How good is your Nodcrafty?

tengolotodo(78)

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Do you love words? I do! I find language and our use of it fascinating. In another life I might become a lexicographer.

Before I get waffling, let me tell you I read an article about an interview with my favourite lexicographer Susie Dent. You can read exerts from the interview here.

Nodcrafty

One great word that she pulled out of the bag and is from the 19th century, and apparently I am a master at, is "nodcrafty".

I mentioned it in the title of this article, have you any idea what it is?

She puts it as ....

'To be nodcrafty is to have the knack of nodding your head as if you're really following along but actually you tuned out ages ago,'

I think I have been practising Nodcrafy since I was a kid!

At school, college, university, church, work, meetings, parents, girlfriends, friends, wives hell yeah I think I have a doctorate in the art of Nodcrafty.

I read it out to Mrs T and she just looked up and was pointing saying yes that is you!

In fact I think I could even be practising Nodcrafty in my sleep!

What about you, do you nod along as if you are paying attention meanwhile a 101 things are whizzing around in your head?

I was walking home through the park when I saw these snowdrops .... Yes spring is on the way, this is 5.30pm at night, I remember not that long ago it was dark at 4pm, so even though it is still cold at night, I feel we are starting to kick winter's arse!

The flowers are snowdrops, I love the way they droop their head, it is as if they are nodding!

What perfect accompaniment to a post about Nodcrafty than some nodding Snowdrop pictures!

Apricity

If like me you are from a Northern country then you may well appreciate the second word she highlighted.

Winter is not a particularly fun time for me ... but .... there is a pretty damn good feeling ....

That is when you feel the warmth of the sun on your back on a winter's day.

I love that feeling, well it has a name!

Welcome to apricity!

It was mentioned in a dictionary in 1623 but seems to have disappeared. I know Susie mentions it quite often on her podcast with Gyles Brandreth which unfortunately they stopped last year. It really is a gem and if you want a fun and witty listen then check out "Something Rhymes with Purple".

Linguistic bigging up

She did say some other good things which made me chuckle, and while I was nodding in agreement, I for once was not perfecting my Nodcrafty!

Back to the article and she was lamenting a 'pretentious' habit in restaurants that gets on her nerves, whilst I was nodding away and going fluff yeah that gets on my tits too!

The bottomline was that she was fed up with food places embellishing things...

Whilst I was reading it, AI and Hive sprung to mind.

It is so easy to spot AI text because it uses overtly flowerly language far too much.

For example... in an attempt to make dishes sound classy, restaurants big it up linguistically....

eggs always seem to be 'farm-fresh,'
chips (french fries to you Americans) 'hand-cut'
salt used in meals is mentioned as being from the Himalayas.

This had me nodding away ....

then for dessert .... chocolate truffles also aren't complete without being described as 'dusted in cocoa'!

Back to basics!

If you know me I love getting back to basics. I can do fine dining with the best of them but these two had me laughing...

1 "artisanal organic signature sourdough, toasted to a golden hue and suffused with salt-encrusted butter"

2 "perfectly al dente pasta enveloped in a velvety bechamel sauce from a blend of barrel-aged cheeses and finished with a layer of hand-rubbed breadcrumbs".

Just fluffing saying toast and butter and mac and cheese!