PORTMANTEAU

Portmanteau---a suitcase opening flat with two equal sides. But....that's not what this entry concerns. It's just to give you a mental image of 2 parts into 1 whole. Now, think two words combined to give one entirely new thought.

Wordsmith's have long had a way of creating their own words. At our house the kids became familiar with an entirely new vocabulary created by their dad. 

Portmanteau words in my past seem to "stick" long before I knew they were a literary device. 

 

Brunch, at our house meant Mother's bridge club was coming and brunch (a repast between breakfast and lunch) would be served. Sporks would be provided if cobbler with ice cream followed as this spoon fork utensil would be perfect. Plus, it took up less room on their "card table."

Literary devices make some of these creations "legit" by "naming them."

• hungry + angry = hangry
• IPod + broadcast = podcast
• situational + comedy = sitcom
• smoke + fog = smog
• emotional + icon = emoticon

 

...created character combos side ways on keyboard to save space

Wordsmiths love combining words to make new words.

Recently I began using selrel as a negative in my journal jottings.

My portmanteau for self reliance. Two words together for one meaning. 

Trying "to do" all  in your own strength. 

SELREL----Think antonym for God's strength.

Selrel--won't become legit in the linguistic world, but it's an "in your face" reminder for me to BEWARE---of looking to self for strength instead of leaning into the LORD, who is our strength. (Psalm 46:1)