2 ms·
I think it maybe needs to have been spoken with the intent to communicate or express a somewhat specific thing. Like, a couple seconds ago I vocalized the soun
by drdeca 3y ago
I think it maybe needs to have been spoken with the intent to communicate or express a somewhat specific thing.
Like, a couple seconds ago I vocalized the sounds “xzoubadoo”, but I didn’t attach any particular meaning to it, it was just an arbitrary collection of syllables, “spoken” to demonstrate a point, but without the intent that the sounds stand for anything.
I don’t think “xzoubadoo” is really a word. At least, not yet. I suppose one might (likely temporarily/in an ad-hoc way) assign it a meaning as a response to this comment, but I have not done so.
- michaelmrose 3y agoSo the definition is a meaningless sound. When one plays EAs The Sims games it's tempting to try to hear meaning in the sounds constantly emitted by the virtual folks but it's just xzoubadoo.
- fsckboy 3y agoto become a word, it has to be overheard and learned from context by third parties
- deafpolygon 3y agoWell, yes, to put a finer point on it. I meant, if it has been spoken [in the context of a conversation and understood by more than a single person in said conversation], it is a word. I don't think it needs to be defined in a dictionary or agreed upon by a committee in order for it to become an official word. Even if you don't agree with it. A dictionary is a good place for someone to confirm the meaning of a word, and in the context of a professional written piece- it's probably wise to stick to words that can be looked up in this manner. But, on the other hand, YOLO.