Barbara Wallraff, a writer and editor based in Cambridge, recently tasked readers with creating a word for “a person who doesn’t let you finish your thought in anticipation of what they think you mean.” While Jewel Gilbert from Plymouth suggested using the existing term "buttinski," other readers proposed more specific and humorous alternatives, particularly focusing on spouses who often finish sentences prematurely. Connie Cooney from Marblehead, Don Hunton from Acton, and Avrum Mayman from Canton humorously offered "husband" as the perfect fit.
Gail Shamsi from Stow coined "speechjammer" for her husband, who interrupts to speed up conversations. Readers also suggested terms like "wordvoyant" and "wordnoyant" for interrupters who are correct or incorrect, respectively, proposed by Jim Ellis from Somerville. Pat Nicholson from Falmouth and Carol Steiner provided inventive terms like "ESPerroneous" and "ESPeaker."
A memorable anecdote came from Peggy Farren of Quincy, who shared a humorous misinterpretation involving the Irish toast "sláinte," which was mistakenly replaced with "sluts" by her sister-in-law.
Moving forward, Barbara Leventhal from Raynham has requested a word for “supermarket shoppers who leave their cart in the middle of an aisle and then wander off to get more groceries.” Suggestions for this new challenge can be sent to Barbara Wallraff's email at [email protected] by noon on Friday, May 24.