[Lexicog] Joe the Plumber

[Fritz Goerling]

Now Wurzelbacher's real first name is Samuel, his nickname is "Joe." 

I guess Sam(uel) the Plumber would not have been as pithy nor suitable to be
exploited for political reasons.

Joe the X stands a better chance to enter the lexicon as representative of
the average American. 

Probably because Joe seems to be the most commonly used male first name to
characterize a typical/representative person as "average Joe ", "G.I. Joe ",
Joe sixpack, Joe Cool.

In two weeks we will know better whether "Joe the Plumber" has a chance to
enter into the lexicon.

 

Fritz Goerling

 

Scott Nelson wrote:

 

Rudy Troike said on "Idioms and Phraseology": "I'm reminded of Alton 
Becker's rejection of Chomsky's autonomous syntax by arguing that 
`all of language is recycled combinations, and that this is how we 
learn language...'" 
I think that's a great principle in understanding language 
acquisition and evolution. An interesting modern-day example might 
be "Joe the Plumber," the current mantra used on the American 
political beat to refer to the average citizen. Of course this is an 
offshoot of "Joe sixpack." But Joe the plumber will only enter the 
lexicon if it holds up over time. Till then it might be considered a 
current and localized allusion. (Wouldn't it be funny if this lead 
to "Joe the...(something)" -- to refer to any group, organization, or 
political persuasion?)



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