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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 8 to 32 of 42. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dinah on March 15, 2004, at 20:13:56
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words, posted by Tootercat on March 15, 2004, at 17:28:50
Posted by EmmyS on March 15, 2004, at 20:50:11
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
Wilfred Funk's list of the most beautiful words in English: ASPHODEL, FAWN, DAWN, CHALICE, ANEMONE, TRANQUIL, HUSH, GOLDEN, HALCYON, CAMELLIA, BOBOLINK, THRUSH, CHIMES, MURMURING, LULLABY, LUMINOUS, DAMASK, CERULEAN, MELODY, MARIGOLD, JONQUIL, ORIOLE, TENDRIL, MYRRH, MIGNONETTE, GOSSAMER, ALYSSEUM, MIST, OLEANDER, AMARYLLIS, ROSEMARY. [Alysseum may be a misspelling of alyssum, but this is how the word appears in Paul Dickson's Words.]
In the same poll, other American writers, poets, and critics responded with these selections: HOME (Lowell Thomas), CHATTANOOGA (Irvin S. Cobb), MELODY (Charles Swain Thomas), NOBILITY (Stephen D. Wise), VERMILLION (Lew Sarett), GRACIOUS (Bess Streeter Aldrich), PAVEMENT (Arnold Bennett), LOVELY (George Balch Nevin), HARBORS OF MEMORY (William McFee), and NEVERMORE (Elias Lieberman). Louis Untermeyer responded, "The most musical words seem to be those containing the letter 'l'. I think, offhand, of such words as VIOLET, LAKE, LAUGHTER, WILLOW, LOVELY, and other such limpid and liquid syllables" [Charles Turner].
According to James Joyce, CUSPIDOR is the most beautiful word in English [Dickson].
In A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (page 86), Annie Dillard writes: "My friend Rosanne Coggeshall, the poet, says that 'sycamore' is the most intrinsically beautiful word in English" [Sarah Gossett].
According to reporter, editor, writer, and author Willard R. Espy, the ten most beautiful words in the English language are GONORRHEA, GOSSAMER, LULLABY, MEANDERING, MELLIFLUOUS, MURMURING, ONOMATOPOEIA, SHENANDOAH, SUMMER AFTERNOON, WISTERIA [The Book of Lists 2 (1980)].
The ten worst-sounding words in English, according to a poll by the National Association of Teachers of Speech in August, 1946: CACOPHONY, CRUNCH, FLATULENT, GRIPE, JAZZ, PHLEGMATIC, PLUMP, PLUTOCRAT, SAP, and TREACHERY.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on March 15, 2004, at 21:08:27
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words more more, posted by EmmyS on March 15, 2004, at 20:50:11
I like tintinnabulous, sigil, slurry, surry and sleep.
Dee.
Posted by octopusprime on March 15, 2004, at 21:37:41
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words more more, posted by deirdrehbrt on March 15, 2004, at 21:08:27
Posted by DaisyM on March 15, 2004, at 21:39:23
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words more more, posted by deirdrehbrt on March 15, 2004, at 21:08:27
I like:
gurgle
giggle
wriggleswaddle
swish (and flick!)
supreme Commander
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 16, 2004, at 7:39:16
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words more more, posted by DaisyM on March 15, 2004, at 21:39:23
stinkstank
thinktank
pinpong
dingdong
snark
bark
slithely
blithely
gire n' gimble
snickersnak
glumping
vandersnatch
uffish
azure
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 16, 2004, at 8:16:59
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words » Miss Honeychurch, posted by EmmyS on March 15, 2004, at 17:19:46
That's exactly how I LOVE to hear it - POCKABOOK!
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 16, 2004, at 8:19:29
In reply to yummy words, posted by Jai Narayan on March 16, 2004, at 7:39:16
Jai, I've never heard of "stinkstank" is that really a word?!!!
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 16, 2004, at 8:28:14
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 16, 2004, at 8:43:23
In reply to Re: yummy words » Jai Narayan, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 16, 2004, at 8:19:29
> Jai, I've never heard of "stinkstank" is that really a word?!!!
*I heard it on a percussion song....I love the way it sounds....it may not be a legit word.
Posted by Penny on March 16, 2004, at 9:38:10
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (of course)
facetious
stupefy
bodacious
Posted by All Done on March 16, 2004, at 9:38:56
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2004, at 9:49:05
In reply to I like serendipity and satiate (nm), posted by All Done on March 16, 2004, at 9:38:56
How could I have forgotten serendipidy. I remember now. I always wanted to name two dogs serendipidy and soliloquy.
Posted by Bobby on March 16, 2004, at 9:56:45
In reply to Re: I like serendipity too. :), posted by Dinah on March 16, 2004, at 9:49:05
Posted by All Done on March 16, 2004, at 10:00:41
In reply to Re: I like serendipity too. :), posted by Dinah on March 16, 2004, at 9:49:05
> I always wanted to name two dogs serendipidy and soliloquy.
So how did Harry happen? :)
Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2004, at 10:03:05
In reply to Re: I like serendipity too. :) » Dinah, posted by All Done on March 16, 2004, at 10:00:41
I just took one look at him and said "Harry". Sometimes they name themselves. :)
Posted by Mark H. on March 16, 2004, at 14:05:19
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
... which include "mad cow" disease. Not a pleasant subject, but a wonderful group of words to say out loud. :-)
MH
Posted by EmmyS on March 16, 2004, at 20:42:51
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
Trollop
Onomatopoeia
Begonia
Dingleberry
Petunia
InnuendoExtra credit will be given if you can put them all in one sentence.
Posted by tabitha on March 16, 2004, at 23:08:39
In reply to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, posted by Mark H. on March 16, 2004, at 14:05:19
Posted by Elle2021 on March 17, 2004, at 1:19:30
In reply to Favorite sounding words, posted by Miss Honeychurch on March 15, 2004, at 15:30:54
> What are everyone's favorite sounding words? Not words you like because of their meaning, but simply for the way they sound?
Euphoria
Coquette
Exorbitant:) That's a fun question.
Elle
Posted by Elle2021 on March 17, 2004, at 1:22:28
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words, posted by Elle2021 on March 17, 2004, at 1:19:30
And one more... Alliteration
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 17, 2004, at 5:54:20
In reply to More favs, posted by EmmyS on March 16, 2004, at 20:42:51
> Trollop
> Onomatopoeia
> Begonia
> Dingleberry
> Petunia
> Innuendo
>
> Extra credit will be given if you can put them all in one sentence.
>
The Mrs. slammed the car door with a thudding onomatopoeia at the corner of Petunia and Begonia where she demanded that the Mr. immediately remove the dingleberry from his lapel and never see that trollop Ms. Innuendo again.
>
Posted by Jai Narayan on March 17, 2004, at 6:01:48
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words, posted by Elle2021 on March 17, 2004, at 1:22:28
Scatological
Scintillating
Syncopation
Mirth
Lugubrious
Ethnocentric
Ergonomic
**extra, extra credit if you can put these in one sentence.
Posted by tabitha on March 17, 2004, at 9:41:57
In reply to Re: Favorite sounding words, posted by Jai Narayan on March 17, 2004, at 6:01:48
> Scatological
> Scintillating
> Syncopation
> Mirth
> Lugubrious
> Ethnocentric
> Ergonomic
> **extra, extra credit if you can put these in one sentence.
Scatological jokes, though scintillating, can generate syncopation of brain waves leading to explosions of mirth, or alternately lugubrious response in ethnocentric individuals surrounded by ergonomic furniture.
Posted by kid47 on March 17, 2004, at 10:36:54
In reply to Re:extra extra credit, posted by tabitha on March 17, 2004, at 9:41:57
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