Pecan you spell?

To the picnic table for this edition of STB mockups, featuring two items to top off a late May BBQ. For many, it’s a solemn unofficial start of summer. First we’ll crack open a juicy melon, and later indulge in an Australian double-pecan pie, where they’re in season. The words and definitions we show here are faux-cabulary, nonsense words that spice up the normal scoring list. Just for your diversion and amusement. We kept normal scoring rules for these one-off demos, which are simply sketches, not finished products. Someday they may make it into the app, minus the awkward overlaps, etc.. Built-in player Blu Yonder, using the same letters, has the blue top bar, and neon green lines show connections.

Zapiac: A jaded person only responding to extreme stimulation.
Nendio: A pliant clay-like material.
Parodin: Reality that becomes a parody of itself.
Enlap: To support, as a cat, on one’s lap. A maneuver exceedingly difficult to undo.

Ferdan: (Of soil) Rich in nutrients; Full of potential or creativity.
Cref: A single layer or flake of pastry, pie, etc.: Savor every last cref of this double-pecan pie crust.
Felna: A small bone in the forearm of certain primates.
Penadrel: Pre-20th century grape juice often traditionally carried in a sack slung over the shoulder.

Bilate: (As coffee) Having twice the standard amount of milk or cream.
Surope: The weblike, fibrous network covering the skin of some melons.
Pouse: The feigned jab or swat of a cat at serious play with an equally serious human or other pet. The term is sometimes borrowed for a similar fencing move.
Bilone: Describes the feeling of a couple so engrossed with each other that they scarcely notice the rest of the world.
Nolind: Without outside acceptance, approval or support; Bootstrapped.
Poruse: Done for multiple purposes or reasons.

Melons, with their webby, non-slip skins, had always intrigued us as ripe for letter-placing. So when we saw this listicle celebrating phrases coined by non-native speakers getting creative in a pinch, we bit. And slurped. And after wiping our mouths, we put together the demo you see here. Check out the movie-title-worthy “Moment of the Melon” (melons being in season), as dramatic as any Hitchcock scene. It’s important to note that no one was making fun of anyone, and the fabricators included English speakers coping abroad. Indeed, the point of the article was that these inventions often outshine the original straightforward ways of saying things. The original request yielded over 100 responses, which were whittled to 50 and ranked, but all are worth checking out.

We think this fits in with our faux-cabulary habit, highlighting the human propensity to make do with whatever’s available. Adversity sometimes results in something better than what we get otherwise. And as many a parent has found, kids lacking vocabulary are fertile ground for language expansion, too. Look no further than this thread full of kids’ gems shared by parents. Bored Panda also edited their compilation down, from 76 to 40 entries, but see as many as you can. And enjoy the observations of a kindergarten teacher who picked up on the same vibe from her students. Long live loss for words. And finally, for a full shakedown for pecan lovers, Smarter Every Day’s object lesson is enlightenment not to be missed.

 creativity faux-cabulary language mockups Pecan You Spell randomness variations