|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | {{comic | | {{comic |
| − | | number = 2602 | + | | number = [[File:sick.gif|12px]] |
| − | | date = April 4, 2022 | + | | date = [[File:sick.gif|12px]] |
| − | | title = Linguistics Degree | + | | title = [[File:sick.gif|12px]] |
| − | | image = linguistics_degree.png | + | | image = emoji.png |
| − | | titletext = You'd think 'linguistics' would go to someone important in the field, but it's actually assigned to a random student in Ohio who barely graduated and then went into automotive marketing. | + | | titletext = [[File:sick.gif|12px]] |
| | }} | | }} |
| | | | |
| − | ==Explanation== | + | == [[File:sick.gif|12px]] == |
| | | | |
| − | [[Hairbun]] hands [[Megan]] a linguistics degree, and informs her she is now "in charge of" the word '{{wiktionary|bassoon}}.' Watching this, [[Ponytail]] and [[Cueball]] compare the words they were assigned when ''they'' got their linguistics degrees, '{{wiktionary|jackalope}}' and '{{wiktionary|slurp}}' respectively. Ponytail thinks bassoon is a cool word but thinks her own is better, whereas Cueball is not satisfied with his word. A bassoon is a woodwind musical instrument with a double reed, while a jackalope is a mythical creature, a ''jackrabbit'' crossed with an ''antelope''. "Slurp" is an onomatopoeia associated with eating or drinking loudly. | + | [[File:sick.gif|12px]] |
| − | | |
| − | It is never clarified what being "in charge of" a word entails. It could mean being in charge of keeping track of the word, or having actual authority over the use of the word, which is unlikely as normally [[1726|language use cannot be dictated by a single person]]. Also, no specific university has control over all of linguistics as far as we know, so it would require every university capable of giving people linguistics degrees to co-operate, so nobody is assigned the same word. Any well-educated member of the linguistic community will know what is being suggested is impossible hence why they are the only ones aware of how important it is.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The title text merely furthers how seemingly random the entire situation is. The word "linguistics" was assigned to a "random student in Ohio who barely graduated and then went into automotive marketing", who we can assume isn't very important to the field of linguistics.{{Citation needed}} But this means that no one is actually taking care of this important word, since it must be assumed that the student is no longer interested in linguistics.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The idea of individuals having a guardianship of an idea or concept has appeared in science fiction. For example, in ''{{w|Fahrenheit 451}}'' characters have memorized books to save them from book-burning and... spoiler-stuff.
| |
| − | | |
| − | It also exists in reality. Members of the {{w|Royal Spanish Academy}}, the institution that defines the official dictionary of the Spanish language, are symbolically put in charge of one letter of the dictionary each to take care of it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Transcript==
| |
| − | :[Megan, who is wearing a graduation cap, receives a degree which is handed to her by Hairbun. They are standing on a podium with Ponytail and Cueball standing below as onlookers.]
| |
| − | :Hairbun: Congratulations on the degree! Your word is "Bassoon."
| |
| − | :Ponytail: Oh nice! Not as cool as my "Jackalope," but still not bad.
| |
| − | :Cueball: You all are lucky. I'm stuck with "Slurp."
| |
| − | | |
| − | :[Caption below panel:]
| |
| − | :Every linguistics degree comes with one word that you're put in charge of.
| |
| − | | |
| − | {{comic discussion}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Language]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Characters with hats]]
| |
