Strange Phenomena: New vocabulary popping up in everyday life

@Glaeken (109)
United States
March 6, 2007 1:27pm CST
I have been subject to a strange phenomena while learning a new word, name, or location in my studies and culling of the world. After I obtain a new term, I find that time and time again I will run into this word in many places in the next few days where before I had not run into it. Whether it be within a book I have bought prior to learning the word that I am finally reading or already devouring, seeing the name of a new place I learned on the side of a truck as I traveled the interstate, or found in just about any other place words are known to hide and occupy. I want to know, does this occur with anyone else? I know it happens with one other person, but I'll use the discussion here to further my idea. Also, do you find this to just be an average matter of simply noticing the word more profoundly because you had it in your mind freshly just a few hours or days prior? Or is there something interesting going on? Should we just enjoy it, regardless? Feel free to add any other strange little things you notice in life as well, maybe we all share common things and can understand them better through extrapolation.
1 response
@w1z111 (985)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I believe what you may be experiencing is the phenomenon called "Etymological Probability", which is the 'repeating word' syndrome. I think there's a medication for it. Good luck. In seriousness, I agree with what you've said. I, too, have experienced similar situations; not only with words, but often with other items I might be 'focusing' on at a given time. Seems our brains may keep those things "always on top", until such time as they're committed to the permanent memory. ??
1 person likes this
@Glaeken (109)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Excellent! I knew there must be some documented case of this. I do really find the idea that we're keeping the word on the brain burner as the reason we take special notice to it. It's not all that complicated, but it is enjoyable. Thank you for the precise and expeditious response.