Altoona Wants You to Create a Cozy New Word

Wednesday, August 23, 2017
VolumeOne

Despite the profusion of words in the English language, sometimes it's hard to find one with just the right je ne sais quoi to explain what you're trying to convey. Consider the Danish word hygge, for which there is no precise English equivalent. Hygge (pronounced "hue-guh" or "hoo-guh") is defined as a "feeling or quality of coziness, comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being; heightened sense of togetherness." Hygge is exactly the vibe the City of Altoona has been aiming for in its newly created public spaces in the River Prairie development, but instead of importing the term from Denmark, city leaders are hoping to encourage community creativity by asking locals to invent new words that could be used for the same purpose. According to a project overview, "This new word will be utilized in several venues, including outreach and engagement efforts, in print and public signage. Our hope is that use of this new word will become widely recognized, used, defined and associated with its intended meaning." The word should be new (i.e., not found in a major dictionary) and catchy. Submissions will be reviewed by city staff and community partners before the public votes on finalists. A submission deadline has been tentatively set for Sept. 25. For more details on the contest and how to submit your brand-new word, keep an eye on Volume One or visit www.ci.altoona.wi.us.

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