"Earworm"

[Baker, John]

        I wrote Professor Kellaris to ask if he really invented "earworm."  He replied as follows:


<<Dear John,


The answer to your question is an unambiguous "no."  Despite the an article
in the NY Times that says the term was "coined by" me, I did not invent (nor
have I ever claimed to invent) the term.  Unfortunately, many media sources
picked up the NYT article and reprinted it.

"Earworms" is a common expression in German.  I merely translated (or rather
transliterated) it into English.  I take no credit for this, although I will
accept credit for "popularizing" the term though my widely-publicized
research.  Thanks for asking!  It allows me to set the record straight.

FYI, after the NYT article, I heard from dozens of irrate German-speaking
people who told me that I did not invent the term.  I took the time to
answer each one individually to set the record straight.

- James>>


        I then asked if I could forward his response to ASD-L, and he replied:


<<John,

ADS?  Yessuh, y'aw be ve'y weh'come ter share mah response wif d'listserv.
(Let me know if you'd like an audio clip of me reading that sentence.  I
spent my youth in Georgia.  Hence I am bi-lingual...)

-James>>


John Baker



-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
Of Laurence Horn
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 9:23 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: "Earworm"


Ah, but you're all forgetting Prof. James Kellaris of the University
of Cincinnati, who gets (or at least demands) credit for
single-handedly inventing the word in 2000, only 13 years
post-Rheingold, as also discussed extensively on the list:

What's With That Song Stuck in Your Head?

By RACHEL KIPP, AP

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 20 [2003]) - Unexpected and insidious, the earworm
slinks its way
into the brain and refuses to leave. Symptoms vary, although high levels of
annoyance and frustration are common. There are numerous potential treatments,
but no cure.
        ''The Lion Sleeps Tonight,'' and Chili's ''baby back ribs''
jingle are two
songs that are tough to shake.
        ''Earworm'' is the term coined by University of Cincinnati marketing
professor James Kellaris for the usually unwelcome songs that get
stuck in people's
heads. Since beginning his research in 2000, Kellaris has heard from people all
over the world requesting help, sharing anecdotes and offering solutions...