English learnt from Army

Haha.. Ok. Don't get me started on the English used in our Singapore Army. There already are many articles and forum discussions on them.

But it is rare that I had to learn new meaning on words used in the Military.

Yesterday, we were told to "impregnate" our uniforms with some chemicals to keep mosquitoes at bay. I thought that was a strange way to use the word. Won't a simple "soak" do ?

Then I took the chemical (Permethrin) and this is on the label (I have removed it out of the box) :



And I came back to check the dictionary (my favourite www.dictionary.com) :

im·preg·nate /v. ɪmˈprɛgneɪt, ˈɪmprɛgˌneɪt; adj. ɪmˈprɛgnɪt, -neɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[v. im-preg-neyt, im-preg-neyt; adj. im-preg-nit, -neyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing, adjective –verb (used with object)

1.	to make pregnant; get with child or young.

2.	to fertilize.

3.	to cause to be infused or permeated throughout, as with a substance; saturate: to impregnate a handkerchief with cheap perfume.

4.	to fill interstices with a substance.

5.	to furnish with some actuating or modifying element infused or introduced; imbue, infect; tincture.

–adjective

6.	impregnated.

Ok. I think tomorrow, my uniform will be impregnated with my perspiration. Ha ha.

Plural of Antenna

I have always thought the plural of Antenna is Antennae. Somehow, I remember this for a long time.

When other people use Antennas, I always thought it was wrong.

Only until recently, I found both are actually correct.
Antennas is used when describing equipment, and antennae is used when describing living things.

From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antenna

an·ten·na (ān-těn'ə) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. an·ten·nae (-těn'ē)

1. 1. Zoology One of the paired, flexible, segmented sensory appendages on the head of an insect, myriapod, or crustacean functioning primarily as an organ of touch.
   2. Something likened to this sensory appendage, as in function or form: sensitive public relations antennae.
2. pl. an·ten·nas A metallic apparatus for sending or receiving electromagnetic waves.

New Words Learnt

I learnt a new word today : eproctophiles

That is all I am ever going to say on this topic. Don't ask me anything.

*~*~*~*~*

Another word : Vorarephilia

There is soft vore, and hard vore... hahahaha.

*~*~*~*~*

Fearoflongwordsphobia

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Fear of long words.

Damn. These people are sick.. SICK !!!!!!

Fear is good. Fear is all around.

Ever wanted a complete list of "-phobia"s ? http://www.phobialist.com/

Some common phobia we see in people around :

Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single.
Atychiphobia- Fear of failure.
Atelophobia- Fear of imperfection.
Caligynephobia, Venustraphobia- Fear of beautiful women.
Gamophobia - Fear of marriage.
Kakorrhaphiophobia- Fear of failure or defeat.
Katagelophobia- Fear of ridicule.
Novercaphobia, Pentheraphobia- Fear of your step-mother, mother-in-law
Panophobia or Pantophobia- Fear of everything.
Phobophobia- Fear of phobias.
Soceraphobia- Fear of parents-in-law.


Some interesting phobia :

Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
Asymmetriphobia- Fear of asymmetrical things.
Coitophobia- Fear of coitus.
Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body.
Eurotophobia- Fear of female genitalia.
Ithyphallophobia- Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.
Levophobia- Fear of things to the left side of the body.
Medorthophobia- Fear of an erect penis.
Octophobia - Fear of the figure 8.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia- Fear of Friday the 13th.
Triskaidekaphobia- Fear of the number 13.


As you can see, the world is full of interesting people. The number 8 and 13 must be damn scary... haha..

Words of the day

Here I am, at 2am on Monday morning, have to get to work in less than 7 hours' time, yet unable to sleep.

Been reading, and came across 2 new words :

cavil

/kavv’l/

• verb (cavilled, cavilling; US caviled, caviling) make petty objections.

• noun a petty objection.

— ORIGIN Latin cavillari, from cavilla ‘mockery’.


viscera

/viss ere/ (click link above to see actual pronunciation. Can't get the letter in.)

• plural noun (sing. viscus) the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen.

— ORIGIN Latin, plural of viscus.


Haha.. I was reading an article of someone's description of "Kway Chap", something that he didn't like.


Oh, and this :

organ

• noun 1 a distinct part of an animal or plant adapted for a particular function, for example the heart or kidneys. 2 a large musical keyboard instrument with rows of pipes supplied with air from bellows. 3 a smaller keyboard instrument producing similar sounds electronically. 4 a newspaper or periodical which puts forward the views of a political party or movement. 5 euphemistic a man’s penis.



Pig innards are the main attraction at food court stalls with signs saying "Kway chap" or "Pig organ soup".

The latter always suggests to me the poor animal's penis and testicles, not viscera, and I am not wrong, for the error is in the bad English that is found all over Singapore. The pig's organ does mean the genitals. The viscera are the pig's organs (note the plural), and thus the signs should read "Pig organs soup".

The missing letter "s" makes all the difference, but how many Singaporeans with their shoddy English can even spot this?

I am "Opiniated"

My manager said that I have changed (in front of everyone). That I am more "opiniated" (he pronounced it as oh-pee-nee-ay-turd) than before. That I have to "watch out" and not to be too extreme. In fact, he did say that I was a little extremely "opiniated".

First of all, it is opinionated. Pronounced as "AH P IH N Y AH N EY T IH D"

I tend to disagree that I am opinionated. Just because I usually let him win in most discussions, that I show "respect" to his opinions ? Nowadays, I am more daring at challenging his concepts. I am now more opinionated ? It should be that I am more vocal. My opinions are still there, and still the same.

After a quick check with Oxford's dictionary, seems like he is right (though I am sure it is coincidental) :

opinionated

• adjective assertively dogmatic in one’s views.

dogmatic

• adjective inclined to impose dogma; firmly asserting personal opinions as true.

So, in theory, simply by being more assertive instead of being "Yes, sir, you are right", I am being more opinionated. Wow ! I so hate it when he is right, again.

I am sure if I ask him the meaning of opinionated, I am willing to be $5 that he will say "A person who has opinions".

Oh well, like an obsure saying I heard somewhere "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one." I usually do not impose my "asshole" onto others.

And if I want to hear an asshole speak, I would have farted...