Saturday 7 April 2012

Blogger

I do not like the word 'blog'.
You blog, I blog, I am a blogger, we blog. I find it a harsh, coarse little word, and it only makes sense to those who do. I know I am on a lost cause as Blog has already made it into the Oxford Dictionary along with Tweet, Retweet, Friend - now includes the definition; a contact on a social networking website. 'Following' like 'Friend', has an update meaning of someone who is tracking a particular person, group. etc. on a social networking site.  If I say to an acquaintance, unfamiliar with blogging, 'I have a blog' they look at me with glazed eyes, and then switch to another subject or else explanations are required.
I am trying to think of a more appropriate word to use, but of course it would never be universally accepted in the so called blogosphere.
What about the Latin word 'ephemeris', which represents diary or journal?  It is a little clumsy so I have cut the word in order that it slips off the tongue more easily. I ephem, you ephem, we ephem, I have an ephemeri.
Diurnus meaning daily, that also requires thinking about, it too is a little awkward.
How about blogis with a soft 'g' rather than a hard 'g'. I blogis, you blogis, we blogis, I have a blogii. The 'g' being sounded like the g in giraffe.

18 comments:

  1. That made me smile, Rosemary. My impression is that the word blog is actually becoming more generally known, with many BBC correspondents and newspaper journalists having blogs which are widely read. It's not the most attractive word, but as someone with a log-burner at home, I'm used to the sound, so it doesn't bother me. :-)

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    1. You are right of course - however, log-burner conjures up a lovely picture in my mind - generally I do not particularly care for words with 'og' in them; snog, bog, fog, and ones I dare not write!

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  2. Dear Rosemary, I'm afraid we are stuck with blog and blogging. Never thought about the origin of the word. Wonder who came up with the word initially.
    Your post made me smile, great way to start the day before Easter Sunday. Happy Easter, Gina

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    1. Dear Gina - yes, you are right we are stuck with it. Just me having a little rant.
      Guess what we are eating tonight? pineapple upside down cake! I was inspired by your post. I prepared the pineapple in rings with a glazed cherry in their middles, and H very kindly made a sponge and cooked it.
      Enjoy the rest of the Easter break.

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  3. Dear Rosemary - I am used to the word "blog" because I've been keeping logs for years, but I agree that the word does conjure up being mired somewhere. "Blog" connotes one person sitting alone and adding to his or her log, while in fact we're all networking. I think our title should come from that interaction — perhaps we are the weavers of the Web.

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    1. Dear Mark - this seems to have caused a bit of a chuckle around the blogosphere. I like your description 'weavers of the Web' very much, it has poetic ring to it.

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  4. The word *blog* is really not very spectacular, but it is known all over the world.
    So what can you/we do?

    *smiling*

    Happy easter!
    ♥ Franka

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    1. Dear Franka - of course you are right, it is just me having a 'tilt at windmills'.
      I think that you are off to Spain tomorrow, so have a good time and lots of sunshine.

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  5. Rosemary, my friends eyes glaze over as well. It is a universal response. I own the name of my blog so I tell people I have a website. My mother frequently baked upside down cakes. Enjoy it. Olive

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    1. Excellent idea Olive - I shall tell people the same in future whether I own it or not. Cake is delicious, can recommend giving it a try.

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  6. Perhaps ephemeris sounds a little too much like emphysema - certainly "I ephem", "you ephem" etc. sound rather like a ladylike little cough...
    Happy Easter!

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    1. That is amusing Nilly, a ladylike little cough, but only in the best of circles, I think.
      Happy Easter to you, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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  7. I agree, I don't like the word blog . . . It is extrememly ugly and strange . . .
    Alas, I haven't a suggestion . . .
    Happy Easter : )
    ~ marica

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    1. Dear Marica - in future I am going to do as Olive said, I shall say I have a website. The layperson who doesn't know what a blog is, should understand a website - hopefully!!!
      I wonder if your children have found any Easter eggs today? Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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  8. You are correct, Rosemary. Those who have no experiences with blogs do not know what it means. I always say I have a diary on the internet. Blog comes from Web-Logbook and I have never considered it to be strange... but then in the German language we have many English words and expressions we must get used to all the time. Maybe that is why it is a kind of normal for me... Christa

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    1. Dear Christa - I know I am just being pedantic. However, I think saying that you have a diary on the internet sounds much more acceptable to my ears.
      That is my little rant over with for the time being, who knows there may be more to come! - anyway I really appreciate your visit and hope Easter has been a very happy time for you all - thanks♥

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  9. I dislike "blog", too. I get strange looks when I say "I'm a blogger" and have been thinking of different ways to say it. I like Mark's suggestion of "weaver of the web", but that may bring even stranger looks. ;)

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    1. Lovely a fellow soulmate. I like Mark's suggestion too, but agree the outcome may be just as strange. I shall use Olive's suggestion.

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