By Vincent Van Ross

The dictionary is a repository of fun words and wordplays! If only you would look a little further. If only you look beyond words and word meanings!

The dictionary is replete with fun words. It opens up a world of possibilities for word plays. Just don’t take words at their face value. For once just forget that you turn to the dictionary for word meanings.

Words could have meanings beyond their dictionary meanings. Just break free of the shackles that hold you down to words and word meanings. Let your mind soar high up in the sky.

I gave it a try and the results are mind-boggling!

For instance, why should we use the word ‘cargo’ to mean ‘the goods carried by a ship or an aero plane?’ Why can’t we use it to mean ‘flagging off a car rally?’ Because, that is what it is: ‘Car-Go!’ Isn’t it?

Similarly, why do we take ‘still’ and ‘standing’ as meanings of ‘stagnation?’ Why can’t it mean ‘a nation full of stags?’ ‘Stag-Nation,’ I mean?!

Have you ever tried to break up words for fun? Do you know what you would get if you break up the word ‘together?’ You would be surprised to know that the word together is made up of three separate words ‘To-Get-Her!’ Similarly, if you break up the word ‘kidnap,’ you have ‘Kid-Nap!’

Let us go on to country names. Here we will go by the pronunciation and not by spelling. Take a look at this: When I decided to travel abroad, I could find ‘Netherland’ (neither land) Norway (nor way)! And, how many germs would you find in Germany? ‘Germ-Any!’ Where would you find fishes on land? In ‘Fin-Land’…where else?

One can go on and on. There is no end to it. My job was to show the way. Now, it is for you to take off from here…and enter the world of fun words and wordplays! Words have wings. Take a flight. It costs you nothing. Have fun!