On the tip of your tongue

[SteveD]

Is there a technical term for that frustrating feeling when, for example, a word you are looking for is "on the tip of your tongue", and you just can't think of it?

 

Th is is happening to me now because I want to answer a question in "Phrases & Sayings" and the word refuses to come into my mind.

[SteveD]

Incredible, isn't it?  I clicked "Submit" and the word came.  (It was "impresario").

GRRRR!

 

[New Forester]

Have you noticed that it (whatever it's called) seems to be catching?

 

If you say "oh, it's on the tip of my tongue, you know, what's the word..." there's a fair chance that the other person will forget the word too.

 

I'm always intending to test this by asking the question differently sometimes -- for example "I bet you don't know what the word for xxx is!".  But somehow I always forget.

 

< P>I also find that certain words catch me out regularly.  For example, I can seldom remember the word "sentimental" without considerable hesitation.

[SteveD]

You also tend to get a mental block.  For some reason, I was convinced that the word I was looking for began with "m" (I even got a dictionary and skimmed through the "m's").  In the end, of course, it began with "i"!

Double GRRRR!

 

[Quizmonster]

How about "transient semantic amnesia", Steve? It has certainly got a scientific ring to it, though psychologists apparently refer to such occurrences as "TOT events". Not very helpful, as 'TOT' just stands for 'tip of tongue'!

[smudge]

Sounds familiar Steve! It's a bit like when you go into a  room to do something & you can't remember what it was. You then walk out & instantly remember! Very frustrating!

[punkmuppet]

I always thought it was called Anominal Dysphesia

[Lindy Loo]

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who does that smudge! As far as my kids are concerned it's called 'getting old' and  I need to go to that 'wonderful home' my youngest chose for me a couple of years ago!! I love him really but at times.......(not printable)!!!

[Quizmonster]

Nominal dysphasia is "a language dysfunction characterized by the inability to name people and objects that are correctly perceived." However, it is generally associated with dementia and involves brain lesions, as I understand it. This is not quite the same thing as failing to come up with a word that is "on the tip of one's tongue"...rather a failure to grasp the significance of words at all. More the sort of thing such as an Alzheimer's patient failing to recognise her own son.

[SteveD]

Smudge, isn't that called "A Senior Moment"?  I have those all the time!

 

[smudge]

Yes lindy loo & SteveD, it must be the old brain cells letting us down! I do it more than ever lately - sad eh!