char siu, raper

[Benjamin Barrett]

On Jun 4, 2008, at 11:38 AM, Mark Mandel wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Mark Mandel <thnidu at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: char siu, raper
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>         [MAM]
>>>>> Speculative fiction is full of lexons and usages that are found
>>>>> only
>>>>> in a particular work, often for new meanings (start with
>>>>> "hobbit" and
>>>>> work out from there)
>
>       [BB]
>>>> That's exactly the feeling I had. I sure don't care for it, but it
>>>> should probably be recognized in the lexicon. BB
>
>     [MAM]
>>> If you mean "ser", I disagree. Words that are used only in a single
>>> "universe" of fiction do not belong in a general dictionary, any
>>> more
>>> than their protagonists belong in a biographical dictionary. Only if
>>> they catch on in wider use do they become the business of the
>>> general
>>> lexicon: e.g.,
>>> * Tolkien's "dwarves", "orc" -- widely used now in fantasy and in
>>> fantasy-based gaming
>>> * Rowling's "muggle" -- used in contexts beyond discussion of the HP
>>> series
>>>
>
>
>> [BB]
>> If "ser" is used commonly in books, surely it should be considered
>> for
>> inclusion in a general lexicon. Excluding words in a single genre of
>> fiction is unreasonable and would cause many other words to be
>> eliminated. Perhaps this is possible if a word is limited to a genre
>> (or subgenre) with limited circulation, but I don't think that is the
>> case here. BB
>
>
> I didn't mean to single out sf. This is the genre in question here AND
> it has many invented words, because so many of the settings are
> invented. My comment
>
>     "Words that are used only in a single 'universe' of fiction do
> not belong in a general dictionary, any more than their protagonists
> belong in a biographical dictionary. Only if they catch on in wider
> use do they become the business of the general lexicon"
>
> would apply equally to, let's say, a slang term for a weapon or
> technique, invented by the author of a military or spy novel/series.

I misunderstood your use of universe. I think you're referring to
something as narrow as a one-off universe such as of one book written
by one author and as broad as the Star Wars universe with many
authors, many books and many movies. If so, that certainly makes
sense. BB

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