I don’t know if everyone’s family is like this. But when I grew up, mine liked to sort of invent words to describe certain things. These words became embedded in our family culture and are still used today. This concept has been developed over time and I am about to share with you some of my favourite words which are so descriptive by nature, our English language pales by comparison! Yes it does. So. What are they? (BTW, you get points if you use these words in a comment!)
Ponky: (pong-kee) Pertaining to a rough surface, when smoothness is required. Usually relates to hairstyles, from an era when smoothness was ‘in’. Of course the more ponky look is very glam now – the ponkier the better.
Tulupsty: (cha-lōōp-stee) This is about texture, especially moistness. Often used during cooking to determine whether a cake mix is tulupsty enough, or whether it needs more wet ingredients.
Pelchy: (Pel-chee) My cousin Rod always had a pelchy bum. Pelchy is a positive term used to describe roundess. Can also refer to cheeks when smiling. A bloke in E’s class at school always had “ping pong balls in his cheeks” because they were pelchy when he smiled.
Pob Pob: (pob pob) The proper term for rolled oat porridge. Pob pob is a much better word because it describes the very nature of the cooking process as it plops and blips slowly during the simmering stage. Also must be combined with bung bungs (the proper term for sultanas).
Glunker: (glung-ka) A derogatory term used to describe poor driving capacity of every other driver on the road. Most effective when used by Bull (my father).
So there you have them. I have always thought this was completely normal in my family, until other people looked at me funny. So. What word would you use to describe this phenomenon of a family language? Anybody?
One name that comes to mind,pardon the pun,Is coobby a childhood name.Guess which one!
ReplyDeleteYour family is unique. I haven't come across another family language ever! I like the sound of the word 'glunker'and think that I'll incorporate that into my vocab :)H
ReplyDeleteWe never did that so much with descriptive words, but we had a few names for some things, ie an Emu is called a "gloop" because of the sound it makes, and ibis' are called Stanley Ibis' because of Stanley Ipkiss from the Mask!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, proper spelling is Cooby (Coob as in Look, eeee) The 5 words are by no means an exhaustive list, However, if you are going to use our words, it is essential that you get it right, otherwise you would be labelled a "Lunkhead"
ReplyDeleteAnon 1: looks like you've been told! But the origins of the name 'Cooby' remains a mystery to this day. No one knows where it came from - it's just always been.
ReplyDeleteHi H. The word 'glunker' is a beauty isn't it! Anyone who is not a glunker will be confident, fast and aggressive driver!
ReplyDeleteLaura: I was watching telly tonight and when I saw an emu I said, "There's a gloop". Gloop is a fabulously descriptive word for an emu!
ReplyDeleteDear Nut, WAYDYN? I'm already thinking of all the words I should've included here. So I must be a lunkhead to have missed them out!
ReplyDeletewhat about sparwin,frince,spunk,nut,old lade, sallows,fizza, loinall, cut cock collie, E, Ek, Reven, lad, sport, typington, gallute.
ReplyDeleteOh I can see I have been hanging around this family too long.
My favorite is lunkhead, as it is so useful in many situations.
Anon 2: Ha ha! Yesterday someone said to me, "what's the word you use for poor drivers again?" I said, "glunker". "Oh yes, that's right. That's a good word. What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "We're going to the Swamp to get the spinny-spinny!"
ReplyDelete.....Oi! and what about Pardwicken?
ReplyDeleteOne Last Dog
ReplyDelete