WOW Word-Of-the-Week #450: Juxtaposition

March 21, 2013 by · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #450: Juxtaposition 

Juxtaposition – putting side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Is this a word you are familiar with?  Have you ever used it in a conversation? Do you remember the last time you noticed any contrasts?

This week’s WOW came from my good friend and fellow speaker Sarita several years ago. She came into my mind on my travels this month and I decided to rerun it. Sarita said, “I love the word ‘juxtaposition.’  I think the word would give you a great opportunity to talk about your recent travels…traveling is when I most notice ‘contrast.’”

Example: “When I spoke in Hong Kong years ago, I remember that I was struck by the juxtaposition of the old-world Chinese boats and the modern high-rise buildings.”

St. Andrew's Bay, South Georgia 12

St. Andrew’s Bay, South Georgia

It was this photo that Chris took on the island of South Georgia that made me think of Sarita’s WOW. It is such an example of contrasts. Reindeers belong on the North Pole right?  As it turns out, the reindeer were brought her by the whalers as a source of food in the early 1900’s. The island is governed by the U.K. and they are in the process of removing any animals that are not indigenous. Rats are another problem and the reindeer have been eating the bait put out for them. By this time next year their goal is to be reindeer and rat free.

This week’s focus is on contrasts. Do you have an example from your travels? Have you noticed any contrasts in your daily life?

WOW Word-Of-the-Week #309: Juxtaposition

June 29, 2010 by · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #309: Juxtaposition 

Juxtaposition – putting side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Is this a word you are familiar with?  Have you ever used it in a conversation? I have to admit, it isn’t a word I have ever used.

My good friend and fellow speaker Sarita and I were chatting about my WOW’s and she commented that she liked this word. So when I invited her to submit some thoughts she had she responded by saying, “Yes, I love the word ‘juxtaposition.’  I think the word would give you a great opportunity to talk about your recent travels…traveling is when I most notice ‘contrast.’”

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Harbor

Example: “When I spoke in Hong Kong years ago, I remember that I was struck by the juxtaposition of the old-world Chinese boats and the modern high-rise buildings.”

So then I sent her an e-mail back saying give me some more juxtapositions. Sarita wrote back, “When I looked at my sister’s photos from a recent trip to India and Dubai, the juxtaposition of the poverty in India and the lavish living in Dubai was striking.”

“I’ve discovered that the real secret to being an effective speaker is the juxtaposition of lecture, stories and audience participation.”

“While playing tour guide to visiting relatives last weekend, I was reminded of what I’ve enjoyed about living in Oceanside for almost 20 years…the juxtaposition of suburb-dwelling families, beach-going tourists and ever-changing military personnel.”

So Sarita got me started thinking about “contrasts.” What came up for me was cruising on the Mekong Delta in Cambodia in relative luxury, relaxing on my teak lounge chair, sipping my cocktail, and watching the world go by. The juxtaposition being that the world I was watching was the locals bringing their cows and children down to the river to take their baths.  And then I realized there were a lot of juxtapositions on that trip!

This week think about contrasts. Do you have an example from your travels? Have you experienced driving through a city and the juxtaposition of bordering neighborhoods?