Gauche: awkward or clumsy, lacking social graces
“His attempts at humor weren’t funny; they were gauche.”
In modern French, the word gauche means “left” which derived indirectly from the Latin word “sinistra” meaning left-handed.
This is an intriguing word to me for several reasons:
- I’m left handed. I don’t think I’m awkward, clumsy, or lacking in social graces though.
- The negative historical implications of being left handed are very obvious by looking at the root words. Evidently the French didn’t (don’t?) appreciate those folks who are left handed.
- The Latin root “sinistra” is also the root for sinister. There is a clear association between being left handed and being looked upon as a sinister person.
Anyhow, it’s an interesting word with an interesting history! (He says with a sinister look in his eye while his left hand firmly grips a pencil.) Hehehe…
Due to the popularity of the Accent Quiz I posted a few weeks ago which received over 1400 hits, I decided to look for another fun quiz and found a good one. This one is called “Are You a Yankee or a Rebel?” This quiz is a little bit longer, but I think it asks some really good questions that everyone will enjoy. Check it out and take the test! I would enjoy knowing the results of your test.
I was firmly placed into the Rebel category (62%). My wife was a Yankee by a fair margin. For us, the accuracy of this test seems pretty good. I grew up in Texas and my wife is a Jersey girl.
Anyhow, when you have a few minutes, take the test and have fun with it!
Lyndon B. Johnson was certainly not a copywriter. He also wasn’t one of my favorite presidents either. However, he is responsible for a statement that I think would be a great mantra for a copywriter who desires to always create great, relevant, to the point content.
“What convinces is conviction. Believe in the argument you’re advancing. If you don’t, you’re as good as dead. The other person will sense that something isn’t there, and no chain of reasoning, no matter how logical or elegant or brilliant, will win your case for you.”
– Lyndon B. Johnson
While the quote does not directly discuss writing, it does relate well the concept behind any form of writing. If you’re going to write for customers, you better be good at accurately conveying their message!
English is a quirky language. However, it often lends itself to interesting discoveries because of the diversity it contains. While I was in college, I took a course entitled, “The History of the English Language.” Yes, on the surface it may sound dull and boring but it was really quite the opposite. I enjoyed learning about our words. Etymology (the study of words and their origins) is really interesting at times. Plus, it gives you lots of good conversation material when you’re with your friends!
Have you ever wondered why we say some of the words and phrases used in modern English? Occasionally I want to feature a word or words that, at times, make us stop and wonder why we say them. I have a lengthy list of words that I can pull from over time and post here. However, I’d like to see if anyone has a certain word or phrase that they would like to offer up for consideration. Let me know!
I seem to be finding a lot of really bad signs these days. I actually found two in the same day. I didn’t think about taking a picture of the second one though. I always seem to forget about the camera on my phone. So, I have to go back to the grocery store and get a picture of the other sign.
But, for now, here’s the latest, greatest finding that I have to report:
Where’s the mistake? Well, it should say cannons instead of canons.
A canon is a law or rule. It is also a group of books, particularly religious books. It is also a term used to describe a church dignitary. Of course, it’s also the name of a large, electronics company.
A cannon is a weapon, or in this case a large water gun.
It’s a mistake that should have been caught by someone at the amusement park. But, even worse is the fact that the mistake obviously slipped past the printing company too. What a shame.
So, now I’m off to get a picture of the other sign. I wonder how many other “sign snafus” I will encounter!
This is a good resource for writers. While the focus of PlainLanguage.gov is on “Improving Communication from the Federal Government to the Public”, it still contains many helpful guidelines and resources. In order to give you a better idea of what “Plain Language” is, here is the description given on their website:
What is Plain Language?
Plain language (also called Plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Written material is in plain language if your audience can:
- Find what they need;
- Understand what they find; and
- Use what they find to meet their needs.
There are many writing techniques that can help you achieve this goal. Among the most common are:
- Logical organization with the reader in mind
- “You” and other pronouns
- Active voice
- Short sentences
- Common, everyday words
- Easy-to-read design features
No one technique defines plain language. Rather, plain language is defined by results—it is easy to read, understand, and use.
I’d encourage you to check out the site. Let me know what you think of it. Now, if we could just get the government to become more fiscally responsible in the way they communicate with us (thinking of the wasted dollars spent on communications regarding the recent tax rebates)!!!
