Your similitudes are a trifle earthy, but your meaning is clear
– Mr. Brink
On Borrowed Time
One of my favorite “Sunday night insomnia” movies is:
“On Borrowed Time”
It’s kinda like a “Twighlight Zone” tale.
Basically, it’s about this old man who tricks the grim reaper up into his apple tree on his property, and traps him there (with all the repercussions of such a thing having to be dealt with — nothing and nobody dying, etc).
End spoiler.
Here’s why I bring it up:
Mr. Brink (the grim reaper) is talking to the old man’s grandson who likes to make up words on the spot. But, even though the the boy makes up his own words, the meaning of those words are clearly understood — which the grim reaper tells him.
The point?
This is how the human brain works.
It fills in the gaps when you’re communicating.
There have even been readership studies done showing entire paragraphs of words could be read, even if they were spelled wrong as long as the beginning and ending letters were consistent with words people already know.
Well, something like that.
What’s important is realizing this:
You can (and should) create your own words.
Or, if you don’t have the time, inclination, creativity or desire to create your own… then simply borrow slang from other cultures, countries and languages.
I do this all the time.
And, you should, too.
I’ll even make it easy on you.
The August “Email Players” issue has a swipe file of such words.
Use it.
Abuse it.
And, yes, profit from it.
Subscribe before it mails here:
Ben Settle
