Margo's Magical Letter Page
copyright 1998
by Margaret Magnus
all rights reserved
When I do this exercize, I'm always reminded of a scene from one of my favorite movies, The Chosen., in which a young man, Reuven Molte recounts one of his dreams involving a king and a fool. His friend, Danny, interprets the dream thus: "The Hebrew word for king 'melech' has an /m/ and then an /l/. And the Hebrew word for fool 'lemech', has an /l/ and then an /m/. The Hebrew word for intellect is 'molech' - has an /m/ and then an /l/. And the Hebrew word for heart, the seat of passion, is 'lev' - begins with an /l/. So if you put the head before the heart - the /m/ before the /l/ - you are a king, and if you put the heart before the head - the /l/ before the /m/ - you are a fool." I doubt very much whether the Kabbalists - perhaps tied for the greatest sound symbolists of all time with the Hindu school of Shaiva Siddhanta - would agree with Danny's interpretation of this particular dream.** And of course, the whole point of the movie is that Danny learns from his father, the rabbi-tzaddik, that the heart must indeed come before the head. But given my particular obsession, I couldn't help observing how comfortable Danny was with associating /m/ with the mind and /l/ with the heart - an association that my experiments find valid also for English. This effect of inverting meanings by inverting consonants is quite general, as I'll try to demonstrate below.
I have done my best to match up words so that the data accurately reflects what is going on. If you take issue with any of my classifications, or feel I have left something fundamental out, please let me know. I have mentioned in several places that most of the words which have difficulty being classified into phonesthemes also have concrete reference, and that words of concrete reference fit in a limited number of semantics classes. (See the listing of concrete /b/ words.) Beth Levin in her book English Verb Classes and Alternations published in 1993 by Chicago University Press has offered a classification for verbs in English based not on sound, but on subcategorization frame. I think classes such as the concrete classes and those Levin outlines, which are not based in sound, interact with the phonesthemes to form the foundation of word semantics.
To present the data on this page, I have first outlined di-consonantal phonethemes for every monosyllabic word in my vocabulary. I find phonesthemes for the consonants ordered in one way, and separately find phonesthemes for the same consonants ordered the other way. I then try to align classes from each sound group which are most similar semantically, which is to say that they probably fall into a single class in a different classification scheme which is not based on sound. What research I've had time to do in this area suggests to me that these classes which are not based on sound are also not specific to English, though also not completely universal. The more 'concrete' the classification scheme, the more universal it seems to be. That is, all languages seem to have a pretty clearly defined classes of words for plants, animals, colors and types of people. And nearly all languages do distinguish verbs of motion as well, but this class is less concrete, and so the set of motion verbs is fuzzier than the set of colors and less apt to be transferrable from alnguage to language.
Once I have done this, I look closely at what exactly seems to have been inverted to get from one class to the other, and in this process gradually discern what each consonant means. The methods seem to me likely to be similar to those Medeleev must have used. The point is that if you take a set of related words containing any two consonants in one order and compare it sith the most similar words containing those same two consonants in the other order, there's a sort of regular inversion of meaning that follows the inversion of the consonants. You would expect this if sound were contributing to word semantics.
I'd like to make one other point. The type of semantic change that happens when you invert consonants is in general not to change one thing into its opposite. For example, at first glance, it may seems like /v//l/ is evil (vile, villain), and /l//v/ is loving (live). But this is not the case. In fact there is plenty of 'evil' in /l//v/ in languages of the world (slave), and plenty of 'valor' in /v//l/. Indeed, the /l/<->/v/ combination is unusually preoccupied with love and evil. But the bad words in /v//l/ are in general active, because they start with a /v/. The negative words in /l//v/ have the accomodating nature, laziness, and ill-definedness of /l/ in the beginning. The good words in /v//l/ by virtue of starting with /v/ are energetic, perhaps more masculine. The good words in /l//v/ are more receptive, because they start with /l/.
b |
d |
g | |
d |
Strike/Wound: /blVd/ - Noun: blade /d//b/ - Verb: dab, daub, daube, drub Blood: /blVd/: bleed, blood Combine: /bVnd/: band, bind, blend, bond Group/Amount: /b//d/ - Group: band, board, blend, bond, brood, bund /d//b/ - Amount: dab Label: /b//d/ - Negative: brand /b//d/ - Positive: dibs, dub Bad: /b//d/ - Powerful: bad, bode, brood /d//b/ - Weak: drab, dweeb |
||
g |
Covering/Container: /b//g/ - Container/Building: burg, bag, brig /g//b/ - Clothing: garb Hold/Detain : /b//g/ - Detain: beg, bog, bug /grVb/ - Hold: grab, grub Quantity: /b//g/ - Adjective: big /g//b/ - Noun, a Thing which is Big: glob, globe, gob Contentless Talk: /b//g/ - brag /g//b/ - gab |
||
p |
Water /d//p/ - Downward: damp, deep, dip, drip, drop /p//d/ - Lake: pond Down /d//p/ - Drop: deep, dip, drape, droop, drop, dump /p//d/ - Step/Pound: pad, plod, pound Hierarchy /d//p/ - Trick: dope, dupe /p//dp/ - Pride: pride, proud |
Grasp/Plug /g//p/ - Grab from Behind: grasp, grip, grope /p//g/ - Plug from the Front: peg, plug Negative /g//p/ - Grumpy: gripe, grump /p//g/ - plague, prig Hole: /g//p/ - Gap: gap, gape, gulp Stick: /p//g/ - peg, (pug), sprig Take In /g//p/ - Take In: gasp, gulp /p//g/ - One Who Takes In: pig Limp /g//p/ - gimp /p//g/ - peg | |
t |
Strike: /b//t/ - No Indication of Result: baste, bat, beat, belt, bite, blast, bolt, bunt, bust, butt /t//b/ - Results in Injury: stab, stub, (tab) Classifier/Container: /b//t/ - Classifier: bit, bout, byte /t//b/ - Container: tub, tube Negative Person: /b//t/ - bat, beast, brat, brute |
Immobility /d//t/ - Inhibited: daunt, dent, doubt, drat, drought /t//d/ - Steadfast: stand, staid, stead Strength /d//t/ - Ability: deft, dint, droit /t//d/ - Strength: steed, stand, stud Motion /d//t/ - Response to an Existing Process: dart, draft, drift, duct /t//d/ - Walk: stride, tread Derogatory Terms for People /d//t/ - Inept: daft, dolt /t//d/ - Unpleasant: toad, turd Money /d//t/ - Debt: debt /t//d/ - Trade: trade Location/Earth /d//t/ - Earth: dirt, dust /t//d/ - Location: stand, stead Future /d//t/ - Romance: date, dote /t//d/ - Tendency: tend, tide, trend Amount /d//t/ - dit, dot /t//d/ - Part of Something Else: strand, tad |
Take/Get /g//t/ - Free: get, gift, grant /t//g/ - Compulsion: tag, tug |
k |
Container: /b//k/ - Contents Emphasized: bank, beak, book, bunk /k//b/ - Container Emphasized: cab, cob, crib, cube Group/Amount: /b//k/ - Amount: bank, bloc, block, book, brick, buck, bulk /k//b/ - Group: club Remain Stationary: /b//k/ - Voluntary: bake, bask /k//b/ - Involuntary: crib, curb Stop/Inhibit: /b//k/ - Stops a Process from Starting: back, balk, bilk, black, blank, bleak, blink, block, bosk, brake, break, broke, brook, brusque /k//b/ - Limits an Ongoing Process: curb, scab Speed : /b//k/ - bike, brink, brisk, brook, brusque Language: /b//k/ - Speech: bark, beck /sk//b/ - Writing: scribe, squib |
Container: /d//k/ - Container: deck, desk, dike, disc, disk, dock /c//d/ - Cluster: clod, cloud, crowd, squad Water /d//k/ - dank, drink, dunk /k//d/ - cloud Cold/Dark /d//k/ - Dark: dank, dark, dusk /k//d/ - Cold: cloud, cold Long, Thin: /d//k/ - For Striking/Penetrating: dick, dirk, duke /k//d/ - For Binding: cord Dirt: /d//k/ - dank, dreck /k//d/ - crud, crude, cud Derogatory Terms for People : /d//k/ - Stupid: dork /k//d/ - Ridiculous, Naive: cad, card, clod, kid |
Negative /g//k/ - More Unpleasant: gawk, geek, gink, gook, guck, gunk /k//g/ - Merely Messy: clog, scrag |
v |
Absence: /d//k/ - Seeking: delve, dive, drive /d//k/ - Many: drove /k//d/ - Nothing: void |
||
f |
Dysfunction: /b//f/ - Barrier Broken: barf /f//b/ - Misstep: flub Quantity : /b//f/ - Strong: beef /f//b/ - Weak: flab Deceit: /b//f/ - Block Understanding: bluff /f//b/ - Misdirect Understanding: fib |
Emptiness/Absence: /d//f/ - Something is Missing: dwarf, deaf /f//d/ - Something Disappears: fade Friendship: /d//f/ - Expression of Feeling: doff /f//d/ - Feeling of Fondness: fad, fond, friend |
Stop /g//f/ - Grasp: gaff /f//g/ - Block: flag, fog, frog Strike /g//f/ - golf /f//g/ - flog Negative /g//f/ - Ridiculous: gaff, gaffe, goof, guff /f//g/ - Feminine: fag Grid/Weave /g//f/ - Flat: glyph, graph /f//g/ - Linear: fugue |
th |
Happy: /b//T/ - No Longing: blithe /T//b/ - Longing: throb |
Paucity /d//T/: dearth /T//d/ - thread |
|
s |
Hierarchy: /b//s/ - Superior: boss /s//b/ - Inferior: sub Emotion: /b//s/ - Joy: bis, bless, bliss /s//b/ - Sorrow: sob |
Dirt/Earth: /d//s/ - Dirt: dross /s//d/ - Earth: sand, sod Appear/Disappear: /d//s/ - Disappear: dose, douse, dress /s//d/ - Appear: sand, seed, sod Water and Limitation /d//s/ - WaterLimits: dowse /s//d/ - Water is Limited: sound |
|
sh |
Bushy: /b//S/ - Ill Defined Shape: brush, bush /b//S/ - Clear Outline: shrub |
Breakage: /d//S/ - Break: dash /S//d/ - Result of Breakage: shard, shred Container/Cover: /d//S/ - Container: dish /S//d/ - Cover: shade, shed, shield, shroud Rid/Shed: /d//S/ - dash, dish, douche /S//d/ - shed |
|
j |
Push: /b//J/ - The Object Touched Moves: barge, budge /J//b/ - The Object Touched Remains Stationary: jab Protruding Shape: /bVlJ/ - Bulge: bilge, bulge /J//b/ - Back and Forth: jib, jibe Nonsense : /b//J/ - bilge /J//b/ - gibe |
Back and Forth Motion
/g//J/ - Strike: gorge, gouge /J//g/ - No Physical Contact: jag, jig, jog | |
m |
Explosion : /b//m/ - Explosive Noise: bam, bomb, boom /m//b/ - Explosive Quantity: mob |
Gloomy /d//m/ - State of the World: dam, damn, dim, doom, dumb /m//d/ - State of Mind: mad, mind, mood By Which Things Are Contained or Measured: /d//m/ - Container/Amount: dime, dorm, dram /m//d/ - Modus: mod, mode, mood Bulge : /d//m/ - dome /m//d/ - mound Mind: /d//m/ - Activities of the Mind: deem, dream, drum /m//d/ - The Mind Itself: mind Women: /d//m/ - Mistress: dame /m//d/ - Servant: maid Change: /d//m/ - Destroy: damn, doom /m//d/ - Mend/Make: mend, mind, mold |
Dirt /g//m/ - Sticky: gaum, glom, grime, gum /m//g/ - Hazy: smog Happy /g//m/ - Light, No Condescension: gleam, glim /m//g/ - Condescension: smug Gloomy /g//m/ - gloom, glum, grim /m//g/ - morgue |
n |
Bump: /b//n/ - Free-Standing: bean /n//b/ - Part of Anothor Object: knob, neb, nib, nub Interence/Impediment: /b//n/ - Problematic, Render to Nothing: ban, bane, bone, burn /blVn/[+dental] - Contentless: blanch, bland, blind, blond, blunt /snVb/ - Superior, Perceive as Nothing: snob, snub Acquisition/Binding: /b//n/ - Come without Effort: boon /bVnd/ - Held in Place Perpetually: band, bind, blend, bond /n//b/ - Take: nab |
Down: /d//n/ - Water: down, drain, drown, drench /n//d/ - No Water: nod Tired: /d//n/ - Make Tired: down, drawn, drone /n//d/ - Become Tired: nod Negative: /d//n/ - darn /n//d/ - snide Mound : /d//n/ - dune /n//d/ - node Beginnings: /d//n/ - Begin: dawn, deign, don /n//d/ - Consent: nod /d//n/ - dine, dint, drench Insuffucuency: /d//n/ - daunt, dent, dense /n//d/ - need, nude |
Give/Receive /g//n/ - Get Freely: gain, glean /g//n/ - Give Freely: grant /n//g/ - Involve Force: nag, snag, snug Complaint /g//n/ - No Attempt to Get Anything: groan, grunt /n//g/ - Try to Get Something: nag |
l |
Execution: /b//l/ - Overcoming a Barrier: bold /l//b/ - No Barrier to Overcome: glib Group/Amount: /b//l/ - Unintentional : blob, bloc, block /k//l/ - Intentional Membership: club Growth/Fat: /b//l/ - Growth: bloat, bloom, blouse, blow, build, bulge, bulk /l//b/ - Fat: flab Criticism: /b//l/ - Criticize: bawl, bilge, blame, blast /l//b/ - Person: plebe, slob Error: /b//l/ - No Second Chance: blank, blotch, blow /l//b/ - Potential for Retry: flub Emptiness/Blank: /b//l/ - bilge, blank, blur Bulge: /b//l/ - Hollow: bale, ball, bell, bilge, birl, blimp, blip, bloat, blouse, blow, boil, boll, bowl, bulge, burl /l//b/ - Solid: glob, globe, lob, lobe /bl//b/ - blob, bulb slab |
Land: /d//l/ - Valley: dale, dell /l//d/ - Land: glade, land Burden With/Give: /d//l/ - Distribute, Direct Object is Active: deal, dole /l//d/ - Combine, Direct Object is Passive: blend, flood, lade, land, lead, lend, load, lode Talk: /d//l/ - Talk About: deal, delve, dwell /l//d/ - Request: plead Motion : /d//l/ - Dig: delve, drill /l//d/ - Lead, Walk, Slide: glide, lead, plod, sled, slide Flow: /d//l/ - drool /l//d/ - bleed, cloud, flood People: /d//l/ - doll /l//d/ - lad, lord Talk: /d//l/ - Prolonged, Repetitious: drawl, drill /l//d/ - Something to Say: plead Extraverted: /d//l/ - droll /l//d/ - laud, loud Negative : /d//l/ - Dull: dolt, droll, dull /bl//d/ - Blank: bland, bleed, blind, blond |
Symbol /g//l/ - At the End, Goal: goal, grail /l//g/ - flag Sad /g//l/ - Ugly, Gloomy: gall, ghoul, glob, glom, gloom, glop, glum /l//g/ - Slowed Down: clog, flag, lag, log, lug, plague, slag, slog Sticky/Blocked /g//l/ - Sticky: glob, glom, glop, glue /l//g/ - Blocked: clog, plug Take/Receive /g//l/ - No Force: glean, glib, glyph, gulp /l//g/ - Force is Implied: flag, lag, lug Guilt /g//l/ - guile, guilt Error /g//l/ - Problem with the Thing Acted on: glitch /l//g/ - Problem with the Person Acting: flag Discontent /g//l/ - Threaten or Bother: grille, growl /l//g/ - Strike: flog, slug Group /g//l/ - Voluntary Membership: guild /l//g/ - Unvoluntary Membership: league Motion /g//l/ - Smooth: glide /l//g/ - Encumbered: lug |
r |
Brushy: /b//r/ - Unformed: beard, birch, braid, bran, branch, broom, brow, brush, bur, burr /r//b/ - Clear Outline: shrub /br//b/ - barb Heat/Light: /b//r/ - Heat: braise, brand, braze, brew, bright, broil, broth, brown, burn /r//b/ - No Heat: strobe Strong/Support /b//r/ - Carries Weight: bar, barge, bear, bier, board, brawn, breech, brick, bring, brunt /r//b/ - Doesn't Carry Weight: rib Emptiness /b//r/ - Blind/Empty: bare, blear, blur, bore, braille /r//b/ - Steal/Take: grab, grub, rob Derogatory Terms for People /b//r/ - Aggressive: bear, boar, boor, bore, brash, brat, brute /r//b/ - Weak or Complaining: crab, drab Containers /b//r/ - Large: barge, barn, berth, brig, burg /r//b/ - Small: crib Energetic : /b//r/ - Extraverted: brave, bright, brisk, brusque /r//b/ - Introverted: throb Groups /b//r/ - brand, brood /r//b/ - tribe Strike/Break /b//r/ - Breakage: breach, break, brief, browse, bruise, burn, burst /r//b/ - No Breakage: drub, probe, rub, scrub |
Negative: /d//r/ - Insufficiency: dark, darn, dearth, dirge, dirt, drab, drag, drain, drat, drawn, dreck, dredge, dregs, dross, drought, drudge, dry /r//d/ - Unpleasantness: brood, crud, crude, fraud, grind, rude, shrewd /dr//d/ - dread Motion : /d//r/ - Agentive Subject: dart, draft, drag, draw, drift, drive /r//d/ - Passive Subject: ride, round Strike/Touch: /d//r/ - Strike: darn, dart, dirk, drill, drub /r//d/ - Destroy: grind, rend, shred Cover: /d//r/ - Prepare for: dress /r//d/ - Hide Away: rind, round, shroud, spread Drag: /d//r/ - draft, drag, draw, dredge, drive Group: /r//d/ - breed, bride, brood, spread Land: /r//d/ - ground, road, strand Power: /d//r/ - Action: draft, drench, drive, drown /r//d/ - Quality: broad, grand, pride, proud, round, spread, stride Quantity: /d//r/ - drove /r//d/ - brood, crowd, grid, round Read/Write: /d//r/ - Write: draw /r//d/ - Read: read Flowing Water: /d//r/ - drain, dram, drape, draw, dregs, drench, drink, drip, drool, droop, drop, drown Spread/Separate: /r//d/ - braid, frond, spread Containers/Divisions: /d//r/ - Containers: door, drawer /r//d/ - Divisions: brand, creed, grade, grid, round Happy: /d//r/ - dear, dream, droll /r//d/ - bride, friend Insufficeincy: /d//r/ - Danger, Lack: dare, dire, drought, drown, dry /r//d/ - Leave Behind/Abstain: ground, prude, strand /r//d/ - Take: fraud, greed, raid, rid Sleep/Wake: /d//r/ - Sleep: dream, drowse, drug /r//d/ - Make Active: prod, rod |
Crest/Cavity /g//r/ - Cavity: gorge, grave, groin, groove /r//g/ - Crest: crag Negative /g//r/ - Sorrow or Anger: gore, grave, gray, grief, grieve, grim, grind, gripe, grit, groan, gross, grouch, grouse, growl, grudge, grue, gruff, grump, grunt /r//g/ - Encumber or Unconcerned: drag, drug, rag, rogue, scrag, shrug Grasp/Block /g//r/ - Take: gird, gorge, grab, graft, grasp, graze, greed, grift, grip, grope, grout, grub, guard /r//g/ - Hinder: drag, frog, rag, rug Plant /g//r/ - Grain: graham, grain, grass, graze, grist, grits, groats /r//g/ - Not Grain: sprig Preparation /g//r/ - General Preparation: gear, gird, grease, greet, groom, ground, grow /r//g/ - Preparation for a Specific Event: rig Dirt /g//r/ - Dirt Itself: grease, grime /r//g/ - For Cleaning Dirt: rag, rug Greatness: /g//r/ - Greatness Itself: grand, great, grin, grit /r//g/ - Condescension: brag, rag /gr//g/ - grig Grid /g//r/ - Symmetrical: graph, grate, grid, grill, grille /r//g/ - Unsymmetrical: rig |
p |
t |
k | |
t |
Put /p//t/ - Hands: paint, paste, plant, port, post, print, put, splint /t//p/ - Feet: stamp, step, stomp, tamp, tramp, trip, tromp, troop Fall/Incline /p//t/ - Spit: spit, splat, spout, sprout, spurt /t//p/ - Incline: steep, step, stoop Energy /p//t/ - Free: pant, pert, prompt, sport, sprint, sprite, sprout, spurt /t//p/ - Confined: strap, stop, tape, trap, trip, trump Touch/Strike /p//t/ - Intention of Contact Not Specified: pat, pelt, pet, print, punt, putt /t//p/ - Contact Has Specific Intent: strap, tap, type Point /p//t/ - Unconnected Point: pit, point, spot /t//p/ - Point Which is Part of Something Else: tip, top Long/Thin /p//t/ - Free-Standing Post: post, spit, sprit /t//p/ - Part of Something Else: stipe, strap, strip, stripe, stump Separate/Keep Together /p//t/ - Separate: part, split /t//p/ - Keep Together: strap, tape, trap Land /p//t/ - Area Simply: part, plate, plot /t//p/ - Land with Specific Characteristics: steppe Back and Forth /p//t/ - Horizontal: plait, pleat /t//p/ - Vertical: step Irritate /p//t/ - Push Toward Something: pest, pit, point /pl//t/ - Anticipate Something Coming: plant, plot /t//p/ - Draw Toward Something: tempt |
Container /t//k/ - Large: tank, trunk /k//t/ - Medium or Small: cast, cot, crate, cunt, quart Vehicle /t//k/ - Strong: tank, truck /k//t/ - Light or Make-Shift: cart, craft, crate Motion /t//k/ - Distance Traversed Is Emphasized: streak, track, trek, truck /k//t/ - Means of Locomotion Emphasized: cart, cast, coast, crate, scat, scoot, scout, skate Take/Gather /t//k/ - Fastening: tack, take, tuck /st//k/ - Storage: stack, stock, stoke /k//t/ - Clotting, Cohesion: cast, cleat, clot, crust Strength/Power /t//k/ - Physical Strength: stark, stock, stroke, torque /k//t/ - Political, Social or Moral Power: caste, Christ, clout, count, court, crust, cut Strike/Touch /t//k/ - strike, stroke, tack, tuck, tweak Project /k//t/ - cast, squirt Cut Short /k//t/ - curt, cut, quit, quite, scant, squint Crafty /t//k/ - Concerns a Specific Event: stack, take, trick, tweak /k//t/ - craft Littleness /t//k/ - stork, tyke /k//t/ - cute, quaint, squirt Language /t//k/ - talk /k//t/ - quote | |
k |
Container/Keep/Stay /p//k/ - Put Something Somewhere: pack, park, plunk /k//p/ - Stay or Keep: camp, coop, crypt, keep Vertical Motion /p//k/ - Downward, Away from Self: plunk, puke /k//p/ - Upward, Toward Self: cup, scoop Take/Pick /p//k/ - Acquire Something One Does not Possess: peck, pick, pike, pluck, poke, prick /k//p/ - Retain Something One Already Possesses: clamp, clasp, clip Cut /p//k/ - With a Long, Pointed Object: peck, pike, poke, prick /k//p/ - With a Blade: clip, crimp, crop, scrape, sculpt Strike /p//k/ - Punishment Implicit: spank /k//p/ - No Intent Implicit: clap, clop Spike /p//k/ - Point: peak, pick, pike, spike, spoke Curve /k//p/ - Curve: cape, cusp, scarp Spot /p//k/ - pock, puck, spark, speck Crumple /k//p/ - clump, cramp, crimp, crump Broad and Flat /p//k/ - Simply Broad and Flat: plank, plaque /k//p/ - Insight Implied: scope Energy /p//k/ - peak, perk, pique, spark, spunk Cut Short /k//p/ - clip, scrap, scrimp, cop, skimp, skip Trick /p//k/ - peek, prank /k//p/ - scalp Derogatory Terms for People /p//k/ - pink, prick, punk, spic, spook /k//p/ - creep, scamp Language /p//k/ - speak /k//p/ - quip, script |
Container /t//k/ - Large: tank, trunk /k//t/ - Medium or Small: cast, cot, crate, cunt, quart Vehicle /t//k/ - Strong: tank, truck /k//t/ - Light or Make-Shift: cart, craft, crate Motion /t//k/ - Distance Traversed Is Emphasized: streak, track, trek, truck /k//t/ - Means of Locomotion Emphasized: cart, cast, coast, crate, scat, scoot, scout, skate Take/Gather /t//k/ - Fastening: tack, take, tuck /st//k/ - Storage: stack, stock, stoke /k//t/ - Clotting, Cohesion: cast, cleat, clot, crust Strength/Power /t//k/ - Physical Strength: stark, stock, stroke, torque /k//t/ - Political, Social or Moral Power: caste, Christ, clout, count, court, crust, cut Strike/Touch /t//k/ - strike, stroke, tack, tuck, tweak Project /k//t/ - cast, squirt Cut Short /k//t/ - curt, cut, quit, quite, scant, squint Crafty /t//k/ - Concerns a Specific Event: stack, take, trick, tweak /k//t/ - craft Littleness /t//k/ - stork, tyke /k//t/ - cute, quaint, squirt Language /t//k/ - talk /k//t/ - quote |
|
v |
Keep/Release /t//v/ - Keep: stave /v//t/ - Release: vent Container /t//v/ - stove /v//t/ - vat Quantity /t//v/ - trove /v//t/ - vast |
||
z |
Stop /p//z/ - Something is Motionless: pause, poise, pose /z//p/ - Something Disappears: zap |
End /k//z/ - close /z//k/ - zonk | |
f |
Bulge or Wave /p//f/ - Bulge: puff /f//p/ - Wave: flap, flip, flop |
Tough/Fight /t//f/ - Tough: stiff, strife, tiff, tough /f//t/ - Fight: feat, fight, fist Hardened /t//f/ - stiff /f//t/ - frost Stuff/Fit /t//f/ - Container is Figure: staff, stuff /f//t/ - Container is Ground: fit |
Contact /k//f/ - cuff, scuff /f//k/ - flick, frisk Dysfunction/Failure /k//f/ - Dysfunction: cough /f//k/ - Failure: flunk, fuck Criticism /k//f/ - Frivolous Complaint: scoff /f//k/ - Complaint about a Real Problem: flak, frank Dirt /k//f/ - fleck /f//k/ - scuff |
th |
Happy: /b//T/ - No Longing: blithe /T//b/ - Longing: throb |
Paucity /d//T/: dearth /T//d/ - thread |
|
s |
Put/Soak Up /p//s/ - Put: pass, place, press, space, splice /s//p/ - Soeak Up: sump, sap, seep, sip, soap, sop, soup, sup |
Stasis /t//s/ - stance, truss /s//t/ - fast, frost, last, mist, nest, paste, post, rest, roost, rust, sate, seat, set, sit, site, staid, stale, stall, stance, stand, star, starch, stare, starve, stash, state, staunch, stave, stay, stead, steep(tea), stem(tide), stern, stew, stick, stiff, still, stilt/ed, sting, stint, stone, stop, strain, strand, strap, strict, strike, strip, strong, stub, stuff, stump, stun, stunt Tense /t//s/ - stress, task, tax, tense, terse /s//t/ - stern, strain, stress, stretch, strict, strife, strive, sweat Completion /t//s/ - Ending: taps /s//t/ - Inhibit: starve, stave, still, stop, strand, strap, strike, strip, stump, stun Test/Seek /t//s/ - taste, test, trace /s//t/ - scout, stalk Language /t//s/ - text /s//t/ - cite, script, state Disapproval /t//s/ - Mere Disapproval : tisk /s//t/ - Exercizes Power : stern, strict Appealing /t//s/ - toots /s//t/ - style, suit, suite, sweet Toss/Spurt /t//s/ - Goal Is Specified: toss /s//t/ - Goal Not Specified: salt, snort, spit, splat, spout, sprout, spurt, squirt, stool, strew, sweat Trance/Stun /t//s/ - Self-Induced: trance /s//t/ - Exercizes Power: still, stop, strap, stump, stun Long/Thin /t//s/ - tress /s//t/ - splint, sprit, staff, stake, stalk, stem, stick, stilt, stipe, stitch, straight, strait, strand, strap, straw, streak, stream, street, stretch, string, strip, stripe, strobe, stroke, strum Strike/Stamp /t//s/ - trounce /s//t/ - smite, stamp, stomp, strike, stroke, strum, stub, swat Trust/Foundation /t//s/ - Trust: truce, trust, tryst /s//t/ - Foundation: stage, stake, stalk, stance, stand, state, stem, stilt, stipe, stool, stump |
Closeness/Contact /k//s/ - close, coax, crease, cross, crux, kiss /s//k/ - seek, sic, sink, soak, suck Container /k//s/ - case, sconce /k//s/ - cirque, sac, sack, sconce, sink, sock Negative /k//s/ - Coarse, Concerns Behavior: coarse, crass, curse, cuss, klutz /s//k/ - concerns the Psyche: psych, sick, sink, sulk |
sh |
Contact /p//S/ - Press with the Palm: plash, push, splash /S//p/ - Move Something from One Place to Another: schlep, ship, shop Fancy /p//S/ - Upper Class: plush, posh /S//p/ - Stylish: sharp |
Get Rid Of/Set Aside /t//s/ - Object Set Aside is Sationary: stash, trash /s//t/ - Object Set Aside is in Motion: shit, shunt Quell/Silence /t//S/ - Temporary: tish, tush /s//S/ - Long Term: shut |
Clash/Shirk /k//S/ - Bring Together: clash, crash, crush, quash, squash, squish /S//k/ - Separate: shake, shirk, shrink, shuck Negative /k//S/ - Destroy: crush, squash /S//k/ - Great Psychological Upset: shock, shriek Money /k//S/ - cache, cash /S//k/ - shark |
j |
Jump /p//J/ - Down: plunge /J//p/ - Up: jump Steal /p//J/ - No Deceit: sponge /J///p/ - Deceit: gyp |
Comic /t//J/ - stooge /J//t/ - jest A Taste Of /t//J/ - Static, Concerning Sensations: tinge, twinge /J//t/ - Dynamic, Concerning Thought or Action: gist, just |
Reactive Motion /k//s/ - cringe /k//J/ - jerk |
ch |
Strike /p//C/ - With the Hand: pinch, punch /C//p/ - With a Cutting Edge: champ, chip, chomp, chop Apply Heat /p//C/ - Heat the Surface: parch, poach /C//p/ - Break the Surface: chap Sound /p//C/ - Language: preach, speech /C//p/ - Birds: cheep, chirp |
Strong/Staying Within the Boundaries /st//C/ - Strong: staunch /C//st/ - Clean: chaste Deceit /t//C/ - stretch /C//t/ - cheat Language /t//C/ - teach /C//t/ - chat |
Destruction /k//C/ - By Smashing: clench, clinch, crouch, crunch, quench, scrunch, squelch /C//k/ - By Rejection: chuck Catch/Hold /k//C/ - Purpose is to Hold: catch, clinch, clutch, crotch /C//k/ - Means is Holding: choke Mark /sk//C/ - scorch, scotch, scratch, sketch /C//k/ - chalk, chink Support /k//C/ - Support Underlies the Process: coach, crutch /C//k/ - Support COmes after the Process: check |
m |
Fuzzy /p//m/ - palm, plume /m//p/ - mop Take Up /p//m/ - Pump out of Something: plumb, prime /m//p/ - Soak into Something: mop Prime /p//m/ - prim, prime, prom Understanding /p//m/ - plumb /m//p/ - map |
Water /st//m/ - At the High Point: steam, storm, stream /m//t/ - Transition, On the Boundary: melt, mist, moat, moist, smelt Group/Gathering /t//m/ - Many Already Gathered: team, teem /m//t/ - Beginnings: mate, meet, milt, mount Touch/Strike /t//m/ - Directed Toward a Future Goal: steam, storm, tame, trim /m//t/ - For Something in the Past: mete, smite Muchness /t//m/ - Dynamic: steam, stream /m//t/ - Static: meat, might, most Smallness/Ending /t//m/ - Conclusion: term, tomb /m//t/ - Small, Silent, Irrelevant: mite, moot, mote, mute Limitation /t//m/ - tame /m//t/ - might, must Lose Feathers/Hair /t//m/ - trim /m//t/ - molt Begin /t//m/ - stem /m//t/ - mount |
Cover /k//m/ - Floats to the Top of a Liquid: cream, scum, skim /m//k/ - Attire, Perfume: mac, mask, mink, musk, smock Dirt /k//m/ - Part of Something Else: crumb, scum /m//k/ - Not Part of Something Else: muck, smoke Cunning /k//m/ - Action: crime, scam, scheme /m//k/ - Quality: murk Disapproving/Upset /k//m/ - Upset: qualm, scream, squirm /m//k/ - Disapproving: mock, smirk Come Together /k//m/ - Stays Together: clam, cram /m//k/ - Comes Apart Again: smack Calm/Meek /k//m/ - Center in the Self: calm /m//k/ - Subordinate: meek, milk Milk /k//m/ - Emphasizes Covering on the Surface: cream, skim /m//k/ - The 'Meat': milk |
n |
Put /p//n/ - Put X on Y: pin, paint, plant, print, splint /n//p/ - Put X and Y Together: snap Strike/Take /p//n/ - Hit: pinch, pounce, pound, prance, print, punch /n//p/ - Acquire or Destroy: nip, snap, snip, snipe End/Stop /p//n/ - Something is Rendered to Nothing: pant, punt, spend /n//p/ - Nothingness is Primary: nap, nope |
Quantity /t//n/ - Ten, Two: teen, ten, ton, twain, twin /n//t/ - Nothing: naught, not Knot/Twisting /t//n/ - turn, twine /n//t/ - Net: net, knit, knot Container /t//n/ - stein, tin, tun /n//t/ - Small: nest, nut Music /t//n/ - Emphasis on the Sound: strain, tone, tune /n//t/ - Emphasis on the Location: note Absence/Nothingness /t//n/ - Bring to Nothing/Blankness: stone, stun, trance /n//t/ - Nothingness Itself: night Direction/Tendency /t//n/ - Direct: train /t//n/ - Tendency, Taste of: taint, taunt, tend, tinge, tint, trend, twinge /n//t/ - Succession: next Get Rid Of/Set Aside /t//n/ - stern, strain, tense /n//t/ - snit |
Container/Nook /k//n/ - Container: can, conch, cunt, kiln, sconce, skin /n//k/ - Nook, Corner: nick, nock, nook Bend/Corner/Crumple /k//n/ - Crumple, Turn in on Itself: clench, clinch, cringe, crunch, scrunch, squint /n//k/ - Small Cravasse Made by Something Else: nick, nock, nook Contact /k//n/ - Destroy: can, skin /n//k/ - Strike: knock, nick Competence/Ability /k//n/ - Knowledge, Concerning the Mind: can, con, keen /n//k/ - Concerning Action: knack Cunning /k//n/ - con /n//k/ - sneak Long/Thin /k//n/ - skein /n//k/ - neck, snake |
l |
Difficulty /p//l/ - Trouble: plague, plaque, plight /l//p/ - Failure: flop, limp, lisp, slump Missing /p//l/ - Blank: pale, pall, plain /l//p/ - Limp, Relaxed: lapse, lax, limp, slip Plump /p//l/ - No Outer Cover or Membrane/Solid: pelf, pile, plush /l//p/ - Hollow with Membrane: blimp /pl//p/ - Solid Interior with Outer Cover: plump, pulp Fasten: /p//l/ - Block: plug /l//p/ - Clamp: clamp, clasp, clip Circular /pl/ - Intertwined: plait, splice, splint /pVl/ - Ongoing: purl, spool /l//p/ - Single: loop Strike /pl/ - Abrupt Onset, Encounters Resistance: plash, plod, plow, splash, splat /pVl/ - Ongoing, Abrupt Onset: peal, pelt, pulse /l//p/ - Abrupt Ending: clap, clip, clop, flap, flip, flop, lop, slap /pl//p/ - plop Water /p//l/ - Splatter, Spread Outward: plash, spill, splash, splat, splay, splotch /l//p/ - Unpleasant, Lands on One Spot: glop, slop Put /p//l/ - Intentional: place, plant, plod, plow, plug, plunge, plunk, splurge /l//p/ - Random, Clumped Together: clump, glop, lump, slop /pl//p/ - plop Walk /p//l/ - Balanced: plod, plow, prowl, pull /l//p/ - Bouncy or Unbalanced: limp, lope, schlep Work/Relax /p//l/ - Work: ploy, ply /l//p/ - Relax: lap, luxe, sleep, slump Pull/Suck /p//l/ - Pull: peel, pluck, plumb, poll, pool /l//p/ - Suck: lap, slurp Carry /p//l/ - Dragged Behind: pull /l//p/ - Lifted Up: schlep Separate /p//l/ - peel, plow, pluck, split, sprawl Plane/Loop /p//l/ - Plane: place, plan, plane, plank, plant, plate /l//p/ - Loop: flip, leap, lip, loop, lop |
Turn/Slant /t//l/ - Turn: till, tilt, trill, troll, twill, twirl /l//s/ - Slant: slant Sound /t//l/ - Ongoing: trill, troll /l//t/ - Limited in Time: blast, bleat, blurt, flirt Effort/Trouble /t//l/ - Effort: till, toil, tool /l//t/ - Trouble: blight, blot, flat, least, plight Negative Person /t//l/ - troll /l//t/ - lout, slut Destruction//Discontinuance /st//l/ - Loses Momentum Inwardly: stale, stall, still /l//t/ - Impaired from Without: blast, blot, blunt, clot Take /t//l/ - steal, toll, trawl /l//t/ - lift, loot Tall/Flat /t//l/ - Tall: stilt, tall /l//t/ - Flat: flat, plate, pleat, slate Long/Thin /t//l/ - tail /l//t/ - flute, pleat, slat, slit, slot, splint Motion /t//l/ - On Earth: steal, stroll, trail /l//t/ - Upward: fleet, flight, flit, float, lift, light, loft Follow/Remain /t//l/ - Follow: tail, trail, trawl /l//t/ - Remain: last, list Ending /t//l/ - tail, till /l//t/ - last, late, least, left, lest, Lent, let, slight Foundation /t//l/ - Turn: stile, stilt, stool Cunning /t//l/ - Implies a Goal: steal, stealth /l//t/ - No Goal Implied: glint, gloat, sleight Approach to Something /t//l/ - style /l//t/ - slant Showing Off /t//l/ - style /l//t/ - clout, flaunt, flirt, flout, glint, gloat Enjoyment /t//l/ - Turn: style, troll /l//t/ - flirt, float, glint, gloat, lift, light, lilt, lust |
Cover /k//l/ - Protect: clad, cloak, cloth, clothe, clothes, cloud, kilt, quilt, scalp, skull /l//k/ - Interfere: blink, block, lock, plaque Unclarity/Seeking Out /k//l/ - Unclear: cloud, clue /l//k/ - Seeking Out: flick, lurk, slink /kl//k/ - skulk Negative /k//l/ - Comic, Inept: clod, clown, klutz /l//k/ - Weak: flak, flunk, lack, leak, schlock, slack Groups /k//l/ - Intentionally Joined: clan, class, clause, clone, club, clump, cult, scale, school /l//k/ - Unintentionally Joined: bloc, block, flock /kl//k/ - clique Groups /k//l/ - Destroy, Agentive: clip, close, kill, quell, squelch /l//k/ - Non-Agentive: black, blank, bleak, lack, lank Classy /k//l/ - Exclusive: class, click, clique, clout, club, cold, cool, cult /l//k/ - Non-Exclusive: sleek, slick Acquisition /k//l/ - Item is Kept: call, claim, close, cull /l//k/ - Item is Consumed or Expires: lick, pluck, slake /kl//k/ - clink Hold/Natural Attraction /k//l/ - Hold: clam, clamp, clasp, claw, cleat, cleave, clench, clinch, cling, clip, clog, close, clot, clump, clutch, quill /l//k/ - Natural Attraction: like, link /kl//k/ - click Incline /k//l/ - cliff, climb, cline, scale Strike /k//l/ - Repetitive Striking of Two Surfaces: clap, clip, clop /l//k/ - Object Separated from the Subject: flick, plunk /kl//k/ - click Bend /k//l/ - Circle: coil, curl /l//k/ - Wave: flex, flux Learning/Luck /k//l/ - Learning: clue, school, skill /l//k/ - Luck: fluke, flux, lark, luck Unhappy/Happy /k//l/ - Unhappy: cold, cool, scold, squeal /l//k/ - Happy: lark, like, luck Motion /k//l/ - clip, crawl, scull /l//k/ - slick, slink |
r |
Group /p//r/ - Two: pair, par, peer, per, spare /r//p/ - More than Two: crop, group, troop, troupe Best /p//r/ - prime, prince, prize, pro, prof, prom, pure /r//p/ - trump Cut /p//r/ - Destructive: pare, pierce, spar, sprain /r//p/ - Constructive: crop, rasp, reap, rip, scrape Separate/Bring Together /p//r/ - Separate: parse, part, purge, spurn /r//p/ - Bring Together: grasp, grip, grope, rape, reap Spread/Cramp /p//r/ - Spread: sprawl, spray, spread, spring, sprout, spurt /r//p/ - Cramp: cramp, crimp, crump, scrimp Creep /r//p/ - Occurs in a General Area, Location Forms the Backdrop: prowl /r//p/ - Destination or Purpose Implicit: creep Other Motion /pVr/ - Conveyance Across: port /pr/ - Powerful Departure from a Specific Point: prance, spring, sprint /r//p/ - Heavy Landing: romp, tramp, trip, tromp, troop Put /p//r/ - Destination Emphasized: pour, press, prick, print, probe, prod, spray /r//p/ - Destination Not Emphasized: rap, rape, rasp, scrape, strap, tramp, tromp Long, Thin /p//r/ - Stiff, Hard: probe, prod, prong, prow, spar, spear, sprig, sprit /r//p/ - Loose: rope, strap, strip, stripe Stasis /p//r/ - Put Something Somewhere: park, perch /r//p/ - Internal: rapt Platform /p//r/ - Entry: pier, porch, port /r//p/ - Incline: ramp Preparation /p//r/ - Bring Something About, Activity: perch, preen, prone, spare, spruce /r//p/ - Quality, Already Brought About: ripe /pr//p/ - prep, primp, prop Growth /p//r/ - Sow: sperm, spore, spring, sprout /r//p/ - Reap: crop, reap, ripe Start/End /p//r/ - Start: prompt, spark, sperm, spur /r//p/ - End: drop, scrap, strip Energy /p//r/ - Beginning or Middle of a Process: perk, pert, prance, prod, prompt, spark, sport, spring, sprint, sprite, spry, spur /r//p/ - Result of a Process: crisp, ripe Concerning Unknowns /p//r/ - Disclosed: proof, prove, probe, pry /r//p/ - Kept Secret: crypt Negative Person /p//r/ - Victim: poor, prey /r//p/ - Unpleasant Person: crap, creep, frump, gripe, grump, scrap, shrimp, tramp Lack of Money /p//r/ - Quality: poor, spare, sparse /r//p/ - Activity: scrape, scrimp Language /p//r/ - On the Fly: praise, prate, pray, prayer, preach, proof, prose, prove /r//p/ - Prepared in Advance: script Growth/Decline /p//r/ - Growth: spring, sprout, spurt /r//p/ - Decline: drape, drip, droop, drop, ramp, trip Constricted /p//r/ - Quality of a Person: prig, prim, prude, prune /r//p/ - Implement Which Constricts: rope, strap, trap, wrap Point /p//r/ - Stationary: pearl, pore, sperm, spore, sprat /r//p/ - Dynamic: drop |
Linear /t//r/ - stair, strand, strap, straw, streak, stream, stretch, string, strip, stripe, strobe, track, trail, train, tree, trench, tress, trough, trunk /r//t/ - sprit /tr//t/ - straight, strait, street Steer. Trace vs. Root Brunt /t//r/ - Steer/Trace: steer, trace, track, trail, train, trawl, tree(v), trend, turn /r//t/ - Root/Brunt: brunt, Christ, crest, fruit, root, sprout, thrust Paths/Roads /t//r/ - Simply Exists: stair, stream, street, stretch, strip, track, trail, trench, trough /r//t/ - Directed to a Place: route Cunning /t//r/ - Single Event: trap, trick, trip, turn /r//t/ - Capacity: craft, droit, grift Motion /t//r/ - stray, streak, stream, stride, strike(out), stroll, strut, tour, train, tram, tramp, trawl, tread, trek, trip, tromp, troop, truck, trudge /r//t/ - crate, draft, drift, freight, raft, rout, sprint /tr//t/ - trot Strapped/Rooted /t//r/ - starch, store, strap, tar, term, troth, truss /r//t/ - drought, frost, rest, roost, root, rut, thrift Strict/Rote /t//r/ - stern, terse /r//t/ - rate, right, rite, rote /tr//t/ - straight, strict Tire/Rot/Rust /t//r/ - starve, strand, strike, strip, terse, tire /r//t/ - drought, frost, roast, root, rot, rout, rust /tr//t/ - trite Trap/Wrest/Root Out /t//r/ - strip, trap, trump /r//t/ - draft, grift, rent, root, rout, wrest, thrift Tear/Grate /t//r/ - tear, trim /r//t/ - grate, rift Strange/Rapt /t//r/ - stare, stark, strange, strike, trance /r//t/ - rapt Stress/Riot /t//r/ - storm, strain, stress, stretch, strife, strike, strive, torque, try /r//t/ - grunt, prate, rant, riot, rout Strong/Bright /t//r/ - star, stark, strike, strong, torque, troll, trove, trump, trunk, try /r//t/ - bright, front, grant, great, greet, grist, prompt, raft, rapt, sprite Frustration /t//r/ - strain, stress, strife, tear, tire /r//t/ - drat, fret, fright, grate, grunt, rout, rut, threat Initiation/Creation /t//r/ - stir, stork, strike(out) /r//t/ - craft, draft, sprout, wright /tr//t/ - start Contact /t//r/ - strike, stroke, strum, tramp, tread, tromp, trounce /r//t/ - print, thrust /tr//t/ - treat Which? Words Implying Options /t//r/ - stair, strain, term, tier, tract, trade, trend /r//t/ - rate, route /tr//t/ - trait Quantity /t//r/ - streak, stream, tribe, trick, troop, trope, troupe, trove /r//t/ - fraught, graft, grant Turning /t//r/ - steer, stir, tire, torque, trade, trill, turn, twirl /r//t/ - script, wrest, wrist, writ, write Light/Fire /t//r/ - star, strobe, torch /r//t/ - bright, drought, frost, roast Truth/Right /t//r/ - troth, truce, true, trust, tryst /r//t/ - Christ, right Derogatory Terms for People /t//r/ - trash, turd, twerp /r//t/ - brat, brute, grit, rat, rout, runt, rust |
Something Which Holds/Supports/Fastens /k//r/ - Hold by Force: cord, crane, crutch, screw /r//k/ - Held Naurally: rack Cover /k//r/ - Protective: cork, scar, scarf /k//r/ - Decorative: frock Crush/Shrink /k//r/ - By Force: cram, cramp, crimp, crowd, crump, crunch, crush, kern, scrimp, scrunch /r//k/ - Freely: shrink Waves/Curls /k//r/ - Thing: crease, crepe, cross, crouch, curb, curl, curve, screw, scroll, square /r//k/ - Motion: rock /kr//k/ - crick Area /k//r/ - court /r//k/ - rink, tract Container /k//r/ - crate, creel, crib, crotch, crypt, quart /r//k/ - trunk /kr//k/ - crock Vehicle /k//r/ - car, cart, craft /r//k/ - truck Motion /kr/ - crate, crawl, cruise, scram /k//r/ - cart, course, skirt /r//k/ - brisk, streak, trek, truck Path /k//r/ - course /r//t/ - track Groups /k//r/ - corps, court, crew, crop, crowd /r//k/ - trick Rank /k//r/ - People in High Position: Christ, court, cream, crèche, crown, crust /r//k/ - Ranks in General: rank Crime/Evil /kr/ - Cunning and Mystery Implied: craft, creep, crime, cringe /k//r/ - Carefulness: card, care /r//k/ - Surprise: prank, trick /kr//k/ - crack, crook Fear/Anger /k//r/ - curse, cry, scare, scorn, scram, scream, squirm /r//k/ - risk, shriek /kr//k/ - skreak Acquisition /k//r/ - crave, score, scour, screen, scrounge /r//k/ - frisk Kindness /k//r/ - care, court, cure /r//k/ - stroke Derogatory Terms for People /k//r/ - card, crab, creep, crumb, queer, squirt /r//k/ - freak, prick /kr//k/ - crank Anger/Dismissal /k//r/ - cross, curse, curt /r//k/ - brusque Trash /k//r/ - crap, crud, scrag, scrap, scree /r//k/ - dreck Coarse /k//r/ - coarse, crass, crude Misfit /k//r/ - craze, queer /kr//k/ - quirk Strike /kr/ - Crumple: crash, crumb, crunch, crush /skr/ - Cut Surface: scrape, scratch, scrub /k//r/ - Deeper Cut: carve, scar, scorch, scourge /r//k/ - Leave Object Struck Intact: prick, strike Break /kr/ - Object is Does Not Lose Its Identity: crop, crunch, crush, screw /r//k/ - Object Is No More: break /kr//k/ - crack Writing /k//r/ - Emphasizes the Writing: scratch, scrawl, scribe, script, scroll /r//k/ - Emphasizes the Line: streak, stroke Inanimate Sound /k//r/ - Single Thing Collapsed in on Itself: crunch /r//k/ - One Thing Strike Another: strike, stroke /kr//k/ - crack, creak Animate Sound /k//r/ - croon, cry, scream, screech /r//k/ - shriek /kr//k/ - croak, screak End/Destroy /kr/ - Destruction: clear, corpse, crash, crunch, crush, scrap, screw /r//k/ - brake, break, strike, wreak, wreck Empty, Few Resource /k//r/ - clear, scarce, scrap, scrub /r//k/ - broke Beginning /k//r/ - carve, crank, scare /r//k/ - brink /kr//k/ - crank Root/Core /k//r/ - core /r//k/ - trunk /kr//k/ - crux, quark Water /k//r/ - squirt /r//k/ - brook, drink /kr//k/ - creek |
v |
z |
f | |
s |
Competence /v//s/ - verse /s//v/ - solve Service /v//s/ - vice /s//v/ - serve Problem /v//s/ - vex /s//v/ - save, salve, serve, solve Hold /v//s/ - vise /s//v/ - sieve |
Waves /f//s/ - flex, flounce, flux /s//f/ - surf Well-Being /f//s/ - fix /s//f/ - safe Self /f//s/ - face /s//f/ - self | |
m |
Energy /v//m/ - vim /m//v/ - move |
Fluff /f//m/ - Surface: film, foam /m//f/ - muff | |
n |
Long/Thin /v//s/ - vein, vent, vine /n//v/ - nerve |
End/Destroy /f//n/ - fence, fend, flinch /n//f/ - snuff Locate /f//n/ - find, phone /n//f/ - sniff | |
l |
Indentation /v//l/ - vale /l//v/ - cleave Container /v//s/ - veil /l//v/ - glove Energy /v//l/ - volt /l//v/ - live, live, love |
Energy /z//l/ - zeal /l//z/ - blaze, glans, lase, lens, please Nothing /z//l/ - Quantity: zilch /l//z/ - Action: cleanse, close, glaze, lose, please |
Fall/Incline /f//l/ - Fall: fall, fell, floor, flop /l//f/ - Incline: bluff, cliff Filth /f//l/ - Other: filth, flak, flu /l//f/ - Excretions: lymph, phlegm, slough Flight /f//l/ - Intransitive: flag, flap, flight, float, flue, fly /l//f/ - Transitive: lift, loft Fluff /f//l/ - felt, flax, fleece, floss, frill /l//f/ - loaf, phlox /fl//f/ - fluff Flat /f//l/ - field, film, flake, flat /l//f/ - leaf Happy /f//l/ - fall, feel, fill, flair, flare, fleet, flaunt, flip, flirt, floor, flounce, flout /l//f/ - laugh, life Fail /f//l/ - Unsuccessful Project: fail, fall, fault, flag, flaw, flinch, flop, flub, flunk, foil, fold, fool, foul, frail /l//f/ - Non-Existent Project: left, loaf Fold/Crevasse /f//l/ - Fold: flute, fold, full, furl /l//f/ - Crevasse: cleft False/Unclear /f//l/ - False: false, filch, fleece, foil, fool, foul /l//f/ - Unclear: glyph Flap/Throw /f//l/ - Flap: flag, flail, flap, flay, flex, flick, flinch, fling, flip, flog, flop, flux /l//f/ - Throw: loft, slough Fly, Float /f//l/ - Fly and Float: flight, flit, float, floe, flood, flow, flume, fly Flee /f//l/ - Get Away From: flee, flight, fly /l//f/ - Get Rid Of: slough Full /f//l/ - fill, flab, fleet, flesh, flush /l//f/ - loaf |
r |
Deviate /v//r/ - veer /r//v/ - rove Energy /v//r/ - verb /r//v/ - brave, drive, rave, rev, strive, thrive, trove /v//rv/ - verve Just Beyond Reach /v//r/ - verge /r//v/ - crave Competence /v//r/ - verse /r//v/ - prove |
Climax /z//r/ - tzar /r//z/ - prize, raise |
Destruction /f//r/ - fire, floor, freeze, fry /r//f/ - brief Create, Form /f//r/ - farm, forge, form, frame /r//f/ - craft, draft, graph, proof, phrase Motion /f//r/ - Intensional: fare, ford, forge, freight /r//f/ - Natural: draft, drift, raft, trough Deceit /f//r/ - farce, fraud, fraught /r//f/ - craft, grift Fluff/Rough /f//r/ - Frizz and Fuzz: fern, fir, fork, frappé, frill, fringe, frizz, frond, frost, fur, furl /r//f/ - Rough: reef, rough, ruff Acquisition /f//r/ - fare, frisk /r//f/ - draft, grift, graft, ruff, thrift Anger /f//r/ - Victimizer: fierce, fire, force, fray, fret /r//f/ - Victim: grief, gruff, rift, rough, strife Fear /f//r/ - fart, fear, frail, freak, fright, frown, fruit, frump /r//f/ - grief, strife Firm, Strong /f//r/ - No Emotion: firm, force, fort, frank /r//f/ - Emotion: gruff, rough Plenty /f//r/ - fraught /r//f/ - raft, rife Group /f//r/ - farm, firm, force /r//f/ - draft Frame, Container /f//r/ - form, frame /f//r/ - sphere Rift, Cravasse /f//r/ - fjord, ford /r//f/ - rift, trough |
th |
s |
sh | |
j |
Energy /s//J/ - surge /J//s/ - juice Interfere /s//J/ - siege /J//s/ - jinx |
||
ch |
Seek /s//C/ - search /C//s/ - chase Choice /s//J/ - such /C//s/ - choice |
||
m |
Similar, Combined /s//m/ - Similar: same, seem /m//s/ - Combined: mass, mess, mix, muss Quantity /s//m/ - Numbered: some, sum /m//s/ - Not Numbered: mass, mess |
||
n |
Sense, Knowledge /s//n/ - Sense: scene, scent, sign, sound /n//s/ - Knowledge: nous /s//ns/ - sense Time /s//n/ - soon /n//s/ - nonce /s//ns/ - since Absence /s//n/ - sans /n//s/ - nix Relative /s//n/ - son /n//s/ - niece Rope In /s//n/ - cinch /n//s/ - noose |
||
l |
Motion /s//l/ - Smooth: sail, scale, scull, skulk, sled, slink, slip, slog, sloop, slosh, steal, stroll /l//s/ - Bouncy: flounce Smooth /s//l/ - sail, silk, sled, sledge, sleek, sleigh, slick, slide, slip, sluice Reflected Light /l//s/ - glance, glass, glimpse, gloss Curve /s//l/ - scroll, spool, stile, swirl /l//s/ - flex, flounce, flux Decrease /s//l/ - Incline: scale, slant, slide, slope, stile /l//s/ - Quantity: least, less Vut /s//l/ - scald, sculpt, slash, slice, slit, split /l//s/ - lance, lyse Contact /s//l/ - Force: slam, slap, sling, slog, slug /l//s/ - No Force: place Destruction /s//l/ - slay, squelch /l//s/ - blast, blitz Water /s//l/ - Motion: slop, slosh, slough, spill, splash, splat, splay, spleen, splotch, squall /l//s/ - Container: cell, flask, glass Cover /s//l/ - scale, scalp, seal, skull, slab, slag, slate, sleeve, slip, stole /l//s/ - blouse, fleece Long/Thin /s//l/ - sill, slat, slit, slot, spline, splint, stilt /l//s/ - flax, floss, lace, lance Loose /s//l/ - Dysfunction: slack, slang, sleep, sloth, slouch, slow, slump, slur, snail, sprawl, stale, stall, still /l//s/ - No Dysfunction: lapse, last, lax, loose Blame/Bless /s//l/ - Blame: scold, snarl, squeal /l//s/ - Bless: bless Unpleasant /s//l/ - Dirty: silt, slag, slime, slob, slop, slosh, slough, sludge, slum, slump, slush, slut, smell, stool, sulk /l//s/ - Uncompetent or Dishonorable: klutz, last, louse, lynx Combine /s//l/ - smelt, splice, splint /l//s/ - clasp Happy /s//l/ - smile, style /l//s/ - blast, bless, bliss, class, lust, luxe Deceptive /s//l/ - Stealthy: skulk, sleuth, slink, slip, sly, steal, stealth /l//s/ - Superficial: glitz, gloss Buy /s//l/ - Permanent: sale, scalp, sell, splurge /l//s/ - Temporary: lease Much, Group /s//l/ - scale, slate, slew, spell, sprawl, still, swell /l//s/ - class, list, plus Little /s//l/ - Small Amount or Size: slice, slight, slim, slit, slow, small /l//s/ - Ending: close, last, least, less, lest, loss |
Pull /S//l/ - schlep /l//S/ - leash Muchness /S//l/ - Too Much of a Bad Thing: schlock, schmaltz /l//S/ - Fullness: blush, flesh, flush, lush, plush Shallow /S//l/ - shale, shawl, shelf, shell, shelve, shield, shoal Strike /l//S/ - clash, flash, lash, slash Water /S//l/ - Formed by Water: shale, shell, shoal /l//s/ - Motion of Water: plash, slosh, slush, splash | |
r |
Unsuffuciency /T//r/ - thirst, thrift, thwart /r//T/ - wraith True, Strong /f//r/ - Strong: thrift, thrive, throng /r//T/ - True: troth Excitement /T//r/ - threat, thrill, throb, throe /r//T/ - breath, wrath Rhythmical /T//r/ - throb, thrum /r//T/ - breath |
Shapes /s//r/ - Don't Intersect: cirque, sphere, square, star, straight /r//s/ - Intersect: cross Circular /s//r/ - screw, scroll, sprain, squirm, steer, stir, swerve, swirl /r//s/ - wrest, wrist Long/Thin /s//r/ - Not Rooted: screw, spear, sprit, stair, straight, strait, strand, strap, straw, streak, stream, street, string, strip, stripe, strobe, sword /r//s/ - Rooted: grass, tress Extension /s//r/ - smear, spare, splurge, sprawl, spread, spree, stark, stray, stream, stretch, strew, swarm /r//s/ - grease, press, rinse, thrust Beginning /s//r/ - scare(up), scratch, serve, source, spark, sperm, spore, sprout, spur, start, stir, strike(out) Spray/Thrust /s//r/ - spark, spray, sprig, spring, sprout, spurt, squirt, storm, stream, strew /r//s/ - thrust Energy /s//r/ - smart, spark, sport, spree, spring, sprite, spruce, spry, stride, strut, surf /r//s/ - brisk, brusque, crisp, prance, risk Serve, Trust /s//r/ - Serve: serf, serve /r//s/ - Trust: grace, truce, trust, tryst Stress /s//r/ - squirm, stare, stern, stir, storm, strain, stretch, strict, strife, strive, strong, surge, swear /r//s/ - brace, brusque, crisp, press, race, trounce /s//rs/ - stress Scream /s//r/ - scare, scorn, scram, screak, scream, screech, slur, smear, smirch, snarl, snort, strike, stroke /r//s/ - grouse Money /s//r/ - Scarcity: scarce, scrimp, scrounge, spare, starve, store /r//s/ - grist, price /s//rs/ - sparse Constrain /s//r/ - screw, scrunch, starch, strap, strict /r//s/ - brace, brusque, crease, press, truss Rest /s//r/ - snore /r//s/ - rest, roost, trance Unpleasantness /s//r/ - Criticize: scar, scare, scorch, scorn, scourge, screw, slur, smart, smear, smirch, smirk, snarl, sneer, spurn, squirt, stern, strange /r//s/ - Unpleasant Things: crass, gross, grouse, rust Dirt /s//r/ - scrag, scrap, scree, smirch /s//r/ - dross, grease, rust Cut /s//r/ - scar, scarp, scourge, scrape, scratch, scrub, sore, spear /r//s/ - rasp Touch /s//r/ - Linear: strike, stroke, strum /r//s/ - dress, frisk, thrust, trounce Fire, Frost /s//r/ - scorch, sear, sere, spark, star, strobe /r//s/ - frost, roast Destruction /s//r/ - scrap, scratch, screw, scrunch, strike, strip /r//s/ - rest, rinse, roast Seek /s//r/ - score, scour, screen, scrounge, search, strike /r//s/ - trace Acquisition /s//r/ - slurp, snare, strike, strip /r//s/ - frisk, grasp Filter Out /s//r/ - score, screen, sort, strain /r//s/ - rinse Motion /s//r/ - scram, soar, spring, sprint, stair, stray, streak, stream, stride, strike(out), stroll, strut, surf, swerve /r//s/ - cross, prance, press, race Writing /s//r/ - scratch, scrawl, scribe, script, scroll People at the Top /s//r/ - sir, sire, star /r//s/ - Christ, crust, priest, prince Incline, Bump /s//r/ - Incline: scarp, stair /r//s/ - Bump: breast, crest Covers /s//r/ - scar, surf /r//s/ - crust, dress, rust |
Sharp/Break /S//r/ - Sharp: shard, sharp, shear, sheer, shred /r//S/ - Break: crash, crush, thrash, thresh Throw Off /S//r/ - shirk, shrug /r//S/ - trash Small, New /S//l/ - Small: sheer, short, shred, shrimp, shrink /r//S/ - New: fresh Shrewd, Brash /S//l/ - Shrewd: shark, sharp, shrew, shrewd /r//S/ - Brash: brash, fresh, rash Temple /S//r/ - shrine /r//S/ - crèche Bush /S//r/ - shrub /r//S/ - brush |
j |
ch | |
m |
Friendship /C//m/ - Emotion: charm, chum /m//C/ - No Emotion: match | |
n |
Back and Forth Motion
/J//n/ - No Contact: jaunt, jounce /n//J/ - Contact: nudge |
Acquisition /C//n/ - Keep: chain /n//C/ - Take Away: snatch, snitch |
l |
Viscous /S//l/ - Not Dirty: gel, jell /l//J/ - Dirty: sludge Place Where People Stay /J//l/ - Involuntarily: jail /l//J/ - Voluntarily: lodge, lounge Sudden Movement /J//l/ - jolt /l//J/ - Downward: lunge, plunge |
Beginning /C//l/ - child /l//C/ - launch, lurch Absence /C//l/ - Of Heat: chill /l//C/ - Of Color: blanch, bleach |
r |
Criticism /J//r/ - Criticize: jeer /r//J/ - Criticized: cringe Move Something /S//l/ - Joggle: jar, jerk /r//J/ - Acquire: dredge, scrounge |
Support /C//r/ - chair /r//C/ - breech, crutch Mark /C//r/ - char /r//C/ - scratch Start /C//r/ - charge /r//C/ - broach Extend /C//r/ - charge /r//C/ - reach, stretch Turn /C//r/ - churn /r//C/ - crouch, wrench Cheer /C//r/ - charm, cheer, chirp Sound /C//r/ - Happy: chirp, chirr, churr /r//C/ - Not Happy: screech Unpleasant Person /C//r/ - churl /r//C/ - grouch, roach, wretch |
m |
n | |
m |
Central /m//n/ - main, mean /n//m/ - norm Man, Name /m//n/ - man /n//m/ - name | |
n |
Central /m//n/ - main, mean /n//m/ - norm Man, Name /m//n/ - man /n//m/ - name |
|
l |
Acquisition /m//l/ - mail /l//m/ - claim, plumb Mold, Slime /m//l/ - mold, mole /l//m/ - lymph, phlegm, slime Soil /m//l/ - mulch /l//m/ - loam Particles /m//l/ - mill, milt, mold Growth /l//m/ - blimp, bloom, climb, plump Smallness /m//l/ - melt, mild, moll, small Gloom /l//m/ - blame, clam, gloom, glum, loom, slam, slime, slum, slump Melt, Lame /m//l/ - Is Destroyed: maul, melt /l//m/ - Retains its Identity: lame, limp, slump Combine /m//l/ - Two Things Join Together: meld, melt, smelt /l//m/ - Things are Joined Into One Formless Mass: clump, lump Slow Down /m//l/ - mule, mull /l//m/ - Hold Back: clam, clamp, clump, glom Happiness /m//l/ - melt, smile /l//m/ - flame, gleam, lamb |
Joining /n//l/ - nail /l//n/ - blend, clan, glean, lance, learn, splint Long/Thin /n//l/ - Hard: nail /l//n/ - Flexible: lane, line Bunch /n//l/ - gnarl, knurl /l//n/ - clench, clinch Not /n//l/ - knell, nil, null /l//n/ - blanch, bland, blind, blond, blunt, clean, cleanse, flinch, Lent, lone, lorn, lynch, plain Up, Down /n//l/ - Bump: knoll /l//n/ - Incline: cline, slant, spline Natural Environs /n//l/ - knoll /l//n/ - glen, land, lawn Plunge /n//l/ - launch, lunge, plunge |
r |
Dirt /m//r/ - mar, mark, smear, smirch /r//m/ - crumb, grime Touch, Strike /m//r/ - The Object Touched is Altered: mar, smear /r// - The Object Touched Remains the Same: drum, ram, strum, thrum, tramp, tromp Walking /m//r/ - march /r//m/ - roam, romp, scram, stream, tramp, tromp Unhappiness /m//r/ - morgue, mourn, murk /r//m/ - crime, grim, grump, scream Water /m//r/ - Marsh: marsh, mere, mire, moor /r//m/ - Frost: rime Smallness /m//r/ - mere /r//m/ - shrimp, trim Muchness /m//r/ - more /r//m/ - realm, ream, room, stream Joining /m//r/ - Bring Two Things Together: merge /r//m/ - Crumple: cram, cramp, crimp, crump, scrimp Detained /m//r/ - mire, moor Spur Onward /r//m/ - dream, drum, prompt Pleasant /m//r/ - Funny: mirth, smart, smirk /r//m/ - Groom: groom, prim, prime, primp Higher Class /m//r/ - smart /r//m/ - cream, prime, prom, trump Beginning /m//r/ - morn /r//m/ - brim, frame, rim |
Negative /n//r/ - nor /r//n/ - drain, drawn, drown, rinse Sneer, Grunt /n//r/ - snarl, sneer, snort /r//n/ - grunt, rant Running Liquid /n//r/ - snort /r//n/ - drain, drench, drown, rain, run Near /n//r/ - near /r//n/ - prone Acquisition /n//r/ - snare /r//n/ - crane, rein, round, screen, scrounge, strain Care For /n//r/ - nurse /r//n/ - preen Plant /n//r/ - Knurl: gnarl, knurl /r//n/ - Branchy: bran, branch, frond, grain, groin Nervous System /n//r/ - nerve /r//n/ - brain Central /n//r/ - norm /r//n/ - brunt, ground |
l | |
r |
Sound /l//r/ - Excitement: blare, blurb, blurt, flair, flirt, floor /r//l/ - Anger: brawl, broil, growl, rail, rile, roil, shrill, thrill Motion /l//r/ - Sudden: lurch /r//l/ - Smooth and Ongoing: crawl, drawl, drill, drool, stroll Large, Spread Out /l//r/ - flare, lard, large, lord, splurge /r//l/ - grail, realm, sprawl Weak, Empty /l//r/ - blear, blur, clear, floor, lorn, slur /r//l/ - braille, frail Light, Heat /l//r/ - Light: glair, glare /r//l/ - Heat: broil Seek /l//r/ - glare, leer, lurk /r/l/ - prowl Running Liquid /l//r/ - Inward: slurp /r//l/ - Outward: drool |
More Detail!
In the second set of tables above, I didn't specify what the words had in common, how the two inverted classes differed from one another and how that was related to the inversion in the consonants. This was done primarily out of sloth, but I'll try to discuss now what I had in the back of my head as I was making one of these classes. As with the concrete noun classes, there are semantic classes that run 'lengthwise' through all the sounds, and which apply to, for example, verbs, adjectives and abstract nouns. These include, for example, verbs of contact, verbs of cutting, verbs of destruction, verbs of motion, and so forth. These classes aren't essentially sound dependent... they show up in all the consconants. You'll see some of these classes represented again here. The sound /t/ implies broadly directedness toward a goal with no specification as to whether that goal is actually reached. The sound /r/ is a sort of active masculine energy that can be both very supportive and very destructuve. It can also generate heat and motion. Which role this energy plays depends largely on which of these 'lengthwise' (referential) classes the word belongs to. If the word is a verb of cutting or piercing (violating the integrity or boundary of something), then it is most likely the /r/ that actually breaks the boundary. Other sounds in the word may specify directedness of the motion, the result of the motion and so forth. With that, let me go on to look at /t//r/ words in a little more detail. This is still a domain that I am working hard to understand more clearly, but I'll try to convey what I do see.
Linear Words :
/t/-/r/: stair, strand, strap, straw, streak, stream, stretch, string, strip, stripe, strobe, track, trail, train, tree, trench, tress, trough, trunk
/r/-/t/: sprit
/tr/-/t/: straight, strait, street
The /t//r/ class is 22 times as linear as the /r//t/ class. Furthermore, the particular type of linearity in the word 'sprit'is not represented in the /t//r/ class. It is the class of long, solid, rigid objects which are not attached to anything and through which nothing runs. However, this class is heavily represented in /p/: paddle, pawl, peg, pestle, pick, picket, pike, pile, pin, piton, pivot, pock, poker, pole, post, probe, prod, prong, prow; spade, spar, spear, spike, spine, spit, splint, spoke, sprig, sprit, spur. These make up 9% of words beginning with /p/ and17% of words with /p/ in second position. Given this, we hypothesize that /r//t/ is not linear at all, only /t//r/ is linear, and the linearity in the word 'sprit' comes from the /p/, not the /r/ and the /t/. This is the kind of reasoning we use to determine consonant meanings.
We may then ask ourselves what makes the particular consonant combination /t//r/ linear, and why is /r//t/ not particularly linear? A careful look at the phonesthemes in test 1 show that words containing /t/ very often involve directedness toward a goal without specification as to whether that goal is reached. Our findings also corroborate an observation made in much of the phonosemantic literature over the ages, namely that /r/ implies a very active, dynamic energy. If the directedness in /t/ forms the backdrop or frame within which the energy of /r/ plays itself out, then it seems reasonable that the energy would be directed toward the goal defined by /t/ and the result will be linear. If, however, a vowel intervenes between /t/ and /r/, or if /r/ comes first, making the backdrop of the word's semantics merely the energy of /r/, then /r/ would not necessarily be directed linearly. /r/ in initial position tends to be 'random'. This can be seen in many semantic domains, such as the verbs of motion discussed above. Verbs of non-vehicular motion beginning with /r/ often imply wandering over a large area. This is not true of non-initial /r/ in the onset:
The linear words formed by /p/ are static. /p/ is a stop and a labial both. Its contribution to the word tends to have a static quality. By contrast, the linear /t//r/ words tend to have a direction. The most obvious exceptions to this generalizations are 'strap', 'strip', and 'stripe' which all end in /p/. Additional exceptions are 'strand', 'string' and 'tress'.
Nothing flows through or along the linear /p/ words except when the /p/ is in final position: pipe, stipe, tap. The analogous linear /t//r/ words through or over which something flows: stair, strait, straw, stream, street, track, trail, tree, trench, trough and trunk are not in general covered over - they are not pipe-shaped containers as are the /p/-final words. The one exception is 'straw'. Containers are much more common in words containing /p/ than in those containing /r/ or /t/.
Paths, Roads:
/t/-/r/: stair, stream, stretch, strip, track, trail, trench, trough
/r/-/t/: route
/tr/ - /t/: street
Paths and roads tend to be linear, and like the words of linearity, they prefer /t//r/ to /r//t/. The one /r//t/ word in this class differs from all the others semantically. Stairs, streams, troughs, trails, trenches and all the other /t//r/ word exist independently of a particular trip. They are there whether you travel them or not. In Mid-Western usage, the word 'route' contains the vowel /aw/ and is only applicable to a specific trip. In New England, the vowel is /uw/ and the word can (but need not) refer to a specific highway. Whereas in Colorado, one says 'Highway 128', in New England, one says 'Route 128'. In both places, there is a sense wherein a single route can involve any number of tracks, trails, streets and trenches. These facts are consistent with the hypothesis that in the /t//r/ class, the directedness forms the background, and the fact of travelling over it or not is secondary, whereas in 'route', the energy - the travel- forms the background, and the direction is appended onto that.
Steer, Trace vs. Root, Brunt
/t//r/: steer, trace, track, trail, train, trawl, tree(v), trend, turn
/r//t/: brunt, Christ, crest, fruit, root, sprout, thrust
Although this /t//r/ class differs considerably from the /r//t/ class, this was the best match we could come up with. Both classes concern a guiding or initiatory influence. Several cases like this of questionable comparions are included in Appendix IX. In the /t//r/ class here, the /t/ - the direction, the track - comes first and the energy of the /r/ follows it. The /r//t/ class can be subdivided into words which refer to a source (brunt, Christ, and root), those which refer to a result (fruit), and those which refer to an outward directedness (sprout, thrust). 'Crest' is a climax in mid-stream. In all these cases, though, a forceful, supportive energy forms the background of the semantics of the word, and directedness comes after.
Trickiness and Craft
/t//r/: trap, trick, trip, turn
/r//t/: craft, droit, grift
The /t//r/ words all refer to a specific event. The /r//t/ words refer rather to an ability, disposition or advantage of some sort... somethingthat can be put to use. The /t//r/ class is much more prone to duplicitousness than the /r//t/ class. In the /t//r/ class, we hypothesize that a specific direction (/t/) comes first, and then energy (/r/) is put behind it. In the /r//t/ class, the ability (/r/) comes first, and the word ends with a /t/ indicating that this energy can be directed toward some goal.
Verbs of Motion
/t//r/: stray, streak, stream, stride, strike(out), stroll, tour, tramp, trawl, tread, trek, (trip), tromp, troop, trudge
/r//t/: crate, (draft), draft, drift, freight, raft, rout, sprint, strut
/tr/-/t/: strut, trot
The /r//t/ class can be subdivided into words involving carrying (crate, draft (horse), freight), words involving motion which happens of itself driven by an outside force (draft (air), drift, raft, rout), and 'sprint' which fits neither of these characterizations. The /t//r/ words corresponding to the 'freight' and 'drifting' classes of /r//t/ refer to vehicles (train, tram, truck). Vehicular motion differs from the drifting class in that a vehicle has a driver who has an intended direction (/t/). In the 'drifting' class, the powers of nature govern the direction, and consistent with this, the /r/ comes first.
Strapped and Rooted
/t//r/: starch, store, strap, tar, truss
/r//t/: drought, frost, rest, roost, root, rut, thrift
The /t//r/ words all refer to something that wants to go somewhere, and something else which hinders it from following its natural course. The /r//t/ words often concern what happens in the natural course of things. None of them imply the stressfulness of the corresponding /t//r/ class. The /tr/ words imply intention, and except for the word 'thrift', the /r//t/ words do not.
The exception to this is the word 'thrift' which involves intentional intervention, and which starts with an unvoiced dental very similar to /t/. This intervention in 'thrift' differs, however, from the intervention inthe /t//r/ class in that the /t//r/ class involves grabbing something and pinning it down forcibly against its will. The will to go somewhere - the directedness (/t/) - comes first in this class and forms the background for the word. In 'thrift', however, the energy of /r/ is not running directly counter to the directedness of /t/. Rather, the energy is buffered by two fricatives - /th/ and /f/ - and the purposiveness of all this comes last in the /t/... one is thrifty for a reason, and that reason is represented by the /t/.
Specifically what we believe happens semantically on the iconic level in a word like 'thrift' is this: 1. There is a thicket (th). 2. There is an energy which approaches this preexisting thicket, and is therefore directed at it (through). 3. Then the 'verb' follows - the vowel 'i', which describes the natures of the action which plays itself out in the word. The character of this phonemic 'verb' is small and confining. This becomes clearer if one imagines that 'thrift' were pronounced 'thraft' or 'throft' - these words would perhaps suggest that much larger quantities of money were being laid aside. These three sounds /Tri/ represent the situation set up by the word. The solution to the situation is /ft/ which also appears in words like 'sift' and 'shift'. 4. The solution is to filter (/f/ - fence, filter, file, fickle, frisk, ferret, etc.) this /r/ energy (roof, reef, raft), and 5. all of this is directed toward a goal (/t/). However, in the word 'thrift' there is no indication implicit as to whether the goal of the thriftiness is achieved. This is another characteristic of /t/.
The /T/, /r/, /i/, /f/ and /t/ all take on various flavors in various indexically defined classes. That is, if 'thrift' had been a verb of motion (I thrifted merrily down the road) or a verb of violent contact (He deserves a good thrifting),the above description would have been a little different, but the basic dynamic would have been the same.
Strict, Rote
/t//r/: stern, terse
/r//t/: rate, right, rite, rote
/tr/-/t/: straight, strict
A stern or strict person adheres to rules (directedness) first, and asks whether the rules are worthy of being adhered to second. In the word 'right', what comes first is the natural order represented by the /r/. The person who is directed toward the natural order comes after. In the case of 'right', it does matter whether the rule is correct. 'Stern' differs from 'strict' in that it concerns something which affects emotions rather than conduct. The intent to influence conduct implicit in the word 'strict' is consistent with a final /t/. This is also true of 'straight', as in 'straight as an arrow'.
Truth and Right
/t//r/: troth, truce, true
/r//t/: right
/tr//t/: trust, tryst
We said that in 'right' the /r/ perhaps represents natural law, which the /t/ follows. Let us consider the /t//r/ in 'truth' in this context. In mathematics, one is more likely to say, 'That's right,' than to say, 'That's true.' Mathematics is an internally consistent world independent of the kind of mapping to the so-called real world that language involves. That, we suggest, is the domain of /r/. Perhaps when we say, 'that's right', we mean the calculations are consistent with this natural, wild logic, which is mathematics. The /t/ follows the /r/. But when we say 'that's true', we mean that nature is consistent with our statment - the /r/ follows the /t/. In the lower case sense of 'true', a statement is made (/t/), and then we look to see what the world is like and we say either, 'that's true' (i.e. the mapping from language to the so-called real world is accurate), or we say 'that's false.'
There are instances in which one can reply either, 'That's right' or 'That's true.' If a person says to his boss, "I have been doing my best to be accurate," the boss can respond simply, "That's right." Or she can say, "That's true, but..." If she responds, "That's right," she's making a statement not only about the correctness of his sentence, but about the correctness of his conduct in general. From her perspective, his conduct was right as well as his statement. If she says, "That's true," she agrees that his sentence accurately reflects the situation in the world (his /r/ does follow his /t/), but she still leaves open the possibility that his /t/ did not follow his /r/, his general direction may still not have been consistent with the natural order of things, and so she thinks he may ultimately not have served the best possible end.
In the expression "To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man," what does the 'true' refer to here? It follows a natural law, just like 'right'. Why can't we then say, "*To thine own self be right"? I think that the word 'right' doesn't start out with the requisite directedness of /t/ that would make 'to thine own self be right' make sense. Shakespeare says that my action, my /r/ follows my own inner direction, my /t/. I am specifically true to myself. You are true T o something. You're only right about something.
Tiring, Rotting and Rusting
/t//r/: starve, strand, strike, strip, terse, tire
/r//t/: drought, frost, roast, rot, rust
The /r//t/ words in this class all concern natural causes, acts of God and the like. This is typical of /r/. The goal-directedness from the human perspective then follows. A drought becomes a drought, when some living being expects or needs water and doesn't get it. One can't talk about a drought on the moon where there's never any water and where there's nothing which needs water. That presence of human purposiveness in the word 'drought' is introduced by the /t/, but it comes after the basic fact of dryness, which is natural and oblivious to my human purpose. Similarly, we don't talk of the oxidation of natural minerals lying around on mountains as 'rust'. It's only called 'rust' when it happens to some human implement intended for some purpose, and when this oxidation starts interfering with this purpose we call it 'rust'. That human purpose implicit in the word is the /t/. The word 'rot' is similar in this respect. By contrast, the words in the /t//r/ list are not referring to natural events, but either to manmade events or events which happen to people. So the background or set on which the word plays itself out is human purposiveness - the /t/. When the /t/ is preceded by an /s/ in the first class there's an additional force which interferes. When the /r/ precedes the vowel in this class, the process is itself purposive (strand, strike, strip). When the /r/ follows the vowel, the process is natural (starve, tire), but it is interfering with human purpose.
Trap, Wrest and Root Out
/t//r/: strip, trap, trump
/r//t/: draft, grift, rent, root, rout, wrest, thrift
The /t//r/ words all involve acquisition by trickery. Once again we suggest that the /t/ indicates a direction, which in this case is misleading. Then a violence is done with/r/, and the /p/ is the punchline. The combination /t//p/ is in general often off balance (tip, topple, trip, steep, stoop, stumped, tipple, tipsy, top (the toy)). /t/ is the dreamer, and /p/ is a reality check. /p/ is the most realistic of phonemes. In the /r//t/ class, energy comes first. We suggest that /r/ is the sound that actually does the grabbing. However, all of these /r//t/ words also imply that the acquisition is purposeful, and if our hypothesis is correct, then that's what the /t/ contributes. When the word does not contain a /t/ (grab, pick, grasp, hold, etc.), there's no implication that somebody is 'taking' in order to make use of. It's just a simple statement of acquisition or possession. If this line of reasoning is correct then in both these classes, the /r/ is exerting the energy to acquire, but in the /t//r/ class, the /t/ functions to focus attention misleadingly, and in the /r//t/ class, the /t/ is used to imply that the acquisition has a purpose.
Tear, Grate
/t//r/: tear, trim
/r//t/: grate, rift
In all these words, we believe the /r/ is doing the actual cutting. The other sounds detail the circumstances of that cutting. When the /r/ follows the vowel, the word often implies that something is either turning or out of control, or it implies an imbalance or deviation of some kind. Compare 'creep', 'crawl' vs. 'careen', 'career', or 'trail', 'track' vs. 'turn', 'torque'. So too the word 'tear'. You can tear something in a controlled manner, but compared to 'trim', it involves creating a direction with one hand which runs counter to an energy introduced by the other. By contrast, the direction and the ripping are both going the same way in 'trim'. This is analogous to what happens in words involving motion, like 'trail', 'track', 'tram', etc.. In these words, a direction is first determined, and then the/r/ give the word motion. The word 'grate' implies the 'grid' typical of /gr/ (grill, graph, etc.) Velars can form a surface in this way. In /k/, the surface gets cracked, crinkled, crumpled, etc. when followed by /r/. So in 'grate', the background is a the perforated surface of /gr/, and then something is directed at it (/t/). In the word 'rift', the action is a force of nature. This is disproportionately frequent when /r/ is in initial position. The words starts with the earthquake of /r/, then the vowel, and then /ft/ - fissure and directedness. /f/ and /v/, true to their pronuncations often appear in words involving a narrow opening on the surface. In both 'tear' and 'rift', the energy of /r/ is running counter to the directedness of /t/. However, in the case of 'tear', the directedness is primary and the energy secondary. Consistent with this, 'tear' can be intentional. In 'rift', the natural energy is primary, and the contrary direction is secondary.
Strange and Rapt
/t//r/: stare, stark, strange, strike, trance
/r//t/: rapt
All the words in the first class also contain an /s/. When /s/ begins the word, attention is initially directed toward some thing which is bizarre. When /s/ is in the end, as in 'trance', the focus begins with the state of a person, the directedness of their attention, and the /s/ emphasizes the strangeness not of the thing being viewed, but of the viewer. The directedness in all cases concerns attention. In the words beginning in /st/, attention is directed at this strange object. The /r/ could be contributing the power which can hold attention. The strangeness that appears in the /t//r/ class but not in the word 'rapt' probably does not come from the reordering of /t/ and /r/, but from the /s/, if Semantic Association is effective here. The phoneme /s/ occurs in disproportionately many 'strange' words throughout the English vocabulary. The words 'trance' and 'rapt' both refer to the state of the viewer. In the case of 'trance' there is no outside object which is holding attention. The directedness of attention happens first reinforced by the energy of /r/ which is focussed in the same direction as the /t/, since they both occur on the same side of the vowel. A trance is intentional. One is rapt, however, in spite of oneself. The energy to transfix comes first, and attention is directed afterwards. It is drawn to a particular point - to the /p/. In trance, attention is not on a specific thing or as the /p/ in the word 'rapt' implies. The focus of attention in 'trance' is the nous, the Now, the Nothing, all of which occur frequently in words containing /n/.
Stress and Riot
/t//r/: storm, strain, stress, stretch, strife, strike, strive, torque, try
/r//t/: grunt, prate, rant, riot, rout
/str/ is a stressful combination. Words beginning in /tr/ alone do not refer to stressful activities or situations. In the second class, words which begin with /r/ refer to a much less controlled activity than those which begin with a consonant followed by /r/. This is especially true of /p/ which occurs proportionately in the greatest number of words involving limitations imposed by outside authority. Words in the /t//r/ class refer to situations in which one has set out deliberately to perform some task. In the /r//t/ class, on the other hand, some dysfunction has already occurred. Then the word implies that there is an uncontrolled outburst of energy in reaction to it. The reason for the outburst is secondary. Ranting, rioting and routing all occur for some reason, and that reason we suggest may be represented by /t/. Compare 'grunt' with 'groan', for example. One can just be groaning in one's sleep for no particular reason, but one doesn't grunt in one's sleep. One has to be conscious to grunt, and one grunts because of something uncomfortable or unappealing.
Strong and Bright
/t//r/: star, stark, strike, strong, torque, troll, trove, trump, trunk, try
/r//t/: bright, front, grant, great, greet, grist, prompt, raft, rapt, sprite
The /r//t/ class is on the whole brighter, peppier and happier than the /t//r/ class. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the /r/, which produces the energy, is enslaved to the /t/ in the first class. /t/ comes first and has an agenda for /r/. But in the second class, /r/ is not so constrained. The directedness of attention in /t/ is at /r/'s disposal rather than the other way around.
Words of Initiation and Creation
/t//r/: stir, strike(out)
/r//t/: craft, draft, sprout
/tr//t/: start
In the first class, the project (/t/) already exists. It is then executed (/r/). In the /r//t/ class, the project is either in the planning stages, or else, as in 'sprout', it represents a natural process.
Words of Contact
/t//r/: strike, stroke, strum, tramp, tread, tromp, trounce
/r//t/: print, thrust
/tr//t/: treat
The words 'thrust' and 'print' imply a final directedness pointed outward but with an uncertain effect. 'Printing something' and 'thrusting' express an intent, but no certain outcome (the thrust of an argument). The word 'print' can also refer to a footprint, which is a telltale sign of something that has been. In that case too, the energy which produced the sign came first, and the direction follows. In the /t//r/ class, the directedness is much more controlled, and the energy implicit in the /r/ can once again be thought of as directed in the service of the /t/.
Margo's Magical Letter Page