Is There a Word?

[forsyth]

There's some things that feel like they should have words, but English doesn't seem to have them. Like something that makes perfect sense on one level, but on another level is completely ridiculous. For example, a multinational giant corporation like Barnes and Noble stocking Adbusters the magazine. It makes perfect sense on the "sell more stuff" and "get more exposure" levels for each, but it's also utterly ridiculous. Though on another level, I guess it makes sense too, if you believe a bookstore actually stands behind ideals about free speech and stuff (which, working at said giant multinational corporation, I find kinda unlikely).

But still, there oughta be a word. I bet German has one. German has awesome words for everything. And no, I don't think irony is quite the word I'm looking for, though it's part of the concept.

Comments

[forsythferret.livejournal.com]

You are right that german probably has a word, but I'll bet it's just a mash-up of a two or more words that note the extra layers... Doublesecretirony or whatever but in german.

That's one of the things I like about German. At least in the abstract, since I don't actually know German.

And like I said, irony's part of it, but it feels like something more. Doublesecretirony, maybe. Or maybe it's just that it's something that actually happened without being set up (unless it was) with the intention of being ironic, "natural" irony as opposed to "artificial" irony.