You Say Kadigan, I Say Menopause

/ Ally Bean

HERE is something that I learned & maybe you will find it interesting, too.

There is a word to describe the linguistic phenomenon when a person uses a generic placeholder word  for a specific word because that person cannot remember the specific word.  This placeholder word is called a KADIGAN.  More here & here.

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TO WIT, I will first tell you a sentence filled with kadigans;  it is the sort of sentence that a menopausal woman might say.

Charming example sentence filled with kadigans:

  • Sunshine, I’d love to buy you that gewgaw with the gobbledygook on it, but out here in Podunk, USA, they don’t take credit cards and I don’t have my thingamadoodle to get money from the ATM.

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THEN I will interpret what I said, translating said sentence into pre-menopausal speak.

Charming example sentence devoid of kadigans:

  • Susan, I’d love to buy you that piece of jewelry with the monogram engraved on it, but out here in this small town, they don’t take credit cards and I don’t have my bank card to get money from the ATM.

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AND THAT, my gentle readers, is what kadigans are all about.  They are the ability to keep speaking, as if you know what you’re saying, even when you are experiencing your own personal summer & cannot for the life of you remember that word you need to use right now… so you fill-in the blank as best you can.

12 thoughts on “You Say Kadigan, I Say Menopause”

  1. Please note: WP editor doesn’t know kadigan & thingamadoodle, but it does know gewgaw & gobbledygook. Would we not think that it would be the other way around? I am forever mystified by the ways of WP. ‘Tis a wonder to behold.

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  2. Oh, hell. I can’t even come up with THOSE. I just sort of stop…and wait…while the other party looks pityingly at me, The Person Who Used To Be In Command Of The Language. It’s very sad.

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    • nance, you make me laugh. I’m sure that you’re much more in command of the language than you think you are. Considering that you started way beyond the average person’s ability to speak clearly, you’re still ahead of the game. Throw in a few kadigans & you’re good to go!

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  3. So that’s what they’re called! I’ve been using kadigans for many years now. I always attributed my lack of using the correct words to having children. I lost many brain cells with each child, so I’m down to about nill right now:)

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    • Beth, I was so amazed when I found out that there was a word to describe my use of non-specific words. Who knew?

      As for children stealing a mother’s ability to use specific words, I’ve heard many, many women say the same thing. I don’t think that you’re alone… and just wait until menopause kicks in! 😉

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  4. There’s a word for everything – and it’s nice to know what it is. And I can blame my constant use of thingie and whatzit on menopause? That’s even better. Oh, look, WP recognizes thingamabob. That must be the correct spelling….

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    • Zazzy, I think that you must be right. I never knew this word, but now that I do it is a favorite or mine. Don’t you agree, Sweetie Darling? [What was your name again?]

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  6. It’s been happening to me more and more lately and I do the same thing as Nance; I get a frustrated look on my face and say about 100 times What’s that word, what’s that word…Then several hours later it comes to me!

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