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From: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.nlang
Subject: Origins of Words
Message-ID: <1137@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Sep-84 13:36:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: eosp1.1137
Posted: Fri Sep 21 13:36:01 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 21:34:23 EDT
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton, NJ
Lines: 54

References:

We are having a typical discussion of word origins that's worth
generalizing a bit.  Many people think they "know" origins of
particular words because they have heard explanations that make logical
sense.  They assume:

	- this explanation is sensible
	- therefore it is correct.

Usually, that reasoning is false.  Why then, do so many people apply
it?  I think that most people have never stopped to think how one
traces the origins of a word.  Simply put, this is a historical
process.  One looks for (usually) datable writings in the target
leanguage, and in related languages, that use the word or similar
words.  One must always ask whether the curents of history have
allowed one datable instance to influence another.  Examining
influences from other langauges is an important antidote to the
tendency to assume that words were derived by acronyms or wordplay.
When you think you have the "original" use of a word, you must be
reasonably sure that older uses of the word cannot also be found.

My favorite example of misapplied wordplay -- many people "know"
that the word "butterfly" is derived from "flutterby".  However
if you look it up in the Oxford English Dictionary, you will find that
it is related to the Dutch Word for the same insect, "boterscheit"
(spelling?), which refers to the fact that the insect's feces are
the color of butter.

The OED is a good source for word origins because, unique among almost
all dictionaries, it lists actual uses of each word over the last
1000 years to show how their meanings derived.  [A game to play --
try to find English words that have written references in the
10th century.]

The New York Times, about 10 years ago, had a "reasonable meaning"
contest for the meaning of "Okay".  Writers came up with about 10
origins, all based on "commonsense".  Not one quoted any
historical data to suggest that their use of the word was the
oldest.  Parodying this style of logic, my wife Elaine suggested the
following derivation of "Okay":

	In medieval Normandy, Monks concerned with loading boats
	at the docks would reassure their superiors when all of the
	materials were on the dock and ready to load, that is:
	"Au Quais".  This expression (which sounds about the same as
	"okay") entered English via french-Creole speakers in
	New Orleans.


	- Toby Robison (not Robinson!)
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