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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Linguistics Studies
If one requires the use of a word that does not exist, should one simply 'create' one?
I am writing a short story piece, that I may enter into a competition; during the writing I have come across the a need for a word: adjective that describes a war as being a progenitor of future wars - for those of you who want to know I am speaking of the crusades, but I digress.
Anyway it would be convenient for me to use progenitor - noun - as an adjective, 'progenitous.'
My question is would this be frowned upon by people, particularly judges of a competition, as this word hitherto has not been used in adjective form?
As i am sure we all know language is alive and thus evolves, but what I am really asking is this: am i being thick? Or to ambitious/bold?
Any opinions or comments would be very much appreciated. Thank You in advance for your help.
Oliver
Anyway it would be convenient for me to use progenitor - noun - as an adjective, 'progenitous.'
My question is would this be frowned upon by people, particularly judges of a competition, as this word hitherto has not been used in adjective form?
As i am sure we all know language is alive and thus evolves, but what I am really asking is this: am i being thick? Or to ambitious/bold?
Any opinions or comments would be very much appreciated. Thank You in advance for your help.
Oliver
Top answer
Hello Oliver, I would say that some judges would like your new word, and some would dislike it. On the other hand, you might make use of "progenitive" or "progenitorial", which already exist. (Unfortunately judges of writing competitions also like and dislike words that already exist.
- Hello Oliver, I would say that some judges would like your new word, and some would dislike it.
- On the other hand, you might make use of "progenitive" or "progenitorial", which already exist.
- (Unfortunately judges of writing competitions also like and dislike words that already exist.
- ) Very best of luck!
- MrP
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1 Answers
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Hello Oliver,
I would say that some judges would like your new word, and some would dislike it.
On the other hand, you might make use of "progenitive" or "progenitorial", which already exist.
(Unfortunately judges of writing competitions also like and dislike words that already exist. There is no accounting for literary judges.)
Very best of luck!
MrP
I would say that some judges would like your new word, and some would dislike it.
On the other hand, you might make use of "progenitive" or "progenitorial", which already exist.
(Unfortunately judges of writing competitions also like and dislike words that already exist. There is no accounting for literary judges.)
Very best of luck!
MrP
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