22.2567, Qs: Rules of Etymology of Initialism

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LINGUIST List: Vol-22-2567. Mon Jun 20 2011. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 22.2567, Qs: Rules of Etymology of Initialism

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1)
Date: 09-Jun-2011
From: Michael Miller [sinfulsailor at yahoo.com]
Subject: Rules of Etymology of Initialism
 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:05:52
From: Michael Miller [sinfulsailor at yahoo.com]
Subject: Rules of Etymology of Initialism

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Hello,

I am researching the etymology of an initialism for a book that I am 
writing. The root/source of the initialism I am studying is a combination 
of previously existing initialisms. The earliest examples of the initialism I 
am studying are combinations of the previously existing initialisms that 
use punctuation within the combination. My specific question is:  Are 
these earliest forms of the initialism which are the joining of two 
previously existing initialisms with an ampersand, a slash, a comma or 
an "and" valid examples of the current preferred form of the initialism, 
or by the rules of etymology is the source/origin of the currently 
preferred form of the initialism found strictly and only in the first use of 
the currently preferred form of the initialism? And, is there a reference 
book such as a textbook in which I can find the answer to my question?

The specifics:

I am researching the origin of the initialism "BDSM". The earliest 
examples of that initialism are either in the first appearance of the 
initialism as it appears in usage today, ie., "BDSM" or in usages such 
as "B&D and S&M", "BD, SM", "B&D/S&M" or even "SM and BD" and so 
on in which, from the context, the writer intended to speak of the two 
initialisms (BD and SM) as one concept and as what would now be 
written as "BDSM". 

(There are other examples in which BD and SM appear together in a 
list separated by commas. Those examples, however, from context do 
not appear to join BD and SM into BDSM. It is simply the case that 
those two initialisms (BD and SM) appear side-by-side in a list. I do not 
include those examples in my question. Nor do I perceive those list 
examples to be valid examples of the origin of the initialism "BDSM" 
currently in use. If I am mistaken about that, please correct me.)

Sources consulted:

Gales
OED
Webster's
The Language of Sadomasochism
Historical Dictionary of American Slang
Various contextual examples of usage

Thank you,
Michael Miller 

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics
                     Morphology







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