Technically these are mostly Italian or German, but they're familiar to English speakers who read music. Many, many years as a cellist have given me ample time to discover some cherished favorites.
I have far more patience for "um" than for most of these others. I like hesitation words. They occur universally, but with so many charming deviations in each language. I particularly like the Japanese "Ehhhhhhhhh-toooooooooooo" and the French "Euhhhhhhhh".
Granted, they are a mite selfish, since their implied meaning is "I need time to think, but I don't want to leave a silence in which you might interrupt my train of thought," but I consider it an acceptable form of selfishness.
On the other hand "kind of" and "sort of" are falsely self-deprecating, and annoy me deeply. Like, really deeply. ;-)
To clarify: words overused by everyone else, not the words I tend to use in excess myself. If you want to know about those, you'll have to do your own empirical research.
Comments by abbandono
abbandono commented on the list favorite-musical-notations
Technically these are mostly Italian or German, but they're familiar to English speakers who read music. Many, many years as a cellist have given me ample time to discover some cherished favorites.
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the list single-word-spit-takes
Don't say these words with liquid in your mouth.
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the list words-often-used-by-stupid-people-to-cover-for-the-inability-to-articulate-a-full-idea
I have far more patience for "um" than for most of these others. I like hesitation words. They occur universally, but with so many charming deviations in each language. I particularly like the Japanese "Ehhhhhhhhh-toooooooooooo" and the French "Euhhhhhhhh".
Granted, they are a mite selfish, since their implied meaning is "I need time to think, but I don't want to leave a silence in which you might interrupt my train of thought," but I consider it an acceptable form of selfishness.
On the other hand "kind of" and "sort of" are falsely self-deprecating, and annoy me deeply. Like, really deeply. ;-)
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the word contumely
As a general rule, if the word appears in Hamlet, it deserves a comeback.
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the list overused-words-2
To clarify: words overused by everyone else, not the words I tend to use in excess myself. If you want to know about those, you'll have to do your own empirical research.
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the list words-deserving-of-a-comeback-in-popular-usage
I pepper many of these, especially "gallimaufry", into my everyday conversation. With your help, they can make a comeback!
December 4, 2006
abbandono commented on the list nouns-of-assemblage
Also known as collective nouns, venereal nouns, or nouns of venery. I love them to an unnatural degree.
December 4, 2006