Toxic gumbo

[Jonathan Lighter]

The real question is whether it will become fully lexicalized. I doubt it, but I suspect the newsfolk will trot it out forever as long as there's a justifiable context, e.g., any extensive flooding on the southern Mississippi.

JL

Barnhart <barnhart at HIGHLANDS.COM> wrote:

---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Barnhart
Subject: Re: Toxic gumbo
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Very true. A good metaphor. However, is the term going to disappear a
year down the road?

Regards,
David

barnhart at highlands.com

American Dialect Society on Monday, August 29,
2005 at 11:21 AM -0500 wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender: American Dialect Society
>Poster: Jonathan Lighter
>Subject: Re: Toxic gumbo
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Fox News Channel used it yesterday, in reference to the combination of
>dirt, oil, debris, and toxic waste expected to pollute flood waters from
>Katrina.
>
>I wouldn't call this a "stunt term," just a metaphor. An apt one, too.
>"Gumbo" is widely used in La. for both a kind of thick stew and a kind of
>thick mud.
>
>JL
>
>Barnhart wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender: American Dialect Society
>Poster: Barnhart
>Subject: Re: Toxic gumbo
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>This may just be a "stunt word", to use John Algeo's term for made-up
>words that often do not have any longevity.
>
>Regards,
>David
>
>barnhart at highlands.com
>
>American Dialect Society on Monday, August 29,
>2005 at 9:12 AM -0500 wrote:
>>---------------------- Information from the mail header
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>>Sender: American Dialect Society
>>Poster: bapopik at AOL.COM
>>Subject: Toxic gumbo
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>"Toxic gumbo" is being used on AOL for the New Orleans "Katrina & the
>>Waves" storm today.
>
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