There Oughta Be a Word for That
So, Let’s Make One Up
When you can’t find the right word for a particular action or situation, it’s called a “Lexical Gap.” It describes a lack of vocabulary to express a specific concept or experience.
If you think about it, lexical gaps happen at least once daily. I had one happen yesterday. I was out and about, running some chores and rushing down the sidewalk. Another woman, most likely doing the same thing, rushed up in the other direction toward me. As we met in the middle of the sidewalk, we did that awkward ‘dodge left/dodge right’ thing in perfectly mirrored harmony. Then we did it again. Then we laughed, and I stopped the dodging, allowing her to pass. Is there a name for that very experience? I don't think so. But it is common enough that it deserves one. How about PASS-DE-DEUX? PASS-DUH-DEUX? Hmmmm…
Or how about that moment when you walk into a room and forget why you’re there? What should we call that experience? How about ROOMNESIA?
I like Lexical Gaps. They celebrate the hilarity of everyday life, showing us how language often fails to capture our shared experiences. They can potentially turn ordinary moments—like the PASS-DE-DEUX thing—into something funny. Lexical Gaps can throw a spotlight on our cultural differences, too, prompting us to get creative with language as we try to…
