Scatolinguistics
Encyclopedia
Jim McCawley
(erstwhile professor of linguistics
at the University of Chicago, who wrote his scatolinguistic treatises under the noms de plume of Quang Phuc Dong and Yuck Foo, both of the fictional South Hanoi Institute of Technology) is credited, on page ix of the preface of Studies out in left field as having "created the interdisciplinary field[s] of pornolinguistics and scatolinguistics virtually on his own" in 1967. Technically, scatolinguistics is the study of the words for various forms of excrement (compare scatology). But, given the lack of any cognate
s such as "pornolinguistics" (despite the above) or "coitolinguistics", it has come to cover the study (including etymology
and current usage) of all rude and profane expressions
.
, or as a minor entertaining diversion. Viz magazine's Profanisaurus is a detailed example. There is definite public interest in the field, although the relation to humor has meant that entertaining false etymologies (such as the "for unlawful carnal knowledge" false etymology) have tended to be more prevalent in popular culture than the results of serious linguistic analysis have.
James D. McCawley
James David McCawley was an American linguist.McCawley was born James Quillan McCawley, Jr. to Dr. Monica Bateman McCawley , a physician and surgeon, and James Quillan McCawley , a businessman...
(erstwhile professor of linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
at the University of Chicago, who wrote his scatolinguistic treatises under the noms de plume of Quang Phuc Dong and Yuck Foo, both of the fictional South Hanoi Institute of Technology) is credited, on page ix of the preface of Studies out in left field as having "created the interdisciplinary field[s] of pornolinguistics and scatolinguistics virtually on his own" in 1967. Technically, scatolinguistics is the study of the words for various forms of excrement (compare scatology). But, given the lack of any cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
s such as "pornolinguistics" (despite the above) or "coitolinguistics", it has come to cover the study (including etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
and current usage) of all rude and profane expressions
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
.
How linguists view the field
Although most (if not all) of the words that might be termed scatolingual have been thoroughly studied and described by linguists, scatolinguistics is not generally regarded as a peer-reviewed area or classification of linguistic study. Further, the etymology of this term has been criticised as being more humorous than accurate or appropriate for the range of words it is apparently meant to include.How the public views the field
The attitude of the general public towards the field is often to treat it as humor, partly because it is a rich vein for comedians such as George CarlinGeorge Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
, or as a minor entertaining diversion. Viz magazine's Profanisaurus is a detailed example. There is definite public interest in the field, although the relation to humor has meant that entertaining false etymologies (such as the "for unlawful carnal knowledge" false etymology) have tended to be more prevalent in popular culture than the results of serious linguistic analysis have.
Literature
- The F Word, Jesse SheidlowerJesse SheidlowerJesse Sheidlower is an author and editor specializing in English linguistics and lexicography. From 1999 until 2005 he was Principal North American Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary; since 2005 he has been an editor-at-large, focusing on North American usage. He is a frequently cited expert...
(1999) ISBN 0-375-70634-8. - Studies out in left field ISBN 1-55619-460-9
- MaledictaMaledictaMaledicta, The International Journal of Verbal Aggression, is an academic journal dedicated to the study of offensive and negatively-valued words and expressions. Its main areas of interest are the origin, etymology, meaning, use, and influence of vulgar, obscene, aggressive, abusive, and...
ISSN US 0363-3659
External links
- Epitaph of Jim McCawley
- Review of The F Word — A suggestion of "coitolinguistics" as a cognate
- "A brief outline of English Scatolinguistics" — H2G2 article