Braindroppings

Hmmm, I suppose that I have a much more tolerant attitude toward people who routinely butcher the English language. I spent years going to school with poor black children in Alabama. In some respects, it was almost like they were speaking a different language. I would say that I am quite fluent in what is presently referred to as the dialect of Ebonics. When I was young, some people called it Jive. Let me try and construct a few sentences that you might hear if you visited a typical underpriviledged Alabama neighborhood or "hood": "Get yo' ugly ass from outta my face!" (translation: Don't bother me.); "What you be talkin' 'bout fool!?" (I don't understand you.); "Yo' mama so ugly, dogs run when she come by!" Well, actually, Ebonics may have evolved a bit since I was a school kid. In fact, I think it likely that the majority of sentences spoken in a modern day Hood would contain at least one expletive. Anyway, as a result of my youthful immersion in African American culture, it was probably much easier for me to branch out in college and get to know people from many different countries. I seem to have an affinity for understanding English spoken in many different accents. Also, I simply enjoy the company of unusual people.

Another reason that I may be very tolerant toward variations on the English language is that I have always enjoyed making up new words by modifying existing ones to suit some perceived need or purpose. Lets see if I can make up something right now. Ok, how's this: "Compugraphication": The act of constructing a representation of something by means of computer graphics. I don't have a list of all the words I have altered over the years. Mostly I use them once and forget them, I suppose. Still, this sort of musing on my part has either entertained or annoyed other people that I have known. I wonder which you would be, Khodadad. :)

Oh btw, I saw that you have done some good guessing on my riddle. :) I'll write a return comment for you at my blog shortly.

Well, I am tolerant of made-up words. I like words that give a new flavour to the language too, and your word making does not bother me. What bothers me is using a wrong expression for something we already have a perfectly good word for!

Gift is just sifficient for giving the meaning of "free offering". So, Free Gift is useless! That's my point. I like your compugraphication though. I have created the word "howmany-eth" myself, a question word for asking the order of things! E.g.:" Howmany-eth president of US was JFK?"

I like "howmany-eth". It has a bit if an Old English ring to it. I understand what you are saying about a "free gift". However, if someone gives me a gift, I feel obligated to give something in return. Thats just my personality, I guess. For many years, my mother has been in the habit of waiting to buy cosmetics until there is an offer of a free gift. I wonder if they jack up the prices right before they offer the "free" gift? :)

Just a brief on "Gift":
The etymology of the term points to Germanic roots. That is: the word "gift" in German and in English stem from the same source. However, in the German "Gift" has acquired the negative meaning, while in the English it is generally a good thing. In German, "Gift" is "poison", while in English one generally thinks that the thing given is good. In any event, the gift, as you correctly point out, is outside exchange economy... A gift can never be paid back and creates a difficulty for philosophical rationalisms...