I've always called this the Neo technique, which is short for neologism. The idea is to make up a new word and treat it like a fake encyclopedia entry, with a fictional definition.
Making Fake Words
To make a word I take two words from a random word generator, lift a few letters (it's usually between two and five) from the ends or the beginnings of the words, and stick them together.
Example:
Weird Electron
= Irdron.
With the word created, I then have to think what it means; What would I guess that word means if I saw it in an encyclopedia and couldn't see the definition? "Irdron" kinda sounds like a quantum particle, so (with a little imagination thrown in):
Irdron = Hypothetical quantum particle.
The General Encyclopedia
Pursuing this "general encyclopedia" path, it's like I've flipped open a general encyclopedia on a random page, picked out a random word, and read the definition. However, the word and defintion are both made up! Some examples:
Claw Fly = Clafl.
Clafl definition = Musical instrument, makes a "clap clap" sound. Works same way as castanets.
Airship Freak = Hipeak.
Hipeak definition = The peak of hippy culture in the 60s.
Ether Diabolotry = Therbolotry.
Therbolotry definition = When a theramin solo in a performance goes on too long and the audience exclaim, "This is utter therbolotry!"
There is sometimes a "feel" that the hybrid words have that intuitively leads to an idea for a definition. If a definition doesn't pop into my head, I'll try to think of a couple of words that the neologism sounds like it could be composed of, and use those words to steer me to thinking of a definition. Example:
Urban rural
= banrur
"Banrur" sound like "banned roar" which leads to the definition:
The peak volume permitted by law at a public performance.
Coupling The New Word with A Real Word
This approach uses the format:
Neologism + real word.
The neologism goes in front of a real word chosen by a random word generator, and the neologism modifies the real word.
Liberating massacre = tingma.
Random word = bulldozer.
The neologism and random word put together gives: Tingma bulldozer. "Tingma" sounds like a remote tribe, so the definition I create is: When a remote tribe - The Tingma - link arms and combine strength to function as a human bulldozer.
Torrid Township = Torrtown. Random word = Hop.
Torrtown Hop = Variation of the Lindy Hop, invented in the U.S. town of Torrtown.
Above Church = Bovech. Random word = root.
Bovech root = Hallucinogenic plant root found in Bovech, Germany.
Logic Blasting = Logiblast. Random word = implant.
Logiblast implant = Hypothesised AI brain implant that can supplement all normal thinking with pure logic.
The Encyclopedia of Psychology
I can specify a type of encyclopedia for a particular area of interest. Here are some neologisms and definitions generated for an encyclopedia of psychology.
Clock Orangutang = Clocutang = An orangutang's perception of the passing of time.
Baseline Every = Lineeve = Any individual's line of female ancestors.
Atrocity Negative = Atrotive = (adj, of chemicals) Any chemical that inhibits brain functions.
Neologism and Real Word
As above, I can use a neologism to modify a real word and come up with a definition for my psychology encyclopedia. Examples:
Amiss Similar = Misssimilia. Random word = doll. Misssimila Doll = Automaton doll from the 1800s that the inventor wanted to improve incrementally until the doll functioned as a human.
Innocent Bulbous = Innous. Random word = Canvas. Innous Canvas = the blank "canvas" of the mind of a young infant.
Democratic Cortex = Demotex. Random word = Uncertainty. Demotex uncertainty = The mistaken assumption made by learners that all concepts that are unknown to them are of similar complexity.
Encyclopedia about...The Summit of Mount Everest
I can make the topic of my encyclopedia about anything I want, from the general to the specific. Here's some ideas for an encyclopedia about the summit of Mount Everest.
Capsule Educated = Sulecated = Adjective that describes the surface appearance of rock where that rock is constantly at sub-zero temperatures and is at an altitude with low pressure.
Hiss Continuous = Hiscon = A worsening of tinnitus symptoms due to low air pressure at high altitudes.
Zoo Perplexing = Zooxing = When a mountaineer hallucinates fanciful non-existent creatures when affected by altitude sickness.
Blister Democracy = Blicracy = A hierarchy a group of mountaineers generate to decide which climber will have the honour of summiting first.
And now with a neologism modifying a random word:
Atrocities Crook = Tiescroo. Random word = block. Tiescroo block = When the summit is blocked because a group of euphoric climbers are spending too long celebrating an ascent.
Blip Disfigured = Lipgured. Random word = Purpose. Lipgured purpose = The medical procedure taken to treat frostbitten lips.
Uses
This is good fun, but it's also great for generating quiz questions (by using definitions to remind you of things in real life) and highlighting gaps in your own knowledge.
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