"Bargaining Chip": Antedating & Mystery

[Dennis R. Preston]

What nonsense. This contribution (sic) apparently means that people
who are trained in historical and etymological linguistics, since
they participate in a "public" list, are required to take specious
crap and treat it with academic seriousness.

Perhaps we need to revisit the concept of this list; friend that I am
of folk linguistics, I need to spend a little time away from the
folk, discussing my work and commenting on the work of others who
have professional training in the field.

Why is it that we (so often) have this discussion in linguistics and
never in chemistry, physics, acoustics, etc... ? My (unhappy)
conclusion is still that, in the public mind, linguistics lacks
scientific status and "my comments about language" are just a valid
as anybody's.

Too bad.

dInIs





>|o| looked at by professionals. This is ridiculous. Most of the etymological
>|o| suggestions that come from amateurs are preposterously stupid on their
>|o| face, unsupported by any evidence or even rational basis for belief,
>|o| and don't merit consideration (except for sociolinguistic purposes).
>|o|
>
>Well, you're quite the poster boy for the field.  Your tolerance is
>admirable.
>
>Fact is, over the last several weeks quite a number of us little folks have
>been shot down in flames by the list's linguistic experts with little more
>explanation than a dismissive remark and a kick in the keyboard, their
>professional opinion unsupported by any evidence to the contrary, just
>because they say so.  One might be able to get away with that in the right
>classroom or meeting, but not in a public forum.  What's good for the
>goose... etc.
>
>rhk

--
Dennis R. Preston
Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Languages
740 Wells Hall A
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office - (517) 353-0740
Fax - (517) 432-2736