posted
Ever find yourself writing something that seems routine, but then suddenly having to describe something that you're sure there must be precise and specific terms for---but you just can't think of them? I've run aground on something in my latest novel.
I'm stuck on simple terminology for what seems like simple technology. What do you call either end of a telephone---both the end you speak into and the end the voice comes out of.
Probably I'll think of it five minutes after I post this---but maybe not, and you can jog my memory when I look in tomorrow. Or recall and share some embarrassing failure of memory from your own past or writings.
I think you might say the earpiece is a receiver and the mouthpiece a transmitter.
People say 'pick up the receiver' but that stems from the days when old phones had a separate earpiece to hold to your ear and the mouthpiece was still on the wall.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited February 01, 2007).]
posted
It seems so obvious now...thanks. I can use "earpiece" and "mouthpiece"...I can even use "pick up the receiver," 'cause my novel is technically a period piece (1947 so far) and I visualized one phone in question as the old-fashioned kind.
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posted
I have a book that would've helped you with your problem, Robert. It's called "Descriptionary, A Thematic Dictionary." It's subtitle is, "The book for when you know what it is, but not what it's called." It's by Marc McCutcheon and is part of the Facts on File Writer's Library, published by Checkmark Books. I think I got it at Barnes & Noble. Happy hunting!
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