A Party of Five, Please...

"Names for groups of animals, birds, people, sea creatures are more imaginative. We are familiar with some, but others are startling in their poetry. Lions, we know, come in a pride when congregated. The onslaught of our coastal jellyfish at the beach is known as a smack of jellyfish."

By Nan Graham

Wilmington, NC – Where does all this wonderful language come from? Was a language committee appointed to decide on what each group of creatures should be called? Collective noun lover, I think not. I see it as a gift from Garrison Keillor's Society of English Majors! E-mail your favorite collective noun to ngraham@ec.rr.com

Nan Graham's WHQR commentaries can be found in her books, "Turn South at the Next Magnolia," and "In a Magnolia Minute." Her website is nangraham.com