LL-L "Etymology" 2002.04.26 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 26.APR.2002 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Etymology"

> From: Jim Gretch <jgretch at ugf.edu>
> Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.04.24 (08) [E]
>
> I believe it is also the source of the "Standard" English
> word "geek."
>
> This originally referred to a carnival performer but is
> now primarily applied (at least in the US) to overt technophiles,
> intellectuals, etc.  Among computer programmers and other
> "geeky" types, the term is often regarded as a "badge of honor."

Strictly speaking, a "geek" is a carnival performer who
elicits audience reaction by doing disgusting things like
eating bugs. It therefore came to apply to computer
programmers who code at the keyboard at high speed and
thereafter have to spend long hours debugging - ie,
eating software bugs.

> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Etymology
>
> I wonder what caused the vowel to get lengthened.  Perhaps a Scots loan,
> considering that Scots tends to lengthen short vowels (though apparently
> more before sonorants), hence *[ge:k] or *[gI:k] > [gi:k]?  How *do* you
> pronounce Scots _geck_, folks?

/gE:k/

The /E/ phoneme in Scots is one of those that never gets
shortened and so the Scottish Vowel Length Rule doesn't apply.

Sandy
http://scotstext.org
A dinna dout him, for he says that he
On nae accoont wad ever tell a lee.
                          - C.W.Wade,
                    'The Adventures o McNab'

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