A torcherous eggcorn

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Dec 12, 2007, at 4:55 PM, Chris Waigl wrote:

> As for re-analysis, I have encountered at least two very sensible
> explanations or rationalisations of the "phase" spelling:
>
> a) (many times) As a back-formation from the sci-fi (Star Treck?)
> weapon
> called a phaser. "X doesn't phase me" is then explained as "doesn't
> threaten me, won't knock me off my feet" etc.

> b) (more rarely, but I am biased as this was a potential analysis I
> contemplated until I had looked it up, about 10 years ago -- being a
> non-native speaker means that I actually have to look up this sort of
> thing once in a while) From the phase of a wave, i.e. the relative
> location of minima and maxima relative to other waves. Ok this sounds
> technical, but the idea is falling out of step, being dislocated from
> the order of the environment.

rationalization (b) seems far-fetched to me.  rationalization (a) has
a lot going for it as an explanation for the post-Star-Trek spread of
the usage, but of course it can't be an account of the 70 or so years
of "phase" before the tv show.

so, we have a period in which "phase" occurs as a spelling variant of
"faze".  then Star Trek comes along and provides a rationalization for
the spelling.  several usage writers believe that the usage is
increasing.  this might just be an illusion, but it might be an
accurate reflection of ST-induced spread; it would not be easy to
check it out (since we'd need to look at how often "phase" rather than
"faze" occurs, when either would be possible, at various time periods).

arnold

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