Defying Definition: Why Fictional Words Cast Such a Spell On Us

Fictional words may captivate audiences with their whimsical charm, weaving a spell that's hard to resist. From "scrumdiddlyumptious" and "whizzpopper" in the BFG to "disgustikafied," "rampallion," and "frabjous" in Wicked: For Good, made-up words have been a staple of language for centuries, crafted to charm and challenge us.

Linguists point out that coined words often rely on shared intimacy, with the trick being that new words only work if people understand them. Words like "gratitution" and "privishly" in Wicked seem to make use of familiar expressions, drawing out or reshaping roots with added suffixes as fantastical flourishes.

The history of invented words stretches back to Shakespeare, who coined "brabble" by splicing together parts of "bicker" and "squabble." Many modern examples follow the same pattern: "hangry," "smog," and "brunch" blend familiar ideas in a concise way because they capture something that's been hiding in plain sight. This wink of familiarity is what makes them witty.

Gary Lupyan emphasizes the importance of context in understanding unfamiliar words, noting that words like "horrendible" can be understood when first encountered, especially if they're used in a context where a familiar word might be expected. Lewis Carroll's coined words, such as "mimsy," "galumph," and "slithy," are another example of this approach.

Carroll's use of made-up words invites audience participation, allowing readers to fill gaps themselves with their own word knowledge and interpretation. Novels and poems often leave space for our own interpretations, and nonsense words leave a lot of room for creativity.

Writers like Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss have long employed neologisms to shape character or create humor. In Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2, inventive slights reveal as much about the insult-slinger as the slingee.

The use of fictional characters using words that aren't part of the established vocabulary makes them recognizable through their language use. Daniela Landert notes that Buffy the Vampire Slayer used made-up words to strengthen the identities and bond between protagonists.

Occasionally, invented words become bigger than the stories they contain, creating humor and audience engagement by inviting readers to reflect on the wider use of language and the meaning of words. Take Carroll's Jabberwocky for instance. The most common function of these neologisms remains to immerse audiences in new worlds without losing us in them.

In Wicked, Lupyan observes that these words form a firm foundation, particularly when compared to more conventional terms like "horrible" or "horrendous." Rather than communicating a specific meaning that conventional words could not, it's a world-building function. The enchanting power of fictional words lies in their ability to guide, inform, and entertain us in a semantically subversive way – where recognition meets surprise.

Did you know that 62% of invented words are used to create a sense of whimsy & wonder in stories? Like, have you seen how many "new" words are introduced in the Wizard of Oz in the last century alone? 75% of them are nonsense words, but they're still super memorable! Invented words can even affect how we perceive characters - like, who doesn't love saying "frumious" out loud?

I mean, think about it, when I was younger we used to love reading books with made-up words like Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" it wasn't just fun but also helped us to use our imagination more. Nowadays though, all these big tech companies are trying to invent new words to describe the latest trends and features it's getting a bit much if you ask me! I mean what's wrong with saying "I'm hangry" or "this is smoggy out here"? These new words might be fun but they're also making our language more complicated than it needs to be . Give me a good ol' fashioned chat about the weather or something any day over invented words

I'm intrigued by this topic, but I need more context . How do we know these invented words aren't just examples of linguistic evolution? Can we track how "scrumdiddlyumptious" was used in everyday language before being popularized in children's books and movies?

And what about the concept of shared intimacy? Is it true that new words only work if people understand them, or is this a cultural construct created to validate invented words as legitimate additions to our vocabulary?

Also, I'm curious about Gary Lupyan's definition of context. Can he provide specific examples from literature or everyday life where the use of fictional words relies heavily on shared knowledge?

Made-up words can be super fun especially when they're used in a story that's got a lot of heart. I think it's awesome how authors like Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss use invented words to create characters that feel real. Like, who wouldn't want to hang out with a Cat in the Hat or listen to a Grinch's grumble?

It makes me think about how language works, too - how sometimes new words can just stick because they're so familiar-sounding, but weird enough to be interesting. And it's like you said, context is key... if I hear someone say "horrendible" in a story and not know what it means, it'll still work because it sounds kinda like "horrific". But when it's used correctly in the right place, it can be super effective at building atmosphere.

I love how made-up words can transport us to new worlds, too. Like Carroll's nonsense verse - that stuff is just genius It's amazing how something as simple as a word can make you feel like you're stepping into a whole different reality.

omg i just read this article about invented words in books and i'm literally fascinated they use these made-up words to create whimsical worlds that feel so immersive! like in the BFG and Wicked: For Good, the authors are using these neologisms to make us laugh and understand the characters better. its not just about communicating a specific meaning but also about building this world with language it makes me think of how i love reading Roald Dahl's books as a kid - he always used words like "flibberflabber" to create this magical atmosphere

made-up words are a thing now . they work 'cause we're familiar w/ the roots already . like how "gratitution" is just "gratitude" with a suffix . and it's not just about being funny, they can also create a whole world or atmosphere . like in Wicked, those words helped build that dark magical land

think it's kinda cool how made-up words can transport us into new worlds without even realizing we're doing it! its like our brains are wired to pick up on patterns & associations, so when we encounter weird & wonderful words, they just kinda stick like a game of linguistic hide-and-seek.

so I was reading this article about made-up words and I'm like what's the point of them? are they just for fun or is there something deeper to it? I mean, I know some people love using them in their writing and stuff, but I've never really used them myself. do you think it's because we're too busy texting and not making up new words anymore? also, have you ever noticed how sometimes made-up words just sound cooler than the real word? like "hangry" instead of hungry...

I don’t usually comment but... I think it’s so cool how invented words can make fiction come alive . Like, imagine reading "The BFG" for the first time and being like, "what does scrumdiddlyumptious even mean?" But then you start to understand and it's like a whole new world opens up. I love how Lewis Carroll did that with his words, like "mimsy" and "galumph". It makes me want to come up with my own silly words!

I love how made-up words can transport us to new worlds and evoke emotions . It's like they have a life of their own, don't you think? I mean, who wouldn't want to use "scrumdiddlyumptious" in everyday conversation ? But seriously, it's fascinating how language creators use invented words to shape characters and tone, like Roald Dahl did with his whimsical words. And have you noticed how they can evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity? Like when I read Jabberwocky as a kid, it was like discovering a whole new world . I think that's what makes fictional language so magical .

omg i cant get enough of those made up words "frabjous" is literally the most whimsical thing ever! its like carroll took all the magic out of language and put it into these fantastical creations... its so clever how they use familiar expressions to create something entirely new. i love how writers use nonsense words to shape character or add humor, its like a wink at the reader

I'm loving the whimsical charm of those made-up words like "gratitution" and "privishly" they're like little linguistic puzzles that get you thinking about language patterns and how words can be used to create a specific atmosphere in a story. It's interesting how authors like Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss use neologisms to shape character or create humor - it's almost like their own secret code

I don’t usually comment but I think those made-up words are so cool . I mean, have you ever read The BFG or Wicked? Those words like "gratitution" and "frabjous" sound like they're from another world right? It's like the authors are speaking their own secret language . And it makes me think, what if we started using some of those words in our everyday lives? Can you imagine saying "I'm hangry" or "That new restaurant is smoggy"? I don’t know about you but it would definitely make conversations more interesting and fun .

I think its so cool how made up words can be just as fun as real ones . I mean who needs ordinary words when you can have something like "frabjous" or "whizzpopper"? Its like they bring a whole new level of magic to stories and poems. And you're right, invented words do require some shared knowledge between readers, but thats part of the fun too . I think its also great how words like "hangry" have become so ingrained in our everyday language . What I love most is when authors create new worlds with their own made-up vocabulary and you get to explore that world through their lens

The magic of made-up words is what makes fantasy novels like Wicked: For Good so captivating . I mean, who wouldn't want to use a word like "gratitution" or "privishly" in everyday conversation? It's like having your own secret language . What's interesting is how linguists analyze these words and see that they often rely on shared intimacy, with the creator using familiar expressions as a starting point. It's like taking a word you already know and giving it a wacky twist . And I love how Lewis Carroll's nonsense words in Alice's Adventures are designed to invite readers to fill in the gaps themselves – it's like a fun puzzle .

omg can u believe how magical made-up words are they just make language so much funnier & more whimsical, like when u hear "hangry" or "smog" its like they're already part of ur life lol and u get to use them in conversations with friends!

omg i just read this article about made-up words and it's so cool how they can be created to sound super familiar but also kinda weird... like "gratitution" sounds kinda like gratitude right? but what's the point of using a word that's not real? is it just to make things more interesting or fun? i think it's kinda like when you're playing with words and making up new ones, like in "the cat sat on the mat" ... anyway, i love how linguists point out that made-up words rely on shared intimacy, because that makes them sound way more real somehow

I'm not buying it . How do we know these made-up words are actually "captivating audiences" or that they're used effectively in storytelling? I need some real data or studies to back this up. It's easy to say that invented words are charming, but what about those who don't understand them? Are we just being patronized with fancy language?

And another thing, why do we assume that these made-up words are always used for "world-building" purposes? What if they're just a crutch for lazy writers or a way to sound smart? I'm not convinced by the example of Wicked: For Good. Can someone provide some actual evidence that these words enhance our reading experience or convey meaning in a unique way?

Let's be real, folks , we can't just take linguistic theories at face value without scrutinizing them more closely. If you've got the stats to back up your claims, I'm all ears