Jerry W Stewart

It’s been a while since my last post. Life has kept me more busy than usual, but I’m making an effort to blog more regularly again. In this post I just want to fill everyone in on what I’ve been up to during my absence. I got my iPhone, and I’ve sent off for replacement. It quit charging the battery, so I went without a phone while I waited for the repair or replacement. It must have been beyond repair, because the replacement I got back didn’t have a small scratch on the screen. Overall I’ve been pleased with my phone. I just hope that this one lasts longer than a month. There is a new firmware coming out September 25th to allow MMS support on iPhone 3G and 3Gs. I’m looking forward to the added feature, so I will be updating my phone then.

I’ve also been busy teaching my oldest daughter to read and spell words. She’s in first grade this year, and it is crucial for her to learn to read. I feel like the rest of her education hinges on this year and her ability to read by the end of it. This has taken up tons of time, not due to a lack of effort on her part, but rather the words she is required to spell. She gets 16 words a week that range from 4 to 5 letters long. Every Friday she has a spelling test on the words for that week. The words so far have focused on the combination sound of a consonant + r construction (br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, and tr). She has some difficulties with some of the combinations, but she is willing and ready to learn. We work hard on her words, and she is making some major improvements. It’s still an everyday thing when I have her.

When I do find time to pursue my own interests, I usually spend it trying to fill my manuscript with words. It might sound easy, but there is a lot involved in writing a novel. It takes some serious determination and an adamant refusal to throw in the towel. I will admit that I’ve been tempted to just give it up and say it wasn’t for me. I can’t do it, though. First of all, I love doing it way too much, and second of all, I want to know if my efforts will ever be good enough to find a publisher. So I’m sorry that my writing time has been spent writing fiction and not blogging. I hope to find a balance in the future.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a word nerd. I love words, their origins, and uses. While doing some research for one of my current works in progress I ran into another word nerd’s explanation of the word parkour on a web forum. If you didn’t know I was word nerd, before, then you should definitely know that I am now that I have publicly admitted to reading a forum on word usage. I’m going to post that forum entry by Alissa J. Bratz in its entirety here.

*drags the thread up from the grave*
Live! Liiiiive!
*lightning bolts*
Okay, now that that drama is out of the way, I’m going to unveil my utter geekdom here, and share the reasons you can’t use parkour as a verb.
As stated, parkour is a noun. However, English turns nouns into verbs all the time. The process is called zero-conversion, zero-derivation (in the case of English), or verbification: when a language changes a word from one part of speech into a verb. For example, in English, "weird" is an adjective, but people often use it as a phrasal verb: "That guy totally weirded me out." Or email: "Send me an e-mail" vs. "E-mail me."
All languages engage in zero-conversion to a degree; English is particularly fond of verbification.
Given this, and English’s propensity towards zero-conversion to verbs, why can’t "parkour" be used as a verb?
Because le parkour is a French noun that has been borrowed from French. French does not zero-convert to verbs as readily as English does (although this is not always the case: verbs like "googliser"=to [look up on] Google, and the like crop up in French often enough. Worth noting is that "Google" itself is a borrowing into French, however it is a weak example as it is a proper noun for a product name, like Coca-Cola or Xerox, and is therefore generally unchanged language to language. Parkour is not a proper noun/brand name.)
All languages borrow from other languages as the need arises. "Need" is generally characterized by the introduction of a cultural element from one speech community to another, for which the receiving speech community has no equivalent. For instance, answer this question: What is the English translation for "burrito"?
In the case of parkour, no equivalent for parkour existed in English speech communities, so the name was imported along with the art form. This bond was further solidified by the application of "freerunning" as a possible English translation, and freerunning’s subsequent philosophical/applicational split from parkour proper. The split necessitated a linguistic distinction between the two disciplines, handily already present via the inital borrowing of "parkour" into English.
That "parkour" is a borrowed noun is significant, because English typically doesn’t zero-convert/verbify borrowed words. Support for this notion has already been given in previous posts with the examples "ballet" (also French), and "karate" (Japanese).
In French, the expression would be "faire du parkour"=to do parkour. French applies the verb "faire" (to do) to many, many physical activities. It’s simply a characteristic of the language:
faire du bateau=to go boating
faire de la planche a voile=to windsurf
faire du roller en ligne=to rollerblade
faire du ski=to ski (although skier is also used as a single verb)
faire du cheval/de l’equitation=to go horseback riding/to ride horses
…etc.
So since "parkour" is a noun, verbified in French by means of a "faire construction" ("to do" construction), borrowed into English, which typically resists zero-converting borrowed words, we have no other choice but to say "to do/practice parkour" in English.
It is conceivable that in the future, English will zero-convert parkour into a verb; but in general that will depend much on whether it gains wide acceptance among English speech communities (to me, personally, it just sounds wrong, but that may be because I also speak French).
It is unlikely that French will verbify "parkour" for two reasons: one, because it is already in wide use with a faire construction, and two, because the noun "parkour" itself derived from the French verb "parcourir,"=to run across or through. So the verb "parkourir" is already taken (phonetically); "parkourer" might take root, but it’s unlikely. The root verb is "courir"=to run; part of a specific verb class (-IR verbs like dormir), and although most verbification in French classifies verbs in the -ER verb class (the most common verb class), it is highly irregular/unlikely for a verb to "jump classes" like that.
So there you also have an actual linguistic explanation, and you probably also think I’m a huge nerd… which I am.
B.A., Linguistics, University of Wisconsin, 1998
*bows*

If you would like, you can read the entire forum here.

Bibliography

Alissa J. Bratz. (June 19, 2007). How to use the word parkour. In American Parkour Forums. Retrieved July 31, 2009, from http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=fb7f726327a07b5722893daeffcbbafc&topic=885.msg57802#msg57802.

–Jerry W. Stewart

Artist: Lady Sovereign
Album: Jigsaw
Song: Guitar

I saw a tweet on twitter about the Jung personality test. My curiosity got the best of me, so I had to check it out and see what my results were. I want to archive the results, because I think a lot of them are spot on, so I thought what better place than my blog. Without further adieu, I give you the results.

Jung Typology Test Results

Your Type is: INTJ

Qualitative analysis of your type formula:

• moderately expressed introvert
• distinctively expressed intuitive personality
• moderately expressed thinking personality
• slightly expressed judging personality

Links:

• INTJ type description by D.Keirsey
• INTJ Identify Your Career with Jung Career Indicator™
• INTJ type description by J. Butt and M.M. Heiss
• Maximizing Your Study Environment from Keirsey
• The above links describe my personality type in greater depth and provide some interesting tidbits. I’m going to share with you some of the ones that stuck out most to me.

• Here’s an Excerpt of Keirsey’s Analysis of a Mastermind:

• “Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they are thoroughgoing pragmatists. Masterminds are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency-any waste of human and material resources-they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don’t, aren’t, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.”

An Excerpt From Keirsey’s Suggestions on Maximizing My Study Area:

“Masterminds (INTJ) care a bit more about their environment than Architects do, but once they are deep in a project, they can be even more concentrated and focused. The main thing a Mastermind wants is lots of uninterrupted time. They will skip meals, classes, even dates as they pursue the completion of a project.”

An Excerpt From Keirsey’s Finding Your Passion:

“The Mastermind (INTJ) is very focused as well, but more on an internal vision. They are good at solving problems and like to work on tough intellectual puzzles. They are often led into technical positions such as scientific researcher, design engineer, environmental planner. The developing field of genetics benefits from their intensity as does the field of medicine. In education they are most often found at the college and university level. In the professions, they may be a lawyer, a business analyst, or strategic planner. Some have a strong artistic/creative bent and may become an artist, inventor, or designer. Whatever they do, they do it with intensity. Says Kim, “I am constantly teaching myself something new in order to solve the problems that I encounter. My husband leaves me alone when he sees that I am caught in what he calls my “Thinking Time.” I’m unwinding knots even in my sleep.”

My decent into narcissism is drawing to a close. I hope you’ve enjoyed my results. I’m interested in yours. Go take the test here and post your results in the comments.

–Jerry W. Stewart

In my last post I said, I wasn’t going to work on my first project anymore. I had decided to move on to my second idea, because it felt more like a story that I would want to read. Some advice from my writing friend, Casey, has changed my mind. In a reply to my last post, she said that I had to keep writing the first one, but writing both might be an option, as well. I’m going to attempt the latter. I think writing both stories at the same time has some merit. They are completely different from each other, which gives me a reason to write no matter what my mood is at the time.

Manuscript 1 has an All-American hero for protagonist and the other has a darker anti-hero. One is more of your typical vampire/werewolf story and the other has a lot of religious overtones in it. The good boy is harder for me to write, while the anti-hero seems to flow more naturally. The first is being told in the first person perspective from the hero’s POV, and the other is being told in the third person perspective by an omniscient narrator. With the books being so much different from each other, I can switch back and forth depending on what mood I’m in at the time. I used to think it was a bad idea to divide my attention this way, but the more I thought about it, I realized that in my imagination my attention is already divided by these two ideas. I find myself day dreaming about both of them, so I don’t think it is going to hurt either story to write about them congruently.

What are your thoughts on working on multiple projects at the same time? Do you find it harder to focus, or is this your preferred way to work? I’m interested in other peoples writing habits, and I would love to hear about yours.

–Jerry Stewart

Artist: Soundgarden
Album: Superunknown
Song: Black Hole Sun

I haven’t blogged in a while. I’m sorry about that, but I have excuses. I doubt they are good excuses, but excuses none the less.

I finally got my iPhone a little while back, and like any other new gadget I get, I had to hack it and figure out how it all worked. It held my attention for about a week. During that time I didn’t written anything, which includes blogging. I’ve been pretty much glued to my phone. Thank God, my wife is very understanding and tolerant of my obsession with new toys. She is very patient with me during these times of distraction in my life. She let’s me know, occasionally, how bad I’m getting, but patient enough to give me the time to come back around to the real world. I’m finally back and ready to write and blog again. I have another smaller excuse to tell you about and then I’ll talk about my current writing.

My family just got back from a vacation in Branson, MO. The kids had a great time riding the rides at Silver Dollar City and so did I. I had to do the fatherly thing and accompany my youngest daughter, Alexis, on some of the rides that I wouldn’t have chose to ride by myself. But I did get to ride the biggest roller coaster they had just before we left for home. Wildfire was awesome—all 30 seconds of it. On the first drop I thought my stomach was going to push my eyeballs out of my head, and as soon as you recover from that you start the loops. I love roller coasters and that one was great. I wish we would have had more time for me to ride it over and over again, but we didn’t.

I talked my oldest daughter, Brianna, into riding Thunderation with me. That was her first adult roller coaster experience. She handled it well, but the look on her face was priceless. She was completely shell shocked while we were on the coaster, but assured me that she had fun when we got off the ride. I asked if she wanted to ride it again, and without any hesitation got a resounding NO in response.

We also got to take the kids to the Dickerson Zoo in Springfield, MO. they had a blast feeding the carp, goats, and giraffes. I got a few videos of the excursion that you can find on my Facebook page and later, when I get around to it, on my Youtube channel. We also got to eat at my favorite restaurant, Joe’s Crab Shack. Brianna wanted to be just like me, so she had snow crab from the kids menu. I had Alaskan King Crab. Yum!

Now, a little about my writing. I’ve been working on a story for a little over a month, now. I spent almost six months with the story in my mind before I sat down to write anything. Even with all of that planning, I’ve been struggling to finish the first chapter. The hero is just too All-American for me; I think. I’ve had another idea floating around in my head for a few months that is more my style. I like the anti-heroes and unlikely heroes. The main character in this new idea is a mixture of both. The story is a little darker with some religious overtones. I’ve decided to abandon the first idea (for now), and work on the new one. I think the story will flow from me easier than the one I’ve been working on, and as a bonus, it is a more original idea. I’m looking forward to getting started writing out character notes and plot developments. Bring on the writing.

I want to leave you with two questions:

• How are your manuscripts coming along?
• Do you think it’s ok to abandon an idea if it’s not going anywhere? or Should you keep trudging through the story until you make it work?

–Jerry Stewart