LSSU Banished Words list, 2008

[Evan Bradley]

he probably had a conniption when computer icons came along (on
so-called 'desktops', no less!)

On 1/2/08, Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu> wrote:
> >
> >I'm put in mind of hte retired English teacher I know who was set off
> >by my use of "icon" in an explanation of Peircean semiotics. He felt
> >that it was grossly improper to take a word away from its original
> >use in this manner -- said original use being, of course, as a term
> >for Russian Orthodox religious images.
> >
> >James Harbeck.
> >
> Wonder how he referred to the indicators on his (I assume) analog
> watch, which obviously couldn't be said to have hands or a face.
> "The big extended thingie is on the 3 and the little extended thingie
> is on the 6", perhaps.  Or maybe it's just religious terms that don't
> allow metaphor extension or generalization for these folks?
>
> LH
>
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>

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