Alternyms are alternate names, figures of speech, or references that help provide understanding when explaining something, while fuzzynyms are failed attempts at alternyms that only cause more confusion. The document provides examples like nicknames, movie lines, and metaphors to illustrate alternyms, and defines a fuzzynym as a connection that doesn't make sense and leaves the listener perplexed.

1. Alternyms
&
Fuzzynyms
Dan Gilkerson
Ignite San Diego - August 2009

2. You listen...
You listen...
But you’re so confused
You’re lost in a daze
no longer amused

3. You don’t understand
You can’t concentrate
What do you ask for so you can relate?

4. Analogies and similes are figures of speech
Synonyms and antonyms are also in reach
How about an idiom or a metaphor?
There’s so many options, which one do you ask for?

5. Let’s make up a word that’s easy to use
Alternym sounds good to me
That’s the one I’ll choose

6. Wait a minute!
Isn’t
alternym already
defined?

7. Alternym
An alternate name
Nickname
Pseudonym - A fictitious name used by an
author to conceal his or her identity; pen name
Phonynym
- Made up name.
- Made up word.

8. Mark Twain
King of Pop
Buffalo Bill
LL Cool J
Unabomber
John Doe
K-Fed
Snoop Dogg

9. Alterations to the definition
Higher!
More abstract
Broader
Wider
Let’s encompass analogies, synonyms, antonyms,
retronyms, metaphors, similes, nicknames, figures of
speech, movie references, and more...

10. Simply put...
Relating multiple things together to
help give more understanding.
• Nicknames - Usually have some history behind
them
• Figures of speech - A colorful expression
• Line from a movie - We all have that one friend
and hopefully we’ve seen the movie

11. Example time...
Time flies by so quickly

12. It’s like giving a presentation at ignite
It’s the feeling you have when creating
slides for a presentation at the last minute
When you’re having so much fun learning
about new things and the night is over

13. OK, but what if I don’t understand the alternym?

14. Well then that’s a
Fuzzynym

15. A fuzzy I’m Fuzzy
what?

16. Fuzzynym
• There’s a connection but you don’t understand it.
• An attempted alternym that failed miserably
• Usually followed by a confused expression

17. That wasn’t so fuzzy!
So that’s an alternym and fuzzynym...
One more example!
How about an alternym for the HIVE?

18. Communal Digs?
You mean I have to share?
COMMUNAL DIGS FOR
THE NOMADIC CREATIVE
Nomadic? I don’t like moving
Huh?

19. A working collective
A place that creates buzzz!
...mmm like
honey!
Collectively creating sweet sweet things
Busy bees work in a hive

20. Say what?
??? Huh?
So when you’re confused in conversation
On any given day
Ask them for an alternym
and be curious to what they say