Talk:Kangaroo word
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[edit] Examples section too large
There are currently 122 words on the list of "Examples of kangaroo words". I do not think that this list belongs here. Note:
- It is much too long a list already.
- Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information.
- If the plan is to include all kangaroo words on the list, the list will be unmanageably long; if not, why not?
- "As a basic principle, you should avoid list-making in entries [i.e., articles]." —from Wikipedia:Embedded list#Lists_within_articles
- "Some Wikipedians feel that some topics are unsuitable by virtue of the nature of the topic. They feel that some topics are trivial, non-encyclopedic, or not related to human knowledge. If you create a list like the 'list of shades of colours of apple sauce', be prepared to explain why you feel this list contributes to the state of human knowledge." —from Wikipedia:Lists (stand-alone lists)#Appropriate_topics_for_lists
See also Wikipedia:Listcruft. I recommend having approximately four examples from English and approximately one each from approximately two other languages (see WP:BIAS), just to show how it's done. if there is, somewhere on the Web, a list of kangaroo words (as I suspect there is), then by all means link to it in an external links section.
Just my two cents.—msh210℠ 21:29, 3 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] large but couldn't possibly grow much larger
The examples list is large but couldn't possibly grow that much larger! I challenge you to add 10 more legitimate kangaroo words in there. Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information, but it can be quite comprehensive, especially when kangaroo words are rare and hard to come by. Also see Palindromic_phrases (10/4/06)Powerslide
- It would help greatly if these words were in alphabetical order. It's not helpful to number this list - bullet points would be more appropriate. — Paul G 15:23, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
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- I've changed numbering to bullet points and alphabetised the list; there were several duplicates.
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- The challenge has been met. I've added several dozen new examples. I've been conservative and omitted words that have common roots (such as AIDe-de-camp, DEBiT and CORSEleT, although I couldn't resist CLEANsE(R) and DESIdeRatE). More arise if you allow phrases: AdvancinG yEars, CHew the FAT. These were obtained by browsing a thesaurus (Collins) from A to D, suggesting that there are probably a hundred or so more that could be added to the list, and that the list is far too long for Wikipedia. — Paul G 15:47, 21 October 2006 (UTC)
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- Nice work! Paul G. The challenge still remains to anyone who contests that we shouldn't list down kangaroo words here. I still contend that they're rare and difficult to find -- and they deserve a place in wikipedia. We can add a section for kangaroo phrases. You can do that if you want. We can also add a section for parasitic words (words that contain their antonyms) e.g. OVERT and COVERT, EFFETE and EFFECTIVE, AMITY and ANIMOSITY, EVOLUTION and REVOLUTION )Powerslide
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- Thank you. I might have a go at E to Z at some time. Surely parasitic words should have their own page, though? — Paul G 15:36, 20 November 2006 (UTC)
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