Cassidy

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

My thanks to Grant and the other ads-l members who have commented on Cassidy's writings.  Btw, Cassidy also fails on "dude" and "jazz." I've already commented on "jazz" in an earlier ads-l message, and later I'll comment on "dude."  Also, btw, although I'm ready to look for any insight at all in Cassidy's book (and rejoice if I find it), my overall evaluation of the book is that it's a scholarly disgrace.
 
In haste,
Gerald Cohen
P.S. The etymology of "dude" was clarified by Barry Popik.

________________________________

From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Grant Barrett
Sent: Thu 10/18/2007 5:19 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Cassidy



Finally, there's a review of the Cassidy book that takes the proper
critical look at the book:

<http://www.popmatters.com/pm/books/reviews/49901/how-the-irish-
invented-slang-by-daniel-cassidy/>

"There are brief glimmers of light, especially in the essays
regarding the development of the words 'dude' and 'jazz', but these
are lost among the wreckage. For someone who criticizes Anglo-English
dictionaries so stridently, Cassidy seems to fall into a similar
trap. Convinced of his thesis and eager to disseminate his ideas, he
fails to vet and solidify these connections enough so the reader can
feel certain about them. Words are too powerful to be anything less
than certain."

Grant Barrett
Double-Tongued Dictionary
http://www.doubletongued.org/
editor at doubletongued.org

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