"A word after a word after a word is power" - Margaret Atwood

BRIDGET WHELAN

A blog for readers and writers

A blog about the stories we tell each other and how we tell them...

Friday, 10 September 2010

Another word for the person you're with...

...discussions centred on the topic at celebrations to mark a soon-to-be-awarded doctorate in poetry and with a gathering of wordsmiths you'd think we'd be able to come up with something, if not original than at least strange and memorable, but we came a bit unstuck. 
There was a general consensus against partner and in favour of the Anglo Saxon simplicity of: this is my man; this is my woman. But it needs a certain aplomb to carry it off and it's not suitable for all occasions.  
I'm fond of the Irish equivalents: Himself and Herself (as in the phrase Himself says he's watching the football tonight but I've hidden the remote.) I can't think of anything to beat John Mortimer's she who must be obeyed (taken in turn from Rider Haggard's She) but there must be a phrase more redolent of the times in which we live...even if it is only suitable for the pages of fiction and can't be used when  making introductions at the office Christmas party. Any suggestions?

2 comments:

Miriam said...

This is why I had to get married in the end.

BRIDGET said...

...hmmm less than romantic though...