Fe

[norwood]

I've seen more than a couple blogs just tonight with the word iron in their names. Not only do I wish I would have thought of a clever handle with that word in it, but it's made me realize that it's one of my favorite words.

The way it's spelled, the way it looks, the way it sounds, the way it feels when I say it. I can almost taste the sharp metallic of it when I say the word iron.

I like the images it brings to my mind--a forge, pieces with a dark pewter sheen to them, weapons, tools, the cold. Somehow comforting, in its own way. I feel that way about words like whiskey and wool and wood, as well.

It pulls at something in my blood, just a little tug beneath the surface, drawn along arteries as it pulls outward, as if wanting to lead me somewhere, running back through veins as my heart gathers it all back to itself, safe and untouched by the air.

Perhaps there is a higher content inside, after all.

Comments

[spiegelschatten]

Language sure is beautiful *-*

I have to say, to me iron and it's german translation "Eisen" are so odd the way they sound to me - in a good way. Because to me the iron I know is hard, but the words are so soft. Sharp, as well, as you can say them fast like in a whisper but also so surprisingly soft.

Do you have more examples of words you like? The ones you wrote down all sound wonderful^^

[norwood]

Hmm, I'll have to think about that a little. I know there are more words that I like for varying reasons, but none are coming to mind at the moment.

How do you mean they sound odd in a good way to you? I'm interested to know!

[spiegelschatten]

Mhm, well generally I would try to name something that is hard after something that sounds hard? Like,the cold itself is not soft. It comes, not slowly, but very fast and basically feels like a bite in your hands, so you say "kalt", like the bite it does to you.

But iron/Eisen appears hard and cold as well but is named something so soft. I think that is a bit unusual, though I'm sure there are a lot of other examples. But it is a good kind of unusual. You could soften iron while heating it, but even non-scientifically, you can therefore think that even if something appears to be hard, it can have a little softness around it - and may it be just a name.

And I think that is odd in a good way :D (is odd usually used with bad things?)

[norwood]

I really enjoy the way you described all that--to me iron looks and sounds strong as word, not that it's a strong word in usage, but just that there is a strength behind it, metaphorically.

And I feel that, unfortunately, most people (at least native English speakers, as those're who I've dealt the most with) tend to view "odd" as somewhat bad, as it's a deviation from the norm (and we all know THAT is bad /eyeroll). I personally don't think odd is always or even usually bad--I've spent most of my life reconditioning myself (and trying to convince others) that odd or weird isn't bad, but something to find out more about, or to celebrate, even. Alas, perhaps it's the limitations of English colloquialisms, but when something is amiss or wrong it's casual to say it's "odd". Thus a negative connotation.

But! That all said, I love hearing input about words and such from people who are a different native speaker than myself--you bring excellent perspective and thoughts to the table. :D

[ironbark]

If this were a reblogged reply on tumblr, I'd have liked this comment.

Now that you mention it, Rena, all the words for 'iron' I know are soft sounding. Curious.

At any rate, I like Norwood! and it does have the word 'wood' in't, so all is not lost. ;)

[norwood]

That is true! It's also his last name; Norwood does not like disclosing his first at all.

(It actually comes from a street sign I pass on my way to and from work every day, but shh)

[spiegelschatten]

Aw, thank you!

I also checked a few of the languages I had back in school, all soft sounding words. But that is beautiful, don't you think? All these different languages and yet soft sounds everytime. Now, if I had any idea how to do that and some time left, I'd look a bit into etymology of the different words ;)

[norwood]

That is interesting! I wonder if they have a common word as an ancestor; depending on the languages, they might all have the same root they've developed and grown from.

[spiegelschatten]

They probably have ;) I first would have gone for Latin ("ferrum") influences but I don't know how much that works for Russian, though they have a few similarities in grammar.

[fragilespark]

Love this <3 (and silly DW pop up for being in the way and unsubscribing when I was trying to reply!)

[norwood]

Thank you! I imagine you would, with your type of degree and all ;D