1. ohmyrichard

    ohmyrichard Active Member

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    darling?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by ohmyrichard, Apr 6, 2009.

    Hi, everyone.
    Last week I asked my students to write about the merits and demerits of ebooks and physical books telling about their personal preferences. One of my students came up with this title for her composition: E-book--Darling of the 21st Century. I doubted the use of "darling" in this title, so I went to my Oxford dictionary and got the following explanation: The darling of somebody or something is a person who is especially liked and very popular. Here's a contradiction: ebook is not a person. Do you think "darling" can be used in this figurative way to draw attention from the reader?
    Thanks.
    Richard
     
  2. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

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    Yes it can be used that way.

    I think it definitely draws the reader in it because it's intriguing to think of an e-book as something precious.

    ~Lynn
     
  3. Agreen

    Agreen Faceless Man Contributor

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    Seconding the previous poster- I've seen movies, books and concepts referred to as "the darling of..." before.
     
  4. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

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    Woot! I got seconded! Erm. yeah, sorry. Bit hyper. :p

    ~Lynn
     
  5. ohmyrichard

    ohmyrichard Active Member

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    Thanks. Why did I not get any clues concerning this issue when I went googling befoe coming here?
     
  6. ohmyrichard

    ohmyrichard Active Member

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    Thanks, Agreen.
     
  7. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

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    Because google sucks the soul out of people?

    I dunno.. I just know google is not good for everything. >< Or my car would be fixed by now.
     
  8. iolair

    iolair Active Member

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    I think it's a great title :)
     
  9. ohmyrichard

    ohmyrichard Active Member

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    You were lured into coming here, only to find that there was nothing you are after?
     
  10. Dcoin

    Dcoin New Member

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    I agree with your original post, only becasue I'd like to see the reaction to being thirded. :D
     
  11. KP Williams

    KP Williams Active Member

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    There's a specific term for this type of thing: personification. :D
     
  12. Okie

    Okie New Member

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    I often encounter the word 'darling' when speaking to folks from the south somewhere. They seem to use is like: "Oh just look at these darling earrings on that girl."
    Seems to happen all the time. I wouldn't even blink if I saw that headline 'Darling of...'


    So does this count as thirded or fourthed? Just wondering...
     
  13. theheresy

    theheresy New Member

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    it's called personification, it's when you make an inanimate object and relate it to a person. By calling an e-book darling it's a creative method of literary personification, in my opinion.
     
  14. ohmyrichard

    ohmyrichard Active Member

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    Thank you all for helping me out.
    Richard
     
  15. g1ng3rsnap9ed

    g1ng3rsnap9ed New Member

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    Fifthed. :D
     
  16. lynneandlynn

    lynneandlynn New Member

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    OMG I got a third, a fourth, and a FIFTH. I think I might faint :p

    And since I'm actually from the South, I read this question and was like, "Yep, heard that before." People here love to use the term darling to describe something other than a person. "Darling earrings, darling purse, etc." It's nearly always something feminine in origin, but hey--it's still personification.

    And hey, I got FIFTHED!!! :-D

    ~Lynn
     

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