The hidden history of coined words / Ralph Keyes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Keyes, Ralph, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--New words.

English language.

English language--Etymology.

Physical Description:

xvi, 375 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2021]

Summary:

"How do words get coined? That question is explored in Ralph Keyes's latest book, The Hidden History of Coined Words. Based on meticulous research, Keyes has determined that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by intention. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, he's discovered, to taunt, even to prank. Knickers resulted from a hoax, big bang from an insult. Wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few neologisms weren't even coined intentionally: they resulted from happy accidents such as typos, mistranslations, and misheard words like bigly and buttonhole, or from an unintended coinage such as Isaac Asimov's robotics. Many of the word coiners Keyes writes about come from unlikely quarters. Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just learned scholars and literary lions but cartoonists, columnists, children's authors, and children as well. Wimp, Keyes tells us, originated with an early 20th century book series on The Wymps, goop from a series about The Goops, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Competing claims to have coined terms like gonzo, mojo, and booty call are assessed, as is epic battles fought between new word partisans, and those who think we have enough words already. A concluding chapter offers pointers on how to coin a word of one's own. Written in a reader-friendly manner, The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word lovers but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone at all who is interested in a well-informed good read"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: I. How Words Are Coined

1. Zen and the Art of Word Creation

2. Coined by Chance

3. Casual Coinage

4. Just Kidding

5. Prankery

6. Taunt Terms: Euro

7. Taunt Terms: U.S.

II. Sources of Coined Words

8. Coins in Bubbles

9. Ink-Stained Word Coiners

10. Kiddie Lit

11. Naming the Future

11. Literary Lingo

13. Ivy-Covered Words

III. Coinage Syndromes

14. Coined with Intent

15. Nonstarters

16. Van Winkle Words

17. Disputation

18. Word Wars

19. Coiner's Remorse

20. You Too Can Coin a Word.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Keyes, Ralph. The hidden history of coined words

ISBN:

9780190466763

0190466766

OCLC:

1194873368

Publisher Number:

99987065377