Neither “limophobia” means fear of lemonade, nor “cairophobia” means fear of Cairo. This is why you should read this text through, and have your copy of my book — the world‚s only dictionary of fears.
The word phobia has a number of different meanings. Some of these definitions are: aversion, abomination, disgust, horror, nausea, antipathy, fright, refusal, repugnance, repellence, fear, apprehension, terror, and so on. From São Paulo University, Cyro del Nero‚s definition is: “The father of the word is a mythological character ˆ PHOBOS. Its most recent restorer and user was Sigmund Freud. PHOBOS meant: to flee in fright, or something that causes flee through panic.”
In 2001, I came across the word “parthenophobia”, and as a hunter of unknown words, I started to seek its real meaning. In the traditional dictionaries, the entry nearest to this meaning was “parthenogenesis”, which means the pregnancy of a virgin woman. I was not yet fully satisfied. Then, after the exercise of looking up bulky volumes in university libraries, I finally found it. This word means fear of virgins. I called Psychiatrist and Writer Prof. Rostan Silvestre, from Alagoas Federal University, Brazil, and he stated that human mind has many secrets and fears yet to be unveiled.
As a translator, I frequently use specialized dictionaries in several areas of science and languages. By studying mental health lexicons, I realized they were truly “mini academic compendia”. In addition, they do not handle the phobia theme from a lexicographical perspective. Finally, there was neither one single lexicon on phobias in the world, nor one that could be easy for any reader to understand. So, this was the beginning of the journey I embarked on as a personal challenge: to write world’s first dictionary of phobias.
Prof. Rostan accepted my invitation to supervise the work. Counting on several supporters, I put forward a prospection work of the entries, looking up other dictionaries, texts, lists, interviews, books, newspaper reports and academic theses in several languages. I thought that by reaching a total of 700 entries, the work would be completed. However, more and more words continued to arise. Many of them are clinical in their origin, and the media created others. Terms like spamphobia, futurephobia and sarsphobia were created by journalists, and were also included in IGOR‚s “Dictionary of Phobias”. Journalist and Psychiatrist Humberto Costa, Brazil’‚s current Minister of Health, has prefaced this unprecedented lexicon.
IGOR‚s first edition contains 1029 entries, and is on sale only over the Internet at www.forumdefobias.com, while awaiting invitations from publishing houses ˆ by the way, publishing houses are welcome to discuss IGOR’s publishing. The search goes on. Eleven or more entries are ready for the new edition. All readers are welcome to contribute to expand this lexicon, which seems to be endless, as human mind is still far from knowing its own borders.
Who would be interested in a dictionary of phobias??
All those who value the accuracy of expressing their feelings by means of words. So, it is of interest to all! Philologist Prof. Nelly Carvalho, from Pernambuco Federal University, says that “IGOR’s content is of great interest to all those who work in the field of interpreting the feelings of their clients or friends, in order to understand and accept them”. These are professionals in the fields of mental health, human resources, writers, journalists, advertisers, and all those seeking self-learning,
My objective was eventually framed during the research process. I found that all of us have some phobias that are like “pets”, or “inner” phobias at higher or lower degree, and they perhaps prevent the development of our personal, professional, social or family relations. The first step to exorcise them is to recognize that they exist, no matter how strange or ridiculous they might look, and then have a good laugh at them. According to Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “Whatever can make us laugh, can set us free”.
As of now, all readers are invited for a coconut water drink (I pay the bill) on September 30th, at “Pier 2290″, Boa Viagem Beach, nº 2290, Recife, so we can watch the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony live webcase on a big screen, as we enjoy a pleasant place. We will celebrate. “Nóis sofre mais nóis goza” carnival group has already confirmed attendance.
Welcome!
Igor Rafailov
Author of IGOR‚s “Dictionary of Phobias ˆ including synonyms and related terms”, German language translator, phytotherapist, lecturer, age 46, divorced and lives in Recife, PE, Brazil.
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