Dear Editor,
Re: “‘Curious’ behaviour’ proves hard to define,” News, Jan. 18
Like columnist Sabine Eiche, I have derived great pleasure from reading my copy of The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd. The argument that English could be a more flexible and inventive language is, I feel, a valid one and Douglas and Lloyd have proven that it could also be much more amusing when manipulated in creative ways.
In Sabine’s search for a word to descibe the “certain behavioiur” that has caught her interest may I suggest “opputy” (behaviours and/or efforts where extreme opposites are combined or juxtaposed in ways that create something attractive or beautiful). Now, If more architects, contractors, and cummunity planners could demonstrate more “opputy” in their work, this city might have a much more attractive character than it does.
Ray Arnold
Richmond
