dilogy, duology

[Dennis R. Preston]

Larry,

I immediately assumed (mostly I suppose from the presumed
pronunciation) that 'dilogy' was by analogy with 'trilogy.'

dInIs

>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>
>Subject:      Re: dilogy, duology
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>>I've never come across either of these words before and I'm going to
>>have to look up "diology" to see how it's derived. My guess is that
>>that the "di-" is from Greek "dis," corresponding to Latin "bis" and
>>likewise meaning "twice." But "duology" is clearly, IMO, a
>>pswaydo-learned bit of pretentiousness. (That may be a bit harsh, but,
>>WTF?) In general, words in English derived from Greek are derived from
>>Attic and not Homeric. ("Hubris," instead of "hybris," is one of very
>>few exceptions.) Therefore, the form should be "dyology," not
>>"duology." Unless the coiner is combining *Latin* "duo" with Greek
>>"-ology." In that case, I can only shake my head in sorrow and once
>>again lament the  death of the classical education. I'd rather see
>>"twainology" or even "twoology." At least, neither of those would be
>>pretentious.
>>
>>-Wilson
>
>all true, but "dilogy" could arise from a simple analogy along the lines of
>
>triptych:diptych::trilogy:_____
>
>(More of the baleful influence of the old SAT analogy test, no doubt.)
>
>LH
>
>>On 11/28/06, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>>-----------------------
>>>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>>Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>>>Subject:      dilogy, duology
>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>Wikipedia speaks:
>>>
>>>    "Duology also known as dilogy is a set of two works of art,
>>>usually a two-part series relating to literature or film, that
>>>develop a single theme over two works. A duology may or may not
>>>involve a sequel and/or prequel."
>>>
>>>    OED lacks "duology" and includes "dilogy" only in different senses.
>>>
>>>    "Duology," at least, gets thousands of raw Googlits.  (Tomorrow's
>>>Inglish-speakers will undoubtedly prefer "biology" in the indicated
>>>sense.)
>>>
>>>    But seriously: OED appears to lack any single word meaning "a
>>>two-part literary, dramatic, or cinematic work" to complement
>>>"trilogy" and "tetralogy."   I was groping for such a word to
>>>describe Herman Wouk's _Winds of War_ and its sequel _War and
>>>Remembrance_.  Yeah, there's "two-volume novel," but I said "single
>>>word."
>>>
>>>    I came up with "duology," but if Wikipedia already endorses it I
>>>may wait for a second round of inspiration.
>>>
>>>    JL
>>>
>>>   __________________________________________________
>>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>>>http://mail.yahoo.com
>>>
>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
>>come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
>>-----
>>-Sam Clemens
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


--
It should be the chief aim of a university professor to exhibit
himself [sic] in his own true character - that is, as an ignorant man
thinking, actively utilizing his small share of knowledge. Alfred
North Whitehead

Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
Office: (517) 353-4736
Fax: (517) 353-3755

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org