RE: Re: Re: "If a tree falls..."

[Baker, John]

        I would argue that Fred, a law librarian with several publications on historical word uses and the editor of the forthcoming Yale Dictionary of Quotations, is indeed a language professional, though he is not a linguist.

        The post from Duane Campbell surprised me, since it seemed clear to me that Fred was inquiring as to the origin of the quotation, and not its meaning.

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
Of RonButters at AOL.COM
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:11 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re:       Re: "If a tree falls..."


In a message dated 5/12/05 8:26:18 AM, fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU writes:


> Finally, let me note that I am pleased if I am "esteemed," but I am
> certainly not a "language professional."
>

Many people have no doubt been fooled into assuming that Fred Shapiro is a
"language professional," given that in his writings about language he is
generally so very knowledgeable and professional.