Editing 2394: Contiguous 41 States
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The title text riffs on synonyms for "shared borders", which, according to [[Randall]], linguists are inventing more of (while claiming they already existed) to make life more complicated for modern English users, for obscure reasons. | The title text riffs on synonyms for "shared borders", which, according to [[Randall]], linguists are inventing more of (while claiming they already existed) to make life more complicated for modern English users, for obscure reasons. | ||
− | In fact, 'contiguous', 'coterminous', and 'conterminous' all date from early modern English, early-to-mid 17th century (just after the time of Shakespeare). 'Coterminous' and 'conterminous' are alternate spellings from the same Latin root ('cum' + 'terminus'), whereas 'contiguous' is from a different root (Latin 'contiguus') | + | In fact, 'contiguous', 'coterminous', and 'conterminous' all date from early modern English, early-to-mid 17th century (just after the time of Shakespeare). 'Coterminous' and 'conterminous' are alternate spellings from the same Latin root ('cum' + 'terminus'), whereas 'contiguous' is from a different root (Latin 'contiguus'). |
− | 'Conterguous' is a neologism by Randall, though he blames it on linguists | + | 'Conterguous' is a neologism by Randall, though he blames it on linguists. It is a portmanteau of 'CONTERminous' and 'contiGUOUS'. It is etymologically absurd (the prefix 'conter-' is meaningless). Its 'top-down' introduction into the language would simply be for the purpose of messing with people's minds, as Randall suggests. However, should the word catch on with English speakers, perhaps precisely because it is a joke, its 'bottom-up' entry into the language is certainly possible. One could then argue just how much Randall would have to answer for. |
Three years later Randall made the opposite type of map, where he added 14 states and asks people to label all 64 (of 50) states in [[2868: Label the States]]. | Three years later Randall made the opposite type of map, where he added 14 states and asks people to label all 64 (of 50) states in [[2868: Label the States]]. |