Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a game that changes Venn diagrams to zen diagrams. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Zen Diagrams Quiz”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett.
And on the line is John Chaneski, our quiz guy, direct from New York City.
Hi, it’s me, the quiz guy, John Chaneski.
Hi, guys.
Hi, John.
Now, I love Venn diagrams.
Do you guys like Venn?
Who doesn’t love a Venn diagram?
Yeah, the funny ones that show up on Reddit.
Sure.
Well, some people don’t and some people do.
And then there are people in the middle who, you know.
Very nice.
In the intersection, people who can give or take.
Two or more circles in a Venn diagram represent sets of things.
The circles overlap, and in the overlap are the things that belong in both or more than one set.
For example, this circle is the set of men, and that includes Grant Barrett.
And this circle is the set of women, and that includes Martha Barnette.
And where the circles overlap represents…
A Way with Words.
A Way with Words.
Yes, very good.
That’s our basic Venn diagram.
But this puzzle is not about Venn diagrams.
Okay.
It’s about things that rhyme with Venn diagrams.
For example, if I had a map of some wetlands, you could say that’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a Fenn diagram.
Oh, good Lord.
So we’re just looking for something that rhymes with Venn only?
That’s exactly right.
Okay.
And here we go.
Okay.
If I had a floor plan of the specific room in my house that includes my favorite chair,
My reading lamp, my bookcase, my TV stand, and my video game setup,
It’s not a Venn diagram, it’s a…
Den Viagram.
And it’s 1977.
It’s a Den Diagram, yes.
Very good.
This chart here shows how to classify eggs by size, weight, and color.
You could say, it’s not a Venn diagram, it’s a…
A Hen Diagram.
A Hen Diagram.
Cluck, cluck.
This chart seems to be the specifications for a famous child’s toy,
Specifically, a male doll.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a Ken diagram.
It’s a Ken diagram, yes.
This chart shows the migration patterns of a particular breed of small brownish songbird.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a Ren diagram.
It’s a Ren diagram.
Tweet, tweet.
W-R-E-N.
Yes, W-R-E-N.
I found this chart used in Tokyo at a currency exchange office.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a…
Yen diagram.
A yen diagram, yes.
This map shows the elevation, or lack thereof, in a long, deep highland valley.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a…
Long, deep highland valley.
Glen.
Glen.
Yes, it’s a Glen diagram.
Highland being the trigger word there for me.
Yes.
Now, this chart documents the usage of a common boy’s name in Scandinavia.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a…
A Sven diagram.
A Sven diagram, yeah.
This map here tracks the evolution of a meditative school of Mahayana Buddhism in Asia.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a…
Zen diagram.
Zen diagram.
Om.
Now, finally, this instructional guide tells you how to change the nibs and ink on an old-fashioned writing implement.
It’s not a Venn diagram.
It’s a…
A pen diagram.
It’s a pen diagram, yes.
Again, there are probably those out there.
You guys did fantastic.
I think you guys definitely fall in the intersection of the smart and the handsome.
So that’s you guys.
Why, thank you, John.
That’s mighty kind of you.
Sure.
Thanks, John.
We’ll have another quiz from you next week, right?
I’ll see you then.
If you’ve got a question about anything related to words and language and speaking and writing well,
This is the place, 877-929-9673,
Or send an email to words@waywordradio.org.
