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St. Cloud State University
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HURL dept. should be questioned
Published:
Monday, April 11, 2005
Back in December, I suggested that students do research to compare actual word origins with those the Human Relations department taught them. Keeping in mind the issue of the HURL department's credibility, here are quick explanations of some of the words:
Handicap - This word does not derive from "cap in hand" in reference to disabled persons having to beg. It comes from the phrase "hand in cap," a system of betting dating back to the 1600s (hmm. this may explain why the word is not "capihand"). The word had no meaning related to disabilities until the 20th century.
Rule of Thumb - This word is rumored to come from an old law allowing men to hit their wives with an object no thicker than their thumbs. No such law can be found, however, the expression simply refers to using one's thumb to make an approximate measurement.
Bang for the Buck - No, this is not a reference to prostitution. It is most likely a Cold War reference to weighing a proposed weapons system's cost against its destructive capability.
So where do such bizarre and erroneous word origins come from? They are the product of "folk etymology," which is the creation of urban legends surrounding word histories. Real etymologists (language historians) note a sudden surge in derogatory origins being ascribed to words in the 1970s. Despite the fact that these word histories are either unproven or demonstrably false, they have spread as unchecked rumors, mainly because they are helpful for those who want to prove that our language is laced with oppression. Eventually, these stories made their way into our HURL department.
But wait! Colleges are supposed to teach up-to-date, tested, and (as much as possible) proven information. Instead of shaping course content to fit their own predetermined values, they should be adapting to fresh new ideas gained from sound research and credible publications. This is what separates legitimate academia from cults and pseudo-science.
So why is a department at an accredited university teaching rumors that a small, agenda-driven group has been internally circulating for 30 years?
Jeremiah Jennings
SCSU Alumnus
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