| Author |
Message |
retrosorter
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:36 pm
Post subject: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up as the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is this in
any way a new term? It seems to me that equivocators have been called
"flip-floppers" for quite a long time. Can anyone confitrm this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Martin Ambuhl
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:04 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
retrosorter wrote:
| Quote: | I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up as the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is this in
any way a new term?
|
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for "word
of the year." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
retrosorter
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 3:19 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
| Quote: | retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up as
the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is this
in
any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word
of the year."
|
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tony Cooper
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 3:35 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
On 15 Jan 2005 12:19:02 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca>
wrote:
| Quote: |
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up as
the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is this
in
any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word
of the year."
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans?
|
The word "tsunami" wasn't in the news all that much until the last
week of December, 2004. The list is for 2004. By contrast,
"flip-flop" (and variations) was in the news during the whole of 2004.
There's no emphasis on the importance of the word, or the effects of
the meaning of the word, in the list. It's just a list of words that
bombarded the public's eye and ear in 2004.
You did notice that the list was published by the American Dialect
Society, didn't you? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Areff
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:13 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Tony Cooper wrote:
| Quote: | On 15 Jan 2005 12:19:02 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca
wrote:
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated.
|
I don't think the *word* devastated millions.
BTW, one of the local newspapers today has this headline:
Images of Titan Are Like An Infant Earth
I'm like, huh?
| Quote: | The word "tsunami" wasn't in the news all that much until the last
week of December, 2004. The list is for 2004. By contrast,
"flip-flop" (and variations) was in the news during the whole of 2004.
There's no emphasis on the importance of the word, or the effects of
the meaning of the word, in the list. It's just a list of words that
bombarded the public's eye and ear in 2004.
You did notice that the list was published by the American Dialect
Society, didn't you?
|
I don't really think the world is yet closely-knit enough in any
linguistic sense for it to be useful to list words of the year for the
whole world. Even if you consider the Anglophone societies, a word of the
year in one country isn't likely to be that relevant for another country.
--
Steny '08! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tony Cooper
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:38 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
On 15 Jan 2005 21:13:03 GMT, Areff <me@privacy.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Tony Cooper wrote:
On 15 Jan 2005 12:19:02 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca
wrote:
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated.
I don't think the *word* devastated millions.
|
Sloppy attribution, Areff. "Retrosorter" wrote the above. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Areff
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:42 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Tony Cooper wrote:
| Quote: | On 15 Jan 2005 21:13:03 GMT, Areff <me@privacy.net> wrote:
Tony Cooper wrote:
On 15 Jan 2005 12:19:02 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca
wrote:
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated.
I don't think the *word* devastated millions.
Sloppy attribution, Areff. "Retrosorter" wrote the above.
|
Straight question TTPG: Was my attribution there really "sloppy"? Isn't
it clear that retrosorter wrote the substantive remark and that Coop was
quoting retrosorter?
--
Steny '08! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Martin Ambuhl
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 5:12 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
retrosorter wrote:
| Quote: | Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up
as the 2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society.
Is this in any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word of the year."
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans?
|
Damn right. And only those 'Merkins who have no relatives living or
visiting Southern Asia. Why make George Bush person-of-the-year? Who
gives a shit? And why are you posting with software that munges quoted
text [restored]? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
retrosorter
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:13 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Tony Cooper wrote:
| Quote: | On 15 Jan 2005 12:19:02 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca
wrote:
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up
as
the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is
this
in
any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word
of the year."
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans?
The word "tsunami" wasn't in the news all that much until the last
week of December, 2004. The list is for 2004. By contrast,
"flip-flop" (and variations) was in the news during the whole of
2004.
There's no emphasis on the importance of the word, or the effects of
the meaning of the word, in the list. It's just a list of words that
bombarded the public's eye and ear in 2004.
You did notice that the list was published by the American Dialect
Society, didn't you?
|
You did notice that the language is called English not American, didn't
yoü? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Martin Ambuhl
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 7:31 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
retrosorter wrote:
| Quote: | Tony Cooper wrote:
You did notice that the list was published by the American Dialect
Society, didn't you?
You did notice that the language is called English not American, didn't
yoü?
|
Nothing in your original post (pasted below) says that the WotY is the
"English" Word of the Year. To the contrary, it suggests that it is
what the American Dialect Society considers WotY. There is no
constraint on ADS to pick "Word of the last week of 2004 according to
retrosorter's version of the language, ignoring both the the other 51
weeks of the year and the subject area of the ADS."
| Quote: | I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up as the
2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society. Is this in
any way a new term? It seems to me that equivocators have been called
"flip-floppers" for quite a long time. Can anyone confitrm this? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sara Lorimer
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:10 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
retrosorter wrote:
| Quote: | Sara Lorimer wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I just think it is worth recognizing that American English is but
one
of the many variety of Englishes in the world. This might lead to
less
Americentrism than the choice for the "word of the year" selected
by
the American Dialect Society in theie inaugural selection in 1990 -
the
eminently forgettable "bushlips."
You're condemning the American Dialect Society for "Americentrism"?
Now Sara, please don't get your American dander up.
|
I'm amused, not riled.
| Quote: | I think that just
as the pre-eminent dictionary in the world -the OED tries to carry
words from all the varieties of English and not just British English,
that it is not that much to ask that the ADS realizes that other forms
of English exist other than American English. Heck, even the American
Heritage Dictionary covers some of them.
|
I'm not familiar with the ADS and their purpose. If they claim to cover
all the varieties of English As She Is Spoke, I agree with you; if they
are concerned only with American English, then it would be bizarre for
them to list, say, a Dominican English word as their Word of the Year.
Let's see what they say... hold on... here we go. From
<http://www.americandialect.org>: "...the American Dialect Society is
dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of
other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or
influenced by it."
Hmmm. So if they did pick a Dominican English word, it would need to be
one that influenced North American English or was influenced by it.
Tricky.
--
SML |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
retrosorter
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:10 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Sara Lorimer wrote:
| Quote: | retrosorter wrote:
I just think it is worth recognizing that American English is but
one
of the many variety of Englishes in the world. This might lead to
less
Americentrism than the choice for the "word of the year" selected
by
the American Dialect Society in theie inaugural selection in 1990 -
the
eminently forgettable "bushlips."
You're condemning the American Dialect Society for "Americentrism"?
--
SML
|
Now Sara, please don't get your American dander up. I think that just
as the pre-eminent dictionary in the world -the OED tries to carry
words from all the varieties of English and not just British English,
that it is not that much to ask that the ADS realizes that other forms
of English exist other than American English. Heck, even the American
Heritage Dictionary covers some of them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
retrosorter
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:10 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
| Quote: | retrosorter wrote:
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up
as the 2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society.
Is this in any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word of the year."
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans?
Damn right. And only those 'Merkins who have no relatives living or
visiting Southern Asia. Why make George Bush person-of-the-year?
Who
gives a shit? And why are you posting with software that munges
quoted
text [restored]?
|
I just think it is worth recognizing that American English is but one
of the many variety of Englishes in the world. This might lead to less
Americentrism than the choice for the "word of the year" selected by
the American Dialect Society in theie inaugural selection in 1990 - the
eminently forgettable "bushlips." In five years time this year's
selection as word of the year "red state, blue state, purple state"
will also seem rather hackneyed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tony Cooper
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:11 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
On 15 Jan 2005 17:10:52 -0800, "retrosorter" <hrichler@sympatico.ca>
wrote:
| Quote: |
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
Martin Ambuhl wrote:
retrosorter wrote:
I noticed that flip-flopper meaning a waffler was the runner-up
as the 2004 "word of the year" by the American Dialect Society.
Is this in any way a new term?
It is not in any way a new term. That hardly is disqualifying for
"word of the year."
By that logic why not make "tsunami" the word of the year? Yet this
word which devastated millions wasn't even nominated. Do words only
have resonance insofar on how they impact Americans?
Damn right. And only those 'Merkins who have no relatives living or
visiting Southern Asia. Why make George Bush person-of-the-year?
Who
gives a shit? And why are you posting with software that munges
quoted
text [restored]?
I just think it is worth recognizing that American English is but one
of the many variety of Englishes in the world. This might lead to less
Americentrism than the choice for the "word of the year" selected by
the American Dialect Society in theie inaugural selection in 1990 - the
eminently forgettable "bushlips." In five years time this year's
selection as word of the year "red state, blue state, purple state"
will also seem rather hackneyed.
|
I don't think you give us credit for trying. We make every effort
possible to confine Americentricism to America. We try to keep all
news coverage about things like the ADS's pronouncement of the word of
the year, the World Series, football using an oblong ball and a
100-yard long field, and similar subjects under a news embargo.
Unfortunately, we can't control the Canadian press (although we're
working on it) and they keep leaking the stories. If we could just
get Canada to ignore us, it would make it easier for everyone.
We've successfully embargoed all news about professional hockey. As I
understand it, the Canadians are under the impression that
professional hockey is no longer being played - and played better - in
Tampa Bay, New Jersey, or Detroit. In actuality, the games continue
and we've renamed the ultimate prize as the "Uncle Sam Cup".
We are currently working on an international agreement wherein
journalism students at Carleton, Concordia, and Ryerson will be taught
that Canada and Mexico have a common border and that "North America"
will be called "North Continent" in future. McGill University students
will continue to be taught that the United States is part of their
continent, but only if they agree to carry protest signs written in
English.
We hope that you appreciate our efforts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sara Lorimer
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:11 am
Post subject: Re: flip-flopper at the ADS |
|
|
retrosorter wrote:
| Quote: | I just think it is worth recognizing that American English is but one
of the many variety of Englishes in the world. This might lead to less
Americentrism than the choice for the "word of the year" selected by
the American Dialect Society in theie inaugural selection in 1990 - the
eminently forgettable "bushlips."
|
You're condemning the American Dialect Society for "Americentrism"?
--
SML |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| |
FAQ
Memberlist
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in