foregrounded and unforegrounded

I love noticing things and coming up with names for them. Toward a more precise communication:

There is a difference between unforegrounded terms of endearment and foregrounded terms of endearment. You use words for your foregrounded terms of endearment that you'd never use for the unforegrounded.

For instance, you might say, "I love you, my Schmoopy!" Or you might say, "I love you, my sweetheart!" Foregrounded. The term of endearment is an essential part of what you're communicating. But, while you might say, "Sweetheart, did you remember to call the laundry guy?," you'd never say, "Schmoopy, did you remember to call the laundry guy?"

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