Jogasheza

Sally called me this afternoon to let me hear the sound coming from Francis’s bedroom. France just woke up from her nap and was yelling, “Jogasheza” over and over. For those of you unfamiliar with that word, it’s pronounced “joe – guh – shay – za,” and it’s appropriate in a number of different contexts. Stress usually falls on the first syllable, and sometimes on the third. Most commonly, the word refers to a fighting pose in which one arm is extended straight to the side and the other is folded across the chest, both hands in a fist. It’s also the name of a game with rules that change from time to time. Jogasheza is also a general purpose expletive and sometimes a greeting. Finally (I think), if one eats peas directly from the table with one’s mouth, that person is said to be eating “like a Jogasheza,” or “Jogasheza-style.”

As a person with an amateur’s zeal for language, I think the words made up by my daughter are the best.