So today I noticed that dictionary.com had an alphabetical list of “items nearby” of whatever you were searching. When I was younger, I used to browse dictionaries. No, I’m not kidding, I like words. Why do you think the subheading of this page has such unintelligible neologisms as “neologology” which is a valid term you will find in no dictionary. You can find neologism and logology, which though rare is recognized. But there is absolutely no mention of the study of new words, merely the act of creating them. Anyway the point I’m getting at is that I’m kind of a logophile, and understand how they shape our perceptions and that of others. Also, I’m a huge nerd. So yes, I am actually going to read dictionary.com alphabetically.
But I’m not about to engage in any logomachy, like some people I used to hang out with (no, not Bill “what is is” Clinton, more like stoner “what what is” logomachy). I am excited to discover things like logomancy, though only in a richly ironic way because I do not believe in divination by words. I guess that would include people searching for patterns in ‘divine texts,’ though they may be more expressly cyphermancers (interestingly enough there’s a reference article on ‘cybermancy’ – the use of computer programmed divination, like tarot or I Ching).
Tags: i <3 nerds, nerd with a capital N, yes this is really how I amuse myself