SUPERNATURAL? PARANORMAL?
In response to my post of April 4th, AQP author Melissa Bradley raises a great point when she responds that she finds so many categories confusing and references the also confusing fine lines between different musical forms. She asks when did paranormal take over supernatural?
Supernatural. That's a terrific word, isn't it? Conjures up all kinds of spooky things. But as to when paranormal took it over, I have no idea!
Publishers and review sites choose what they'll use. Romance Junkies Reviews put my fantasy into their Paranormal/Sci Fi category because they don't have one for fantasy. Amber Quill Heat lists Paranormal with subgenres of Ghosts and Psychic Phenomenon. In checking my Oxford Pocket American Thesaurus of Current English, here's the definition for supernatural: on page 735.
"adj. 1 supernatural beings, otherworldly, unearthly, spectral, ghostly, pantom, magical, mystic, unreal. 2 supernatural powers, paranormal, supernormal, hypernormal, psychic, miraculous extraordinary, uncanny."
It's true we might say, "She's a woman of supernatural beauty." You'd never hear "She's a woman of paranormal beauty."
I guess Melissa and I have no clearcut answer to her question. Perhaps someone else does.
Carolina Valdez
Now available - WOMAN IN BLACK LACE
Where passions unlock the sweet ecstasies of love
Supernatural. That's a terrific word, isn't it? Conjures up all kinds of spooky things. But as to when paranormal took it over, I have no idea!
Publishers and review sites choose what they'll use. Romance Junkies Reviews put my fantasy into their Paranormal/Sci Fi category because they don't have one for fantasy. Amber Quill Heat lists Paranormal with subgenres of Ghosts and Psychic Phenomenon. In checking my Oxford Pocket American Thesaurus of Current English, here's the definition for supernatural: on page 735.
"adj. 1 supernatural beings, otherworldly, unearthly, spectral, ghostly, pantom, magical, mystic, unreal. 2 supernatural powers, paranormal, supernormal, hypernormal, psychic, miraculous extraordinary, uncanny."
It's true we might say, "She's a woman of supernatural beauty." You'd never hear "She's a woman of paranormal beauty."
I guess Melissa and I have no clearcut answer to her question. Perhaps someone else does.
Carolina Valdez
Now available - WOMAN IN BLACK LACE
Where passions unlock the sweet ecstasies of love
posted by Carolina Valdez at 9:34 AM
2 Comments:
Carolina,
I was so surprised and happy to see my comment had inspired another blog.
I think paranormal is a more recent development because when I tried to look up the word in my Merriam Webster's Desk Dictionary from 1995, there was no such word. It went from paranoia to parapet. The definition it gives for supernatural is of or relating to phenomena beyond or outside of nature, especially relating to a divinity, ghost or devil.
I guess it really all depends on how you or your publisher view things.
Have a great day!
Melissa
I think of paranormal as out of the ordinary natural realm...hence supernatural would be out of the ordinary paranormal realm.
Just my opinion...
Brit
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