RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29998, 6 December 1962, Page 30

RANDOM REMINDER

DEFEVOLUTIONS

Some beautiful new words came out of a “New Statesman” competition for words “with dictionary definitions expressive of well-known but hitherto wordless states or plights.” Crowds on British roads during the Whitsun holidays led to such lovely inventions as dieselment, carstipation, and inautomobilization. Telassitude was suggested for the state of mind, or lack of it, of TV viewers in their own homes. Then there was buscillation—dodging between bus stops in the rush hour; brastration, when a lady cuts a poor figure; alcoholarity; hubbified, when confronted by one’s mis-

tress's husband; “the ensuing collusivorcity, and being despoused by one’s mother-in-law” and so forth. The prizes went to a collection which included argentility “council - house tenants’ obsession with silver tea services, kept in readiness for distinguished visitors” and telephoria, “belief, induced by commentators and news readers, that essentially all is right with the world.” Although she claims no familiarity with the “New Statesman,” a correspondent in Shirley has already had some experience with this pastime, which would make an interesting variation in an evening s Scrabble.

She says she finds it difficult at times to understand her young children, who, notwithstanding their tender years, have the habit of saving words and coming up with something reasonable, and commendably brief. When the little girl found “plaws” much more descriptive for the family cat than paws and claws, all was well; but then the boy produced, for the same animal, “prounced,” which the parents interpret as pounced and pranced, they were inclined to the belief that they themselves needed a course in speech training. But on second thoughts, they blame the cat. It had a Siamese father.