Anthony Burgess’ “A Clockwork Orange” (1962), with its intuitive vocabulary, has inspired me to document my linguistic environments. I will write about a different environment each week without explaining any vocabulary used. My hope is that readers will gradually learn what these words mean as they read on and notice if I insert a word…
Almost Heaven
Previously: While everyone else fled underground, Lyra and Alice were on a road trip during the apocalypse. After Alice got hurt, Lyra tended to her wounds in a gas station. Lyra wakes to light streaming in through the gas station windows. She blinks, shielding her eyes from the brightness, then looks down to see Alice…
Cowboy Boots, I Love You
So, I have another dilemma. A fashion dilemma and a big one. It has to do with shoes and the fact that I want more than I can afford. I know what you’re thinking. Yes. This is a small dilemma. However, to me it is very important. Throughout my 20 years of life on this…
The Life Dissonant
Sun Ra’s music just makes sense sometimes. Willem de Kooning’s artwork (not my namesake) just makes sense sometimes. Fascists hate abstract art. Already enough reason to like it, but there’s something there. They denounce it as “Degenerate art;” that sounds cool as hell, though. It’s a kind of solidarity, really. The exact narrative —…
Almost Heaven
Previously: Rather than join everyone else in a bunker, Lyra and Alice are taking a road trip during the apocalypse. Content Warning: Descriptions of blood and surgical procedures. Ten miles east of the Grand Canyon, the wind starts to pick up. Lyra can feel it shake the body of their transport as she adjusts her…
Sociolinguistics in Practice: Wisconsin Talk
Anthony Burgess’ “A Clockwork Orange” (1962), with its intuitive vocabulary, has inspired me to document my linguistic environments. I will write about a different environment each week without explaining any vocabulary used. My hope is that readers will gradually learn what these words mean as they read on and notice if I insert a word…