Hello Everyone,
It is IWSG Time!
IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others.
So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us.
https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
The awesome co-hosts for the December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!
Submissions: Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)
Rejection: A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer, Short Story Contest (Even though this story was rejected by the editor, I received a letter with very helpful feedback.)
Forgetting A Word In My Native Language
I enjoy being able to speak more than one language. However, it frustrates me tremendously when I can't call up the right word I want to use from my native language when I write. I must search for it. Most of the time, it is a simple word, an everyday idiom, or slang. It gets really complicated when I am looking for a term people use in the Deep South. Often, I have to do a word search by writing the word in one of the languages I know and then googling it before I go to a thesaurus, to check out the different terms related to that word, or I skype with one of my sisters who taught English and still has a good grip on the language back home in the Deep South.
Wishing all of you a lovely Advent Season and a Merry Christmas.
Stay healthy, and I hope you cross over safely into the New Year.
Shalom aleichem
Pat Garcia
And there are a lot of Deep South terms depending on what state you are in.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Pat!
You're so right Alex.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you too. IWSG is a blessing to many. Thanks for creating this organization.
Shalom aleichem
Yes, it's hard when you can't find the right word--in any language.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie,
DeleteYes, it is. Because I live around people that speak only German, I have to work hard to stay in the flow in my native language.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
I speak 3 languages very badly and I'm constantly stuttering because my brain won't come up with the correct word. The bad part is my family and friends are used to me humming and hawing. Happy IWSG, Pat. Glad you're doing well.
ReplyDeleteJoylene, I feel for you. I have the same problem. I hang out with people from different parts of the world. South Africa, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Spain, and U.K. Some of us got together for a birthday party. Now that was interesting....
DeleteHave a Merrry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
I hate not being able to come up with the word I need, too. I attribute it to age and sometimes distraction. I often just type in XXX and then when that word does come, I go back and plug it in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee. I will try the XXX technique and put the word in later. I think my problem is really not having people around me who speak English.
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
Ich wünsche dir ein frohes Fest! I've been back in the US for 7 years now, but I do remember the feeling of losing a word in English or mixing up my languages. Happy writing in December!
ReplyDeleteDanke dir, Sadira! Oh yes. I do that sometimes. I wrote my sister an email and it was in German. I didn't realize it until she sent it back to me asking for a translation. :-)
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2022.
Shalom aleichem
I only speak one language and my grasp of words sometimes slips through my mind. The later at night, the worse it is. Thank goodness of "xxx" my substitute place holder. LOL When I reread, the word pops in my head. Have a great writing month and Merry Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane. It is good to know that writers living in English speaking countries have the same problem. I think for me it has to deal with losing my fluency in English because the language changes and it grows. That's why I have to make myself look at English films.
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
That is a challenge. I'm not fluent, but I have enough French to know the feeling of grasping for that elusive word while it tickles your brain in another language!
ReplyDeleteThank you; Jemi. It is sometimes a scary feeling and my problem is that I don't give up until I find it.
DeleteWishing you a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
I've been told I have a strong American Accent, possibly why I can't speak or learn another language. I'd love to be able to speak another language!! My kids laugh at me when I try.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Pat.
Thank you Catherina. Don't give up on learning another language. It is so refreshing to be able to communicate with people in another language.
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
I know how you feel. Sometimes, I'd know the word I want to use, but it floats away from me. I would grab a similar one, but it is never as satisfactory. That what a thesaurus is for. Or sometimes, the right word would reappear in my head a few days later, during editing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Olga. I have two thesauruses, dictionaries, and also the internet. I use them all because I am a stickler for having the right word.
DeleteWishing you a Merry Christmas.
Shalom aleichem
I'm always forgetting words and having to look them up. It's my scattered brain. Thankfully those words aren't lost forever.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynda. I have a scattered brain too. I see that most of the time as very positive.
DeleteHave a Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2022.
Shalom aleichem
That's so interesting! I studied Russian, and I remember when I came back,that sometimes the English word or phrase didn't come as easily. I also tend to just have trouble remembering idioms, which I'd like to blame on that Russian experience, but it's probably just me.I'm glad you have a sister who's an expert to help.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, Pat! I hope you have a wonderful Advent season.
Hi Jenni,
DeleteWow, you learned Russian! Great. I took one semester of Russian and decided that it wasn't my cup of tea. I don't know which language is more difficult to learn, Russian or German.
Have a Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2022.
Shalom aleichem
Hi, Pat! Every time I visit your blog and see that beautiful eagle, a feeling of calm comes over me. I love to be out in nature and that eagle transports me to the Pacific northwest in Canada and the US. I hate when I can't come up with a word in my native language which is just plain old English. Nothing as exciting as a Deep South dialect. Eventually I come up with the elusive world. I care very deeply about the precise meaning of words and choose them carefully. I probably waste a lot of time looking for words, but then I take great joy in them. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Fundy,
DeleteYes, I take great pride in using the right word too because I care deeply about the readers who will read what I write.
Thank you so much for visiting.
Have a Merry Christmas, and a safe crossover into 2022, and enjoy your family.
Shalom aleichem
Oh, Pat, your post today is heartwarming and funny at the same time. As we grow older, those words seem to become even more elusive -- causing us to rely on family, friends, and even passers-by! I read somewhere that nouns tend to go first. Maybe that's because we're still at least somewhat active! May 2022 bring you all the words you need, happiness, and even more words.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteLanguage can be tricky, especialy when mixing English with something else. When I was learning Spanish, I kept thinking that this language make so much more sense to me than English, and I'm not even fluent.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I would be lost without my thesaurus. Love finding just the right word, especially if it ties in with other imagery or provides alliteration.
ReplyDeleteA joyful holiday season to you!
Julia Quay