthong

Definition:

two vowel sounds joined in one syllable to form one speech sound, e.g. the sounds of “ou” in out and of “oy” in boy

Example:

“A glitch refers to some piece of technology’s failure to do something it’s intended to do. But Siri is doing exactly what it was built to do…. Siri would have an actual glitch if it couldn’t understand diphthongs or something.” — Damon Poeter,PC Magazine, December 1, 2011

About the Word:

Evoking the dual nature of diphthongs themselves, the word diphthongretains the two parts in its Greek ancestor tdiphthongos: di- meaning “two” and phthongos meaning “sound” or “voice.”

The word is a bit strange-looking to English speakers, a fact reflected in the two pronunciations the word has, one with a first syllable of /dif/ and one with a first syllable of /dip/.

My note: phthongos sounds a bit like tongue… and that can mean language,as we know.I do know this word but had not looked at its origin.Those ancient Greeks gave us plenty to think about and with from Language to Logic and Mathematics… are we less intelligent or just too busy?

When yet another over boiled egg

When yet another dust ball is discovered
Hiding in the bookcase near the bed.
I ponder on the process which produced it
As I sit here gobbling up a large boiled egg.

When yet another stain upon the carpet
Cannot be removed by water,work or foam.
I wonder if I’m cut out for housework.
This is certainly not a human’s Ideal Home.

But let me not waste time on fussy cleaning.
Life is far more precious than is dirt.
I’ll change my dress and put on perfume.
And take a two hour course in how to flirt.

For life can be so painful we must laugh.
Above all, never muse on Sylvia Plath

Elemental as a storm

A force  far deeper than our anger

Elemental as a storm,

Annihilating all before it.

Terror does our rage inform.

This ancient self feels  we are threatened

Runs to  rise and to protect;

Most murderous when  we’re most alarmed

Rage  an enemy detects.

Over-riding other feelings,

Depriving us of  wits to think

Like a nuclear  tsunami

Disconnecting human links.

Reddened vision,focused,narrowed

Eyes locked onto enemy.

All the wider context losing,
Wiping out  good memories

Like a mother tiger fighting,

With the cornered eagle’s force

We will destroy  what we think other

Without   feeling our remorse.

Nature gave this to protect us;

Yet  our  perception's often wrong.

Once the flood of feeling takes us

All reflections seem too long

Later, if we see our victims,

Will we know when we have erred?

For  hate deceives ourselves and others

When our inmost terror’s  bared.

How can we step back and ponder,

See life from a wider view?

How can we become less blinded,

See our world and see it new?

Succumb  not to final despond.

Succumb not to your despair.

Often there are some who see.

Often  some preserve their care.

Tempered by reflective wisdom

Rage  can calm  when understood.

When we find another being

Who can withstand   this  Tiber's flood.

Acumen in verse

I never had acumen as such;

I trusted in people too much

An innocent   with a  heart

Till  it bled from your dart.

Now I’m cynical and hate  most  men from the start.

Is acumen innate in anyone?

If so my parents passed none on

I don’t like investing

And finance  is testing.

But I love and am loved so I’ve won.

I am finding acumen hard to use

Its  three syllables  make me confused

How to pronounce it

Is too hard,so denounce it.

As we don’t want to feel self bemused.

Fortunately I am not self employed

As accounting  and tax me annoy..

I am a voice in the forest

Humorous and  honest.

But of acumen I am supremely devoid

Acumen from Merriam Webster

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acumen

noun acu·men \ə-ˈkyü-mən, ˈa-kyə-mən\

: the ability to think clearly and make good decisions

Full Definition of ACUMEN

:  keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination especially in practical matters
See acumen defined for English-language learners
See acumen defined for kid

Examples of ACUMEN

  1. Her political acumen won her the election.
  2. a lack of business acumen
 

Origin of ACUMEN

Latin acumin-, acumen, literally, point, from acuere

First Known Use: circa 1579

Related to ACUMEN

Synonyms
astuteness, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness,hardheadedness, intelligence, keenness, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, wit

Synonym Discussion of ACUMEN

discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind. discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art) <the discernment to know true friends>. discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent <the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music>. perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling) <a novelist of keen perception into human motives>. penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial<lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles>. insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy <a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless>. acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment <a director of reliable box-office acumen>.

Rhymes with ACUMEN

albumen, albumin, bitumen, cerumen, ichneumon, illumine, inhuman, panhuman, prehuman,subhuman