Thank you again! I appreciate the compliments.
Rick and Ben actually use a lot of good words. I used to say something like, āIām not trying to be right for the sake of being rightā¦ā but then I heard Rick use the word pedantic a couple of times and itās just easier for me to use that word now. To be honest, however, the intention is usually to be more didactic than pedantic, but more for accuracy and not necessarily in a negative way.
As far as the tenets of āgood writingā are concerned, semantics and syntax are, indeed, important, but empirically speaking, I would argue that careful phonology is often taken for granted.
Good examples of bad phonology include:
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A tenant is a person who rents a land or property
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A tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true
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Taken for granted is to assume something as true, real, unquestionable, or to be expected
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Taken for granite is to confuse something with a rock (I guess)
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A rottweiler is a dog
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A rockweiler is a word made up by drunken rednecks that think they are talking about a dog
You get the idea.
Phonology and aphasia can seem similar in meaning, but the former is being careful and knowledgeable about semantics and the latter is a medical condition that causes people to confuse their words. To be fair, I discovered both of these words tonight while I was writing this.
If you really want to learn some cool words, I recommend casually browsing the German language. The Germans have a word for everything, seriously. Germans have words for things that you wouldnāt even think about.
Petrichor is a personal favorite. I find the thought of petrichor particularly soothing, especially on a bad day. Itās a very powerful word for me. Thinking about petrichor makes me want to breathe in very slowly and deeply.
On a different note, Iām sorry to hear that youāre not feeling well. I hope things get better. Iām not sure if youāre into meditation or holistic healing, but Iām a firm believer that most causes of disease, or the lack of being at ease, begin in the subconscious mind.
Louise Hay suggests in her book that a fever is often caused by āAnger, burning upā. A phrase on which you can meditate is:
āI am the cool, calm expression of peace and love.ā
She also suggests that migraines can often be the result of the āDislike of being driven. Resisting the flow of life. Possible sexual fearsā. A phrase on which you can meditate is:
āI relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. Life is for me.ā
Depression relates to āAnger you feel you do not have a right to have. Hopelessness.ā Her phrase for meditation is:
āI now go beyond other peopleās fears and limitations. I create my own life.ā
Only you know what these mean to you, and youāll have to think back to what was going on in your life just before you started getting sick to make any meaningful connections, but I would also add that I would probably be angry a lot if I were a corrections officer. I donāt think I could do that job and be satisfied with my life.
Iām not suggesting you should take any specific immediate action, but I do think your mind and body are trying to communicate with your spirit in a way that will bring you greater peace and wholeness, if that is what you want. Not everyone has a desire for peace and wellness. Who am I to say what another person should want out of life?
That said, if you are, indeed, seeking peace and wholeness, it might require major life changes, or maybe just a few small adjustments. Being sick in bed is a good time to seriously contemplate lifeās decisions and consequences.
I think our minds and bodies have reasons to offer us those āopportunitiesā. We, as humans, enjoy being entertained and many of us are actually afraid of the āsilenceā. That is, we crave constant distraction to avoid facing our deeper thoughts and processes. Entertainment can inspire us, but for the sake of mental health, our minds also need quiet time to reflect upon our actions and heal just as much as a broken bone needs to be set and remain undisturbed for a period of time.
Anyway, like I said, only you know the deeper meaning of what this means to you. I donāt know you personally, but the Universe is offering these ideas to you. Iām just the conduit. Things happen for a reason. Youāll have to decide any deeper meaning for yourself.
I hope it helps.
Rest well!