Made up words

dgrintalis · Apr 23, 2009

Do you make up words in your stories? I do, and I know it comes from writing poetry. I smash words together all the time.

Well, maybe not completely made up, but smashing words together like:

sockfeet

thunderscars

rottensweet

All three of these words I use in my WIP (aka the tale that is being edited and added to and edited and added to...). And I should add that these are words my MC thinks, not says. My tale is a horror/thriller/urban fantasy kind of thing. (I'm not 100% sure what it technically is. Not yet, anyway. Maybe once the edits are fully done, it will be clear to me.)

The last two are used a few times for emphasis in the final scene (they are always italicized). I know they don't make sense out of context, but they make sense in the story.

So, anyone else do this or am I a complete nutcase?

Manix · Apr 23, 2009

Well, you're probably a nutcase, but you're in good company here!

I keep telling my spellchecker that it's not sufficiently updated enough with modern terminology! Its word selections are just not sophisticated enough to recognize my version of the English language. Someday, after I'm published, I'm sure they'll all be in the dictionary.

Red_Dahlia · Apr 23, 2009

I don't, but as a fantasy writer, I probably should.

For instance, my characters all have perfectly sensible names, like Robert or Judy. However, I'm afraid during edits I'll feel the need to change them to something along the lines of Shin'einkc'e. *sigh*

For what it's worth, I like the words you've created by smashing them together. I may be wrong, but didn't Shakespeare invent lots of words in his plays, too?

Sirion · Apr 23, 2009

Red_Dahlia said:
For what it's worth, I like the words you've created by smashing them together. I may be wrong, but didn't Shakespeare invent lots of words in his plays, too?

He invented the word "Assassination" in Macbeth as a matter of fact. ^^

Stijn Hommes · Apr 24, 2009

Red_Dahlia said:
I don't, but as a fantasy writer, I probably should.

For instance, my characters all have perfectly sensible names, like Robert or Judy. However, I'm afraid during edits I'll feel the need to change them to something along the lines of Shin'einkc'e. *sigh*

For what it's worth, I like the words you've created by smashing them together. I may be wrong, but didn't Shakespeare invent lots of words in his plays, too?

It's perfectly sensible to give your characters such names if they live in our world. Otherwise, other names may be called for, but don't abuse the apostrophe. I read somewhere it's a major turn off for agents and editors.

Maryn · Apr 24, 2009

I make up words, or at least Word says I do, and I'm writing erotica, not fantasy. (Well, all right, in a technical way it's fantasy, but still...) If there aren't too many, and they truly work, I say run with it.

Maryn, who can't believe some of the stuff Word rejects

Leah J. Utas · Apr 24, 2009

"thunderscars"

dgrintalis, that's a great word. I'm glad you've invented it.

Red_Dahlia · Apr 24, 2009

Stijn Hommes said:
It's perfectly sensible to give your characters such names if they live in our world.

Unfortunately they don't. The world they live in is fairly similar to the early 20th century, when those kinds of names were very popular. So I've been using them and trying to convince myself that it's alright because it highlights the differences between our world and theirs, but that might be very flawed logic.

Otherwise, other names may be called for, but don't abuse the apostrophe. I read somewhere it's a major turn off for agents and editors.

Ugh, I know. I HATE names that are filled with apostrophes, or anything that makes it impossible for me to pronounce them. I can only imagine how sick an agent must get of it.

jilly61 · Apr 24, 2009

I made up dentition the other day. I was meaning to say dentist but had dietition wandering round my head.
(I think I got away with it though)

Kitty Pryde · Apr 24, 2009

jilly61 said:
I made up dentition the other day. I was meaning to say dentist but had dietition wandering round my head.
(I think I got away with it though)

I believe someone beat you to it.

den⋅ti⋅tion

/dɛnˈtɪʃ

ən/

Show Spelled Pronunciation [den-tish-uh

n] –noun 1. the makeup of a set of teeth including their kind, number, and arrangement. 2. the eruption or cutting of the teeth; teething; odontiasis.

Origin:
1605–15; < L dentītiōn- (s. of dentītiō), equiv. to dentīt(us) (ptp. of dentīre to cut teeth, teethe) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

jilly61 · Apr 24, 2009

Kitty Pryde said:
I believe someone beat you to it.

den⋅ti⋅tion

/dɛnˈtɪʃ

ən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [den-tish-uh

n] –noun 1. the makeup of a set of teeth including their kind, number, and arrangement. 2. the eruption or cutting of the teeth; teething; odontiasis.

Origin:
1605–15; < L dentītiōn- (s. of dentītiō), equiv. to dentīt(us) (ptp. of dentīre to cut teeth, teethe) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

Thanks for checking that out for me. It sounded as if it should be a word and it could make sense in the way it was used which is why I got away with it. I'll see if I can make a real new one up

Juliette Wade · Apr 24, 2009

I make up words all the time, for three main reasons.
1. I invent languages and language problems and write stories about them
2. I love close points of view and unreliable narrators
3. I write fantasy and science fiction (that may have been obvious

)
I think the weirdest human word I made up was "dizzy-forward." It was internalized, and I thought it worked in context.
When I make up names, I try to place them in a linguistic context that matches the characters' physiology, their climate and their culture. I actually just talked about some created names in my worldbuilding workshop, here.
So go ahead, make up words. If anybody has a problem with it, they'll let you know. Lewis Carroll made up "chortle" and now it's a word. So there you go.

dgrintalis · Apr 24, 2009

Suirattigas said:
"thunderscars"

dgrintalis, that's a great word. I'm glad you've invented it.

Thank you. It's a very poignant word in my tale. It is a reference to the damage that was done to her by an abusive man. Thunderscars don't show, but they are nasty little things and they hurt.

Jeremy · Apr 24, 2009

I make up words all the time. It comes with the territory of writing fantasy though.

I often look to different cultures in our history that closely resembles the feel and sound of the culture in my story and use their words for inspiration. I try to limit this though, because it gets hard for me to keep track of everything. So I stick to only naming major things as much as possible. Yet, it still adds up, but I love the uniqueness it brings to my world.

jillianburks · Apr 24, 2009

I absolutly love making up words, but the thing that bothers me is when my beta readers have them circled saying "no such word." I don't believe writers are bound by any law- think shakesphere! We should all get together and make up our own dictionary!

Tanya Egan Gibson · Apr 24, 2009

I LOVE neologisms. (I have a number of them in my novel. One character in particular is known for making up his own words.) I think the key is to use them judiciously, since they do call attention to themselves.

djf881 · Apr 24, 2009

I generally find it annoying.

If you're going to do it right, do it like Tolkien, which means you have to become a linguist and then invent your own language from scratch.

If you want to do it badly, you can have your fantasy characters spout gibberish with obvious Latin roots.

Giving a character a weird name is probably okay, but making up words is really dangerous.

Kaylee · Apr 24, 2009

My made up words are names. My spell check goes crazy over them.

Life is what happens, while your busy making other plans. -- John Lennon

scarletpeaches · Apr 24, 2009

I make up words all the time. My friends know me well enough to understand without me having to explain most of the time. You just have to take them in context.

And if I - we - can make up words, why not our characters?

The Lonely One · Apr 24, 2009

Me make up English words? That's unpossible!

scarletpeaches · Apr 24, 2009

The Lonely One said:
Me make up English words? That's unpossible!

Sorry, chummy, someone's already done that one.

Kitty Pryde · Apr 24, 2009

yeah, unpossible is a perfectly cromulent word.

scarletpeaches · Apr 24, 2009

Now you're just talking bulftwozzle.

Izz · Apr 24, 2009

jillianburks said:
shakesphere

Hey, i think you just made up a word

and a very SF-type word at that...

RavenCorinnCarluk · Apr 24, 2009

Making up words is awesome. Like, Stephen Colbert has truthiness. Stephen Fry once called something a "smashing bit of YouTubery". Hell, even Google is becoming part of the vernacular. "I'm going to Google that."

Although, if you are going to make up a word, I think there should be a reason to it, not just to have some filler. Like, if some character is talking in the fantasy language, it probably isn't necessary to actually type out the line of foreign words. But if it's key to the character, like someone who always slips back into their native tongue when angry, it can help out.

And, there is also the poetic aspect of it. It's sometimes just plain pretty to make up or mash together a word. (Although, thunderscars makes me think more of fat thighs laced with scar tissue. But I'm weird.)

Made up words

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

Mutatis mutandis

practical experience, FTW

Know what you write...

I Tried

Protecting Teddy with all my might.

aye aye in search of an agent

i luv you giant bear statue

aye aye in search of an agent

Interprets for aliens

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

Infinite in Mystery

Hold Your Breath

AW Addict

New kid, be gentle!

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

i luv you giant bear statue

Doing the Space Operatic

Burgeoning Writer