LL-L "Language learning" 2008.03.23 (09) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 23 March 2008 - Volume 09
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From: Mike Morgan <mwmosaka at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language learning" 2008.03.23 (06) [E]

Sandy (et al.), Hi!

I don't know if / that there is such a word already out there for this
concept, but if not, i humbly suggest "mneumonic (pseudo)etymology"
... and I have used hundreds myself in learning sign languages (where
true enough the truth of the etymology is often near impossible to
recover) as well as spoken / written languages.

Mike Morgan

--
MWM || マイク || Мика || माईक
================
Dr Michael W Morgan
Managing Director
Ishara Foundation
Mumbai (Bombay), India
++++++++++++++++
माईकल मोर्गन (पी.एच.डी.)
मेनेजिंग डॉयरेक्टर
ईशारा फॉउंडेशन (मुंबई )
++++++++++++++++
茂流岸マイク(言語学博士)
イシャラ基金の専務理事・事務局長
ムンバイ(ボンベイ)、インド

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From: Mike Morgan <mwmosaka at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language learning" 2008.03.23 (06) [E]

Sandy (et al.), Hi again!

I retract my previous suggestion and suggest instead "mnemonic
(pseudo)etymology" (as I just noticed the slip (of the fingers ... and
brain) ... )

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From: Ingmar Roerdinkholder <ingmar.roerdinkholder at WORLDONLINE.NL>
Subject: LL-L "Language learning" 2008.03.23 (06) [E]

How about Fantymology, from fantasy + etymology? Or does Fantamology sound
better?
Ingmar

From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
Subject: LL-L "Language Learning"

As you will have noticed, sometimes the etymology of a word is so
self-evident that there can be no argument.

For example, the English word "parent" is obviously from "pay rent",
because that's what the parents do and the children don't have to.

As another example, the French "caoutchouc" reflects the fact that
French cows chew rubber, there can clearly be no better explanation.

Though maybe not related to true etymology, this sort of "amateur
etymology" (not that there aren't amateurs who are actually excellent
etymologists), does have its uses in language learning when it comes to
vocabulary building, as a temporary memory prop.

I'm wondering if there's a word or succint phrase expressing the idea of
"etymology deliberately made up as a memory aid in language-learning"?

I'm asking because, as I've mentioned before, this sort of thing is rife
amongst learners of sign languages and the boundary between fabricated
etymologies and true etymologies is much harder to discern than in
spoken languages. I would really like to have a term (or sign, rather,
but a spoken language term would be a good start), that I can use to
differentiate between real and imaginary etymology.

Sandy Fleming
http://scotstext.org/

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language learning

Sandy *et al.*,

I would simply call it "mnemonic device." That's what it is, isn't it?
There's no law according to which mnemonic devices must be based on facts.
Whatever works goes.

By the way, the German word for "mnemonic device" is
*Eselsbrücke*"ass/donkey bridge."

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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