Archive for the ‘e-cigarette vocabulary and definitions’ Category

Throat Hit Origins

Throat hit is the tingling sensation smokers feel at the back of the throat. It is felt when the inhaled smoke hits the throat. The term is more relevant to e-cigarette smoking because by their very nature e-cigarettes taste lighter than conventional cigarettes. Throat hit is a major concern for e-cigarette smokers because most of them converted from conventional smoking and they are used to the stronger throat hit of a burning tobacco leaf.

So, the stronger the throat hit, the better because  it’s closer to the real thing. Let’s look at some of the factors involved in producing stronger throat hit, starting from the most important.

Throat Hit Factors

#1 E-liquid Quality: Overall quality of e-liquid is cited as the most important factor in producing stronger throat hit. First time buyers of e-cigarette should research the brands that offer e-liquid that ranks high in throat hit.

#2 Nicotine Dosage in E-liquid: The dosage of nicotine can also affect throat hit. High dosage equals stronger throat hit, but again it depends on the overall quality of the e-liquid.

#3 Condition and Proper Maintenance: Life of equipment and maintenance may determine throat hit. Often uncharged batteries and clogged atomizer may cause weak throat hit; so do defective ones.

#4 Device Parts Quality: Throat hit also depends on the quality of the separate parts of the e-cigarette: atomizer, batteries, and cartridges. The model, batch, and brand play a part too.

#5 Smoking Technique: Smoking e-cigarettes takes some time to learn. It is about three times harder to draw on an e-cigarette than on a conventional cigarette. Plus getting more vapor and throat hit depends on the particular way an e-cigarette is drawn on.

The Problem of Comparing E-cigarettes with Conventional Cigarettes

With every technological invention comes new vocabulary. E-cigarette and electronic cigar are examples of words borne on the winds of science; the words have proper place in the English vocabulary. But now we have two main kinds of cigarettes—e-cigarette and what?

We can’t refer to e-cigarettes and the cigarettes invented before them with the same name because they are two different things. I’m offering a number of solutions to this problem, starting with the most suitable term.

How to Talk about Conventional Cigarettes

A conventional cigarette is a cigarette made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper. Conventional smoking is the activity of smoking conventional cigarettes. Use the following expressions to refer to conventional cigarettes when you have to compare them with e-cigarettes:

• conventional cigarette / conventional smoking

• regular cigarette / regular smoking

• traditional cigarette / traditional smoking

• ordinary cigarette / ordinary smoking

How Did I Come Up with These Expressions

The old-fashioned way: by looking into the Roget’s Thesaurus, Merriam Webster’s Dictionary and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.

E-cigarettes are a new invention that created a unique culture with a language of its own. I did some research and found information that I think will be helpful to anyone interested in e-cigarettes. Now let’s look at the language of e-cigarettes and e-smoking, starting with the most common words and expressions:

e-cigarette (also electronic cigarette or e-cig) noun: an electronic device converts special liquid (e-liquid) into water vapor that looks like a conventional cigarette

e-smoking noun: the activity of smoking e-cigarettes or other similar devices like the electronic cigar

e-smoker noun: someone who smokes e-cigarettes or electronic cigar

conventional cigarette (also regular cigarette or traditional cigarette) noun: is a cigarette made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper

conventional smoking noun: the activity of smoking conventional cigarettes

e-liquid (also e-juice or smoke juice) noun: the special liquid mixture that is converted into vapor and used with e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

mouthpiece noun: the part of the e-cigarette that you put in your mouth to smoke;  most people consider this part the cartridge but the word is necessary because the actual cartridge (polyester batting stuffed in a mini tube)  is inside the mouthpiece

e-cigarette starter kit noun:  the basic equipment that comes with a new e-cigarette device, which usually includes 1 atomizer, 2 batteries, 1 charger, and 5 cartridges filled with e-liquid

throat hit noun: the sensation an e-smoker feels at the back of the throat-usually the stronger this sensation, the better because the experience becomes closer to conventional smoking

vape (synonym: to smoke) verb: to smoke e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

vaping (synonym: e-smoking) noun: the activity of smoking e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

fogger noun: an e-cigarette or electronic cigar

hot cigarette (synonym: conventional cigarette) noun: cigarettes made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper

hot smoking (synonym: conventional smoking) noun: the activity of smoking hot cigarettes

analog (or analogue) noun: a conventional cigarette made of paper and tobacco leaves.

This is the current vocabulary of e-cigarettes, which will change with time. I don’t think that word e-cig will survive–I just can’t see people using it in a face-to-face conversation.