normalcy

Now, this word may not make my blood boil the way “semiprecious” does. And as you may or may not know, I am a big fan of the culturally-enriching neologism. Hell, I make up words all the time. However, the presidentially-induced NOT-a-logism is another entity entirely. Though our generation is undoubtedly mostly familiar with oft-occurring Bushisms, which may or may not take the form of a neologism, other sneaky manipulations of the tongue are commonplace among speeches of our commanders-in-chief. The one at which I take particular umbrage is normalcy.

“Normalcy” is not a true neologism, having appeared in 1857, mostly as the mathematical state of conforming to a rule. It is certainly not a malapropism, as so many Bushisms are, nor is it simple evidence of illiteracy (sorry Dubya, but that’s just how I feel about you). However, at the time it was corralled into the campaign slogan of Warren G. Harding, the word “normalcy” had an ever-more-eloquent, and now all but disused alternative: normality.

Linguistically, “normalcy” makes sense, but only awkwardly. The suffix “-cy” turns an adjective into the state or condition of that adjective; think “democracy” or “accuracy” from democratic and accurate, but note carefully the relation of each suffix: from “-tic” or “-te” we turn to “-cy.” In fact, say it out loud. “T,” as a consonant, really ain’t that far from “C.” Feels nice on the tongue, doesn’t it?

“Normality” falls in line with other perfectly reasonable words, such as “formality,” “reality,” and, of course, “abnormality.” Never heard anybody talk about “abnormalcy,” have you? Didn’t think so! The letter “L” does not want to be followed by the letter “C,” alright? I asked it myself.

Normalcy came into popular usage as the campaign slogan of Warren G. Harding, as I mentioned above. He called for “A Return to Normalcy,” following those kookily progressive politics of Woodrow Wilson (following, of course, the atrocities of WWI). Voting for Harding also meant voting against the running mate of his opponent – also known as FDR, thank you very much – but I suppose I’m here to talk about the lingual consequences, not political.

What really, truly gets me about “normalcy” is that it is one of those words I suspect people use because they think it makes them sound smarter. To the common ear, perhaps, “normality” is long, clunky. “Normalcy” is ever so much more refined, perhaps even a bit abstruse – surely it is the more proper terminology!

But this *ahem* fallacy is almost as bad as the ghastly use of subject pronouns in favor of the correct usage of direct objects, i.e., “Paul took Jane and I” to the movies instead of taking me. But enough people have ranted on that linguistic horror.

So I leave you with this: on March 28th, 2008, President Bush declared, “Normalcy is returning back to Iraq.”

I suppose they can have it then.

Word of the Day, May 30 2008

I am so in love with the colloquial indication of a piece of common knowledge as tossed in casually at the end of the etymological origin of today’s Word of the Day:

Grandee comes from Spanish grande, from Latin grandis, “great, large, hence important, grand.” Related words include grandeur, “the state or quality of being grand”; grandiose, “characterized by affectation of grandeur”; aggrandize, “to make great or greater”; and, of course, grand.

Like, duh, right?

Sigh! Doctor Dictionary, you’re so smart and dreamy. Send me emails forever.

To abridge

I find it difficult to find time to create these entries; I also find it difficult to wade through the muck of language to which I’ve been exposed and into whose lexicon of meaning I wish to interpolate my own maverick persuasions.

So, in the interest of time, and to make my own kind of bookmark, I will simply list the words that have caught my eye lately, with the intention of returning to expound them at a later time.

In no particular order:

logophilia

glossolalia — discovered very recently as part of the title of a current exhibition at MoMA, where its meaning has been transferred to drawing, this word originally has referred to the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues.” (1879, from Gk. glossa “tongue, language” + lalia “a speaking,” from lalein “to speak, prattle,” of echoic origin)[1]

geophagy — of primary interest to me as a symptom of the fascinating disorder pica. If I ever end up creating the video, photo series, and paintings I’ve thought about relating to this disease, I’ll probably post them here too.

lipogram — e.g., La Disparition, by George Perec. I won’t say it’s my “favorite” part about this word, but I do enjoy how instinctively I think about liposuction when I see it. Turns out “lipo” does indeed originate from the Greek lipos, fat, but becomes something sticky that adheres, delivering the meaning “to remain behind” or “to leave.”

logomisia

Well, I’m having a hard time finding words that anger me these days. Certainly none more than “semiprecious.” I’ll try harder to hate more.

1. <Online Etymological Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=glossolalia&searchmode=none>.

semiprecious

My intention with these entries is to celebrate those neologisms and other classy turns of phrase that make me smile. However, I often come across the odd horrendous abuse of language that gives me pause, which makes me want to hurl (outrage). Sometimes I just up and realize I find certain words irritating, even offensive. “Semiprecious” is one of those words.

Semiprecious may conjure images of glittering jewels or shiny gems, but the truth of the matter is, semiprecious is a filthy invention of commercial stone-hawkers. Originating as recently as 1895, this foul category is defined merely by what it is not; that is, precious. Designating agate, garnet, topaz, and other stones semiprecious is just a sneaky way for gift shops at national parks to charge five bucks for a bag of polished colored pebbles.

Deriving* from “semi-” meaning incompletely + “precious” meaning very costly, semiprecious rips from the word “precious” the deliciousness of its other varied meanings, including “excessively delicate or refined” (precious manners), “flagrant,” (a precious fool), or, humorously, “highly esteemed for some nonmaterial quality,” (precious memories). Even the spelled pronunciation itself is totally precious: [presh-uhs] Look at that! I value that highly, for nonmaterial reasons. My main point is really that precious should be reserved for adorable puppies and small children.

Semiprecious: semi-crappy is more like it! So the stones are less expensive than diamonds and rubies — so what? Aluminum foil is also cheaper than sapphire. I made jewelry out of tinfoil when I was a kid; does that make me a semiprecious gemologist? Semiprecious is a fraudulent term, rock-peddlers be damned for their inventions!

*Derivations from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/semiprecious, http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=precious, http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=semi-

philo+logos

So. While a quick glance at many a standard dictionary will reveal that philology is considered to be “the study of literary texts” via some systematic or authenticating method, I prefer to interpret in the spirit of the etymology. As the venerable Online Etymology Dictionary itself insists:

philology
c.1386, “love of learning,” from O.Fr. philologie, from L. philologia “love of learning, love of letters,” from Gk. philologia “love of discussion, learning, and literature,” from philo- “loving” + logos “word, speech.” Meaning “science of language” is first attested 1716; this confusing secondary sense has never been popular in the U.S., where linguistics (q.v.) is preferred.[1]

I’m all for this approach. Wikipedia, bastion of common knowledge, opined as recently as December that “Philology, etymologically, is the love of words.”[2] And I do love words. I love languages too, as is often the case of a philologist, but I’m particularly fond of words themselves, and their meanings, in any dialect. Entire languages are wholly different entities.

Philology – a word about words, in particular one fond opinion of them. Kinda parallel to this blog, eh?

1. “philology.” Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 05 Mar. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/philology>.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philology&oldid=176853708