LINGUIST List 13.406

Thu Feb 14 2002

Qs: "English words" Quote--Author, James D. Nicoll?

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  • kemmer, author of "English words" quote

    Message 1: author of "English words" quote

     Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 11:52:04 -0600 (CST)
    From: kemmer <kemmerruf.rice.edu>
    Subject: author of "English words" quote




    Can anyone tell me the original source of the following quote about English words? Failing that, any reference at all as to where the quote has appeared in print?

    "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." - James D. Nicoll

    I have this quote posted on my course webpage for my course "English Words: Structure, History, Use" (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/info.html)

    To the best of my recollection, I got the quote out of an old book on the English language published in the 50s or 60s, which I no longer have (and I can't remember who it's by or the title). I think I've seen the quote reproduced in more recent books on language too, but I don't know where. Over the past 5 or 6 years, I have gotten the occasional inquiry about where it comes from. But nobody can find any reference to anything written by James D. Nicoll.

    Now, somebody has posted the quote onto the American Bar Association's SOLOSEZ listserve for solo and small firm attorneys. And I am getting emails from lawyers asking about the source and the context.

    Can anybody help me satisfy the curiosity of word lovers about the origin of this quote? (including myself). Or as one of my correspondents put it, "Who the hell is James D. Nicoll?"

    Thanks! - Suzanne Kemmer