Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: preserving an indigenous language, bird by bird; heroic phone operators; wishing for an Amish paradise.

birrangbirrang

“Mr. Grant had spotted a small kingfisher, or birrangbirrang in Wiradjuri, as it swooped low over the Murrumbidgee River in the oppressive summer heat, calling to its mate.”

Michelle Innis, “An Heir to a Tribe’s Culture Ensures Its Language Is Not Forgotten,” The New York Times, April 8, 2016

Wiradjuri is the language of the second-largest Aboriginal group, also called the Wiradjuri. Birrangbirrang is probably imitative of this type of kingfisher bird.

Hello Girl

“There was static over the phone—after a storm, the telephone wires hanging above the streets would usually get tangled, causing heavier static than usual—and then came the voice of a Hello Girl from the downtown telephone exchange.”

Skip Hollandsworth, “How Police Failed to Find America’s First Serial Killer,” Esquire, April 5, 2016

Hello Girl was a name given to switchboard operators in the early days of the telephone. The Library of Congress says that the term began to appear in the late 19th century although Hello Girls gained even more recognition during World War I when women fluent in both English and French were employed to facilitate communication among American officers in France. French operators, understandably, spoke only French and apparently had too much of a laissez-faire attitude, at least for American tastes.

Homintern

“Homintern was the name various people jokingly coined to describe a sprawling, informal network of contacts that occupied a prominent site near the centre of modern life.”

Gregory Woods, “From gay conspiracy to queer chic: the artists and writers who changed the world,” The Guardian, April 8, 2016

Homintern is a term coined in the 1930s to describe the conspiracy theory that gay men hold all the power in the art world. The word is a blend of homosexual and Comintern, a worldwide association of Communist parties, which was established by Lenin in 1919 and dissolved in 1943. The word Comintern comes from the Russian komintern, which is an abbreviation of Kommunisticheskiĭ Internatsional, “Communist International.”

Lincos

“Indeed, as Dumas was quick to point out, in many ways, Lincos was written more for Earthlings than ET.”

Daniel Oberhaus, “Building a Language to Communicate with Extraterrestrials,” The Atlantic, April 5, 2016

A blend of lingua cosmica, itself a play on lingua franca, Lincos is a language developed by German mathematician Hans Freudenthal as a way to communicate with extraterrestrials. Lincos uses math and is a spoken language, rather than a written one, “made up of phonemes, not letters, and governed by phonetics, not spelling.”

wishful Amish

“It’s unlikely, in other words, that the wishful Amish writing blog posts about desperately wanting to become Plain will ever do much more than that, let alone seriously pursue conversion.”

Kelsey Osgood, “Can an Outsider Ever Truly Become Amish?” Atlas Obscura, March 29, 2016

A wishful Amish is someone from outside the Amish community who wants to be in. Accepted Amish-Mennonite converts are extremely rare.

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: a true coffee break; where spacecraft go to die; welcome to the jungle primary.

fika

“In Sweden, where workers are among the least stressed worldwide, the secret to happiness is a four letter word: fika.”

Anne Quito, “This four-letter word is the Swedish key to happiness at work,” Quartz, March 14, 2016

According to The Kitchn, fika is a Swedish custom, “a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles,” and can be used as both a noun and a verb.

Quartz says the word comes from kaffe, which is Swedish for “coffee,” and “unlike the American-style caffeine jolt,” when you fika you leave work behind. Fika is also the (fitting) name for a Swedish coffee chain in New York.

garbage person

“‘Garbage person,’ like ‘bloodsucker’ or ‘Neanderthal,’ is the type of descriptor that pretty much defines itself.”

Cara Giaimo, “The Linguistic Appeal Of ‘Garbage Person,’ The Internet’s Favorite Insult,” Atlas Obscura, March 16, 2016

Not to be confused with a garbage man, a garbage person is, as Atlas Obscura says, “someone terrible beyond belief, but in an everyday sort of way.”

Some examples of garbage people include “someone who ends their texts with a period” and someone “who refuses to chase down runaway napkins when they blow off their table.” May we also add someone who puts their bag on the seat next to them on a crowded subway.

graveyard orbit

“Graveyard orbits are losing popularity because a lot of orbital debris experts argue that they simply exacerbate the ever-increasing problem of space junk and do nothing to help remediation efforts.”

Neel V. Patel, “Russia Sends Another Rocket to the Spacecraft Cemetery,” Inverse, March 21, 2016

A graveyard orbit, also known as a junk orbit, is where “spacecraft are moved at the end of their operational life to make sure they don’t collide with spacecraft we currently need.”

jungle primary

“California’s gubernatorial race is what’s called a ‘jungle primary’ – only the top two vote-getters make it to the playoffs.”

Beth Cone Kramer, “The Run for Calif Governor: Villaraigosa’s Name Still in Play,” City Watch, March 21, 2016

A jungle primary is a primary election in which all candidates run at once, regardless of political party. As a result, it’s possible that two candidates from the same party would run against each other in the next round. The jungle primary is also known as nonpartisan blanket primary and the top two primary. Louisiana has used such a system since 1977.

We couldn’t find an exact origin of the phrase although Elections A to Z suggests it’s due to its “wide open, few-holds-barred structure.”

metacognition

“What if children under four-years-old experience and use metacognition but are just bad at realizing it and letting anyone know?”

Cathleen O’Grady, “Babies know when they don’t know something,” Ars Technica, March 13, 2016

Metacognition is essentially thinking about thinking. Besides humans, metacognition is also found in chimpanzees and orangutans.

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: willpower for everybody, the baby of dragons, a pun addiction.

ego depletion

“The authors called this effect ‘ego depletion’ and said it revealed a fundamental fact about the human mind: We all have a limited supply of willpower, and it decreases with overuse.”

Daniel Engber, “Everything Is Crumbling,” Slate, March 6, 2016

While the idea of ego depletion in psychology has long been accepted, a recent study has shown a “zero-effect” for the phenomenon, says Slate, and “no sign that the human will works as it’s been described.”

generalized negative reciprocity

“Just about everybody’s experienced this at one time or another, which underscores how important it could be to try to cut off generalized negative reciprocity before it starts.”

Nathan Collins, “The unexpected benefits of writing letters,” The Week, March 9, 2016

Generalized negative reciprocity is a fancy way of saying “somebody was mean to me so now I’m going to be grumpy and mean to everybody.”

olm

“While technically an amphibian, the pink, eyeless, cave-dwelling olm bears a charming resemblance to a miniature fairy tale creature.”

Corinne Purtill, “A new generation of baby ‘dragons’ is about to hatch in Slovenia,” Quartz, March 9, 2016

According to Quartz, the hearty olm can live up to a century and “survive as long as a decade without eating.” As for the origin of the word, the Oxford English Dictionary says it’s uncertain although it might be a variant of the Old High German molm, “newt.”

Sandersnista

“What’s a Sandersnista?”

Benjamin Goggin, “Just The Good Stuff From Wednesday’s Democratic Debate,” Digg, March 10, 2016

The term Sandersnista, a blend of Sanders and Sandinista, refers to Bernie Sanders praising Sandinista leader, Daniel Ortega, in a 1985 interview.

Witzelsucht

“Mendez diagnosed him with a condition called Witzelsucht (addiction to wisecracking), brought on, it seems, by two strokes, five years apart.”

David Robson, “The curse of the people who can’t stop making puns,” BBC, March 9, 2016

While many sufferers of Witzelsucht, which is caused by brain damage in the frontal lobes, find their own jokes hilarious, they often don’t respond to the jokes of others. The word Witzelsucht is German in origin.

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: finding Banksy; a word-nerdy scandal; and dollars from heaven.

geographic profiling

“‘Geographic profiling’, a technique used to catch serial criminals, has proved that the elusive artist Banksy really is Robin Gunningham, according to academic research.”

Adam Sherwin, “Banksy: Geographic profiling ‘proves’ artist really is Robin Gunningham, according to scientists,” The Independent, March 3, 2016

Geographic profiling is, according to The Independent, “a sophisticated form of statistical analysis used in criminology” to narrow down where repeat offenders might reside.

A “geoprofile” was developed for the mysterious street artist based on 140 of his attributed works in London and Bristol. From there, hot spots were determined and correlated to, among other locations, four addresses in those cities, which were linked to Robin Gunningham.

gridgate

“Dubbed ‘gridgate’, it centres around claims that a senior crossword compiler in the US copied themes, answers, grids and clues from rival compilers at the New York Times.”

“Crossword enthusiasts left puzzled after plagiarism scandal,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 7, 2016

Last week FiveThirtyEight exposed the possible plagiarism of New York Times crossword puzzles by Timothy Parker, the editor of the USA Today and Universal crosswords. Parker has since stepped down as editor, at least temporarily.

helicopter money

“He argued last month that helicopter money will boost consumer spending by injecting money ‘directly into the veins of the real economy.’”

“‘Helicopter money’ for the global economy?” The Week, March 5, 2016

The term helicopter money was coined by American economist Milton Friedman in 1969 and refers to “free money” given to the public — as though dropped from the sky — in order to boost the economy.

super bloom

“For the past two months, the suddenly fertile ground has been coloured by wildflowers. Called a ‘super bloom’, this beauty of nature happens rarely.”

“Rare super bloom springs from Death Valley’s depths,” Al Jazeera, March 6, 2016

According to the National Park Service, super bloom isn’t an official term but one employee and long-time Death Valley resident describes how he has heard the term since the early 1990s when “old timers [would] talk about super blooms as a near mythical thing.”

Trumpvangelicals

“Trump and the Trumpvangelicals are revolutionizing the culture wars. The priorities now are immigration, Islamophobia, and guns.”

“Trumpvangelicals are the new evangelicals,” The Week, March 3, 2016

Trumpvangelicals are evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Traditional evangelicals are “aghast” at this, says The Week. While abortion, religious freedom (such as that “at issue in the Hobby Lobby case”), and Israel have long been evangelical priorities, they’re not for Trump.

 

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: you can’t change the past; the novelty of newness; the problem with secretaries.

consistent universe

“The consistent universe is an interesting device because we feel deep discomfort at not being able to change the course of events through our choices.”

Xaq Rzetelny, “Trek at 50: The quest for a unifying theory of time travel in Star Trek,” Ars Technica, February 12, 2016

The consistent universe is a time travel device used in science fiction to refer to a world in which history can’t be rewritten and any attempts to do so simply become part of the timeline. The opposite of the consistent universe is the ever-changing timeline (think Back to the Future).

gadesprog

“They created a version of Danish that contains words and intonations from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. In Denmark, this dialect is called gadesprog, or ‘street language.’”

Michael Erard, “The reason you discriminate against foreign accents starts with what they do to your brain,” Quartz, February 25, 2016

Other “street” dialects in Europe include Kiezdeutsch in Germany and Rinkeby Swedish in Sweden, named “after an immigrant neighborhood of Stockholm,” says Quartz.

novelty bonus

“Brain studies suggest that this ‘novelty bonus’—the additional weight we give to new options—stems at least in part from the euphoric feeling it gives us.”

Zach St. George, “Curiosity Depends on What You Already Know,” Nautilus, February 25, 2016

The novelty bonus is the value added to an option by virtue of its newness. Such a value can erode as the option becomes familiar.

secretary problem

“The math problem is known by a lot of names – ‘the secretary problem,’ ‘the fussy suitor problem,’ ‘the sultan’s dowry problem’ and ‘the optimal stopping problem.’”

Ana Swanson, “When to stop dating and settle down, according to math,” The Washington Post, February 16, 2016

The secretary problem involves the idea of “settling” for a choice when possibly a better choice is still yet to come. In the rather old-fashioned scenario, a boss interviewing applicants for a secretary position must determine the best option among both seen and unseen applicants.

Super Tuesday

“For Democrats, there are an additional 150 unpledged delegates, otherwise known as ‘superdelegates,’ in Super Tuesday states.”

Domenico Montanaro, “Super Tuesday: Here’s What You Need to Know,” NPR, February 28, 2016

It’s the season of presidential election parlance. First we discussed the Iowa caucus; today it’s Super Tuesday. On Super Tuesday, which was this week, “more states vote and more delegates are at stake than on any other single day in the presidential primary campaign,” says NPR. These primary elections will be held in 13 states, “plus the territory of American Samoa and Democrats Abroad.”

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: logos that bug, making our brains go yum, and another annoying –spreading.

biomimetics

“The signature example of biomimetics in action may be the invention of Swiss engineer George de Mestral, who in 1948, after a hunting trip in the Alps, was frustrated and fascinated by the burrs he picked from his clothing and his dog’s fur.”

Alexis Boncy, “Behold the innovative power of biomimetics,” The Week, February 12, 2016

Biomimetics refers to the use of “biological systems as models” for design and engineering. Swiss engineer George de Mestral based the design of his very famous invention, Velcro, on the way burrs’ hooks “snared loops of thread or hair,” says The Week. (Velcro, by the way, is a trademarked term that combines the French words velours, “velvet,” and crochet, “hook.”)

The term biomimetics, says the Oxford English Dictionary, was coined in 1970. The adjective form was earlier, coming about in 1960, and was used primarily in chemistry.

bugging

“The video, which went viral, had the phrase ‘TMZ SPORTS’ embossed in the center—a branding practice known as ‘bugging.’”

Nicholas Schmidle, “The Digital Dirt,” The New Yorker, February 22, 2016

A bug refers to a television station’s logo that appears onscreen, often in the bottom corner, during part or the entirety of a show. Also known as DOG, which stands for “digital on-screen graphic,” bugs may also advertise an upcoming show.

Kimunji

“US-based web designer Ben Gillin said his main aim in creating the Kimunji was to mock the ‘terrible’ Kimoji, which he said were damaging to society.”

“Kim Jong-un emojis take on Kim Kardashian Kimoji,” BBC News, February 12, 2016

Kimojis are emojis based on Kim Kardashian’s, er, anatomy. Kimunji uses the likenesses of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his father, his grandfather, and other North Korean-related “news or fears,” such as nuclear warheads, a mushroom cloud, and Dennis Rodman, BBF of the Supreme Leader.

neurogastronomy

“This is the overarching principle that guides neurogastronomy: What we eat and why we eat it is as much a psychological phenomenon as a physical one.”

Maria Konnikova, “Altered Tastes,” New Republic, February 15, 2016

First there was neurothriller, now there’s neurogastronomy. Neurogastronomy, says New Republic, examines “how our sense of taste is interpreted and reinterpreted by the brain.” Yale neurobiologist Gordon Shepherd coined the term in 2006.

Shepherd’s research has shown that flavor, and what tastes good or bad to us, is all in our minds. Rather than re-engineer what we eat, says Eater, neurogastronomy focuses on “how we can re-wire the brain to perceive food differently.”

winterspreading

“Winterspreading might occur in other cities that experience…winter, but it strikes me as a distinctly New York affliction because of the high ratio of people to available space.”

Kate Mooney, “‘Winterspreading’ Is Driving Restaurant & Bar Workers Crazy,” Gothamist, February 15, 2016

Move over manspreading (no really: MOVE): winterspreading is here. At the heart of the inconsiderate practice is taking up more than one’s fair share of space by shedding coats and other winter gear onto neighboring tables and chairs.

Welcome to Word Buzz Wednesday, your go-to place for some of the most interesting words of the week. The latest: reappropriating an insult; a cute-sounding scandal; a new kind of horror movie.

bama

“Five days ago, Beyoncé stepped outside of the expected pop-idol box and introduced ‘Formation’ a song rooted in her family’s mingling of Alabama and Louisiana heritage to create her, a self-described ‘Texas bama.’”

Mikki Kendall, “Hot Sauce in Her Bag,” Eater, February 10, 2016

Bama is a Washington, D.C. slang term for “someone of a more countryfied (from a place, like say, Alabama) flavor,” says The Washington Post. It could be used in a derogatory sense, or “might be qualified as a term of endearment or as just a general term for a person.”

bunnygate

“The continuing fallout of Bunnygate is a sobering demonstration of just why so many professors, even those with tenure, keep their heads down and traps shut.”

Rebecca Schuman, “Tenure Protects Nothing,” Slate, February 11, 2016

Bunnygate is the latest in –gate suffixed scandals, this one involving Simon Newman, the president of Mount St. Mary’s University, who was “caught encouraging his faculty to identify struggling freshmen and coerce them to drop out before they harmed the institution’s bottom line,” according to Slate. He likened such a practice to “drowning and shooting ‘cuddly bunnies.’”

Faculty members who spoke out against Newman were unceremoniously removed from their positions, including one professor who was tenured.

LIGO

“LIGO had its detractors from the very start because it was going to be expensive and might detect nothing at all.”

Joel Achenbach, “A brief history of gravity, gravitational waves and LIGO,” The Washington Post, February 11, 2016

LIGO stands for “Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory” and recently “detected gravitational waves from the violent merging of two black holes roughly a billion light-years away.” The existence of gravitational waves — “ripples in the spacetime fabric” — was a prediction of Einstein’s equations, which scientists have been trying to find for decades.

neurothriller

“We are taken on a neuronal rollercoaster that will eventually give us the story. Hence it might be possible to speak of contemporary suspense cinema as a cinema of ‘neurothrillers’.”

Patricia Pisters, “Neurothriller,” Aeon, February 8, 2016

Aeon proposes that some modern-day horror films have evolved into a new type: the neurothriller, which creates a “spiral of fear” through “sound, image, and sophisticated computer technology,” rather than classic narrative, and taps into “the circuitry of the ancient emotional brain.” Another term might be psychological thriller, although neurothriller is certainly cooler-sounding.

tickle

“Hot gas in the chlorinator gets piped out and condensed into a new compound called titanium tetrachloride, or ‘tickle,’ as engineers call it.”

Del Quentin Wilber, “How a corporate spy swiped plans for DuPont’s billion-dollar color formula,” Bloomberg Business, February 4, 2016

The nickname tickle comes from its resemblance to the molecular formula of titanium tetrachloride, TiCl4.