Twelve English etymologies from the social margins (Part 1) Cover Image

Twelve English etymologies from the social margins (Part 1)
Twelve English etymologies from the social margins (Part 1)

Author(s): William Sayers
Subject(s): Language studies, Applied Linguistics, Lexis, Semantics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: popular speech; lexicography; English etymology;

Summary/Abstract: Etymologies are proposed for twelve previously unexplained English words from working-class or underclass English vocabulary. Treated in Part 1 of this study are cod as ‘dupe’ and codswallop, mollycoddle /mollycot, natty, and yokel. Common features are isolation, extended use, pejoration, and treatment by lexicographers with varying degrees of proscriptiveness and by word buffs with enthusiastic amateur etymologizing.

  • Issue Year: 137/2020
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 111-122
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: English