[Lexicog] Joe the Plumber

[bolstar1]

Ruddy Troike said on "Idioms and Phraseology": "I'm reminded of Alton 
Becker's rejection of Chomsky's autonomous syntax by arguing that 
`all of language is recycled combinations, and that this is how we 
learn language...'" 
     I think that's a great principle in understanding language 
acquisition and evolution. An interesting modern-day example might 
be "Joe the Plumber," the current mantra used on the American 
political beat to refer to the average citizen. Of course this is an 
offshoot of "Joe sixpack." But Joe the plumber will only enter the 
lexicon if it holds up over time. Till then it might be considered a 
current and localized allusion. (Wouldn't it be funny if this lead 
to "Joe the...(something)" -- to refer to any group, organization, or 
political persuasion?)
     Some phrases don't change over time, and simply are too pithy 
and catchy to give up. e.g. "the be-all and all of...(something) -- 
from Shakespeare's Macbeth: 


     Macbeth 1.07.002(2)-007(1)
     assassination (noun -- Shakespeare coinage) 
     the be-all and end-all (nphr -- Shakespeare coinage)
     
     If th' assassination
     Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
     With his surcease, success; that but this blow
     Might be the be-all and the end-all -- here,
     But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
     We'd jump the life to come.  (Signet)

     trammel up* catch in a net (Sig) || entangle as in a net (Riv)
     the consequence* the events arising from it (Riv)
     his surcease* Duncan's death (?) the consequence's cessation (?) 
     (Sig) ||
     its (the assassination's) conclusion (?) or Duncan's death (?)
     (Riv)
     success* what follows  (Sig)
     shoal*** shallow  (Oni)
     jump* hazard; risk  (Oni) || venture  (Nels)
   
Scott Nelson   


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