communitarian etymology

Meaning and Definition:

Communitarian etymology refers to the folk or popular explanation of the origin or meaning of a word based on its sound or superficial similarity to another word, often resulting in an inaccurate or fanciful interpretation.

Origin:

The term "communitarian etymology" was first coined by the German linguist Friedrich Kluge in his 1883 publication "Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache" (Etymological Dictionary of the German Language). He used the term to describe "popular etymologies," which were explanations of word origins that relied on perceived resemblances rather than historical or linguistic evidence.

Examples:

• Cockroach: In some cultures, it is mistakenly believed that "cockroach" originated from "cock" (a male chicken) and "roach" (an insect), suggesting that it is a hybrid creature.
• Caterpillar: The popular notion that it derives from "cat" (the animal) and "pillar" (a support) is inaccurate; it actually stems from the Old French word "chattepeleuse," meaning "hairy cat."
• Nimby: Often misinterpreted as short for "not in my backyard" to express opposition to developments or changes, it actually stands for the "No Iron, Bye Myself" movement, which originated in 1970s Australia to advocate for self-sufficiency and against centralized decision-making.

Significance:

Communitarian etymologies can provide insights into the way people perceive and interpret language. They can also lead to misconceptions or distortions of word meanings. However, they can also be seen as an expression of folk creativity and a testament to the organic evolution of languages.

communitarian relate terms

• commune

  Etymology Latin communis meaning common shared or belonging to all Meanin

• common

  Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing the

• community

  Community etymology is the process of creating a new word or phrase by re analyzing an exi

• common

  Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing the

• utilitarian

  Etymology Utilitarian is derived from the Latin word utilis meaning useful Me

• cowboy

  Etymology The word cowboy is derived from the Spanish word vaquero which means cow

• oath

  Etymology The word oath comes from the Old English word að which means oath Thi

• zone

  Etymology The word zone comes from the Greek word zonē meaning girdle or belt

• mundane

  Etymology Mundane derives from the Latin word mundānus meaning of the world It

• Semite

  Etymology and Meaning The term Semite derives from the name Shem one of the sons of N

• menopause

  Etymology Meno is derived from the Greek word mēn μην meaning month Paus

• occult

  Etymology The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus which means hidden

• conundrum

  Etymology The word conundrum is derived from the Latin phrase conundrāre meaning t