This blog is for everyone who uses words.
The ordinary-sized words are for everyone, but the big ones are especially for children.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Being cryptic: a rant
Here's another quote from the language expert Sugata Mitra, who's professor of educational technology at Newcastle University.
“I often skip grammar and write in a cryptic way.”
Well, I agree that being cryptic is sometimes useful. I write birthday and Christmas lists in Γρηκ* letters, for instance, to baffle snoopers.
I hope Professor Mitra has an excellent memory, though, because cryptic writing has a habit of becoming swiftly impenetrable.
I've got a note here that I made only last week. It says celadon crank pub date.
Now, why did I write that? To remind me of something I should be doing? Or someone I should be meeting?
Or someone I should be avoiding?
Crank...
...hm...
...no, that doesn't help. That could be almost anybody.
Thing To Be Jolly Careful About Being Today: cryptic. This word comes from the Late Latin crypticus, from the Greek kruptein, to hide.
*Pronounced Greek.
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The professor's just full of gems isn't he. :)
ReplyDeleteLet us know if you ever remember what celadon crank pub date is about. It sounds intriguing!
Well, I think on reflection that the PUB probably stood for publication - and publishers really can be VERY odd.
DeleteThough not usually, I have to admit, pale green...