I recognised that a lot of the upper ones are fabrics, but I didn't know what kind for most. Freesia and verbena just sound like flowers. Duola is a job some women have helping new mothers, I think. I did not know what a kohl was at all.
I recognised a lot of the categories - electricity, magnetism, computer measurements - there were a lot of measurements. I didn't know yakuza. I didn't know checksum and femtosecond, but my guesses was pretty good. Neodynium is an element, but I don't know its uses.
Dr. Red Guy, I have bad news for you. You have outed yourself as a geek - which is fine here, but be careful in other places. At 74% of women knowing the word, in contrast to half that number of men, it has to be the cloth, not the computer guy.
The Jaquard *cloth* comes from the Jacquard *loom*, which weaves patterns based on holes in cards...which was one inspiration for punched card counting & calculation machinery.
I didn't recognize pessary, neodymium, or checksum, which were fairly evenly spread across the male-female range. Several others were words I could place generally but couldn't have defined very accurately. I know a femtosecond is a tiny fraction, for instance, but I had no idea how many decimal places. (Turns out it's minus 15.) Neodymium is a rare earth, atomic no. 60, that I've absolutely never heard of, though I thought I'd at least vaguely recognize any element on the periodic table. I'll probably remain a little vague about what a boson is no matter how often I try to read up on it, but I could get as far as "rare atomic particle," which is frankly about all I know about most atomic particles whose names would ring a bell.
So there are many words I couldn't use intelligently, but I have a very general idea what they refer to. Before I made a purchase based on a description using most of the specialized fabric words, I'd look up a picture to be sure. The net tells me, for instance, that "damask is a specific type of jacquard fabric characterized by its reversible design and smooth surface." News to me; I had both words filed in the same spot in my brain, something to do with an intricate woven pattern with a slightly textured surface.
If you look up "sheer fabric" on Amazon, you'll be offered tulle, organza, voile, chiffon, mesh, and gauze, but not taffeta, which apparently is a little less transparent and more structured, tending toward satin. And now I know.
I recognised that a lot of the upper ones are fabrics, but I didn't know what kind for most. Freesia and verbena just sound like flowers. Duola is a job some women have helping new mothers, I think. I did not know what a kohl was at all.
ReplyDeleteI recognised a lot of the categories - electricity, magnetism, computer measurements - there were a lot of measurements. I didn't know yakuza. I didn't know checksum and femtosecond, but my guesses was pretty good. Neodynium is an element, but I don't know its uses.
It was fun to play with.
I'm just trying to get over the observation that the rows are ordered in reference to proportion of males who know the word.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that was a tactical error as far as PR goes. At least they didn't also flip the chart so that the male-favored words were at the top.
ReplyDeleteI know Jacquard. Kohl is a thing you rub around your eyes. 90% accurate.
ReplyDeleteJacquard, inventor of punch card programming.
DeleteDr. Red Guy, I have bad news for you. You have outed yourself as a geek - which is fine here, but be careful in other places. At 74% of women knowing the word, in contrast to half that number of men, it has to be the cloth, not the computer guy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know it because I bought some silk “wild rags” to wear while riding, and one of the women in my life said, “Oh, that’s jacquard!”
DeleteThe Jaquard *cloth* comes from the Jacquard *loom*, which weaves patterns based on holes in cards...which was one inspiration for punched card counting & calculation machinery.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if what makes the oddball fabric word "taffeta" recognizable by men is Young Frankenstein.
ReplyDeleteI didn't recognize pessary, neodymium, or checksum, which were fairly evenly spread across the male-female range. Several others were words I could place generally but couldn't have defined very accurately. I know a femtosecond is a tiny fraction, for instance, but I had no idea how many decimal places. (Turns out it's minus 15.) Neodymium is a rare earth, atomic no. 60, that I've absolutely never heard of, though I thought I'd at least vaguely recognize any element on the periodic table. I'll probably remain a little vague about what a boson is no matter how often I try to read up on it, but I could get as far as "rare atomic particle," which is frankly about all I know about most atomic particles whose names would ring a bell.
ReplyDeleteSo there are many words I couldn't use intelligently, but I have a very general idea what they refer to. Before I made a purchase based on a description using most of the specialized fabric words, I'd look up a picture to be sure. The net tells me, for instance, that "damask is a specific type of jacquard fabric characterized by its reversible design and smooth surface." News to me; I had both words filed in the same spot in my brain, something to do with an intricate woven pattern with a slightly textured surface.
If you look up "sheer fabric" on Amazon, you'll be offered tulle, organza, voile, chiffon, mesh, and gauze, but not taffeta, which apparently is a little less transparent and more structured, tending toward satin. And now I know.
ReplyDelete