32.1007, Books: The Hidden History of Coined Words: Keyes

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-32-1007. Thu Mar 18 2021. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 32.1007, Books: The Hidden History of Coined Words: Keyes

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Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:28:54
From: Oxford University Press [HumanitiesMarketing at oup.com]
Subject: The Hidden History of Coined Words: Keyes

 


Title: The Hidden History of Coined Words 
Publication Year: 2021 
Publisher: Oxford University Press
	   http://www.oup.com/us
	

Book URL: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-hidden-history-of-coined-words-9780190466763?utm_source=linguistlist&utm_medium=listserv&utm_campaign=linguistics 


Author: Ralph Keyes

Hardback: ISBN:  9780190466763 Pages: 392 Price: U.S. $ 29.95


Abstract:

Successful word-coinages--those that stay in currency for a good long
time--tend to conceal their beginnings. We take them at face value and rarely
when and where they were first minted. Engaging, illuminating, and
authoritative, Ralph Keyes's The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the
etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden
gems.
 
He also finds some fascinating patterns, such as that successful neologisms
are as likely to be created by chance as by design. A remarkable number of new
words were coined whimsically, originally intended to troll or taunt.
Knickers, for example, resulted from a hoax; big bang from an insult. Casual
wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few
resulted from happy accidents, such as typos, mistranslations, and mishearing
(bigly and buttonhole), or from being taken entirely out of context
(robotics). Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just scholars
and writers but cartoonists, columnists, children's book authors. Wimp
originated with a book series, as did goop, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss.
Coinages are often contested, controversy swirling around such terms as gonzo,
mojo, and booty call. Keyes considers all contenders, while also leading us
through the fray between new word partisans, and those who resist them
strenuously. He concludes with advice about how to make your own successful
coinage.
 
The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word mavens but
history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone who loves the immersive power of
language.
 



Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics


Written In: English  (eng)

See this book announcement on our website: 
http://linguistlist.org/pubs/books/get-book.cfm?BookID=152813




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