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Predicting New Words: The Secrets of Their Success
Contributor(s): Metcalf, Allan (Author)

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 ISBN: 061813008X     ISBN-13: 9780618130085
Publisher: Mariner Books
OUR PRICE: $16.14  

Binding Type: Paperback - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: July 2004
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Annotation: Have you ever aspired to gain linguistic immortality by making up a word? Many people -- such famous writers as Jonathan Swift, Lewis Carroll, and Dr. Seuss, along with many lesser-knowns -- have coined new words that have endured. But most of the new words people put forward fail to find favor. Why are some new words adopted, while others are ignored? Allan Metcalf explores this question in his fascinating look at new-word creation.
In surveying past coinages and proposed new words, Metcalf
discerns lessons for linguistic longevity. He shows us, for instance, why the humorist Gelett Burgess succeeded in contributing the words blurb and bromide to the language but failed to win anyone over to bleesh or diabob. Metcalf examines terms invented to describe political causes and social phenomena (silent majority, Gen-X), terms coined in books (edge city, Catch-22), brand names and words derived from them (aspirin, Ping-Pong), and words that derive from misunderstandings (cherry, kudo). He develops a scale for predicting the success of newly coined words and uses it to foretell which emerging words will outlast the twenty-first century. In this highly original work, Metcalf shows us how to spin syllabic straw into linguistic gold.
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics - Sociolinguistics
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Lexicography
Dewey: 420.014
LCCN: 2004005742
Physical Information: 0.56" H x 4.68" W x 7.94" L (0.57 lbs) 206 pages
Features: Illustrated, Index, Price on Product, Table of Contents
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
Have you ever aspired to gain linguistic immortality by making up a word? Many people -- such famous writers as Jonathan Swift, Lewis Carroll, and Dr. Seuss, along with many lesser-knowns -- have coined new words that have endured. But most of the new words people put forward fail to find favor. Why are some new words adopted, while others are ignored? Allan Metcalf explores this question in his fascinating look at new-word creation.
In surveying past coinages and proposed new words, Metcalf discerns lessons for linguistic longevity. He shows us, for instance, why the humorist Gelett Burgess succeeded in contributing the words blurb and bromide to the language but failed to win anyone over to bleesh or diabob. Metcalf examines terms invented to describe political causes and social phenomena (silent majority, Gen-X), terms coined in books (edge city, Catch-22), brand names and words derived from them (aspirin, Ping-Pong), and words that derive from misunderstandings (cherry, kudo). He develops a scale for predicting the success of newly coined words and uses it to foretell which emerging words will outlast the twenty-first century. In this highly original work, Metcalf shows us how to spin syllabic straw into linguistic gold.

Contributor Bio(s): Metcalf, Allan: - Allan Metcalf is a professor of English at MacMurray College, executive secretary of the American Dialect Society, and author of books on language and writing. His books on language include AMERICA IN SO MANY WORDS (with David K. Barnhart), THE WORLD IN SO MANY WORDS, HOW WE TALK: AMERICAN REGIONAL ENGLISH TODAY, PREDICTING NEW WORDS, and PRESIDENTIAL VOICES. His books on writing include RESEARCH TO THE POINT and ESSENTIALS OF WRITING TO THE POINT. He lives in Jacksonville, Illinois.Metcalf, Allan: - Allan Metcalf is a professor of English at MacMurray College, executive secretary of the American Dialect Society, and author of books on language and writing. His books on language include AMERICA IN SO MANY WORDS (with David K. Barnhart), THE WORLD IN SO MANY WORDS, HOW WE TALK: AMERICAN REGIONAL ENGLISH TODAY, PREDICTING NEW WORDS, and PRESIDENTIAL VOICES. His books on writing include RESEARCH TO THE POINT and ESSENTIALS OF WRITING TO THE POINT. He lives in Jacksonville, Illinois.
 
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