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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | A {{w|malapropism}} is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical utterance. An example of a {{w|malapropism}} is {{w|Yogi Berra}}'s statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes". A {{w|portmanteau}} is a word made up of two or more combined words. For example, motel is a portmanteau, from the words motor and hotel. A {{w|neologism}} is simply a newly coined word that is not yet in common use. | + | {{incomplete|The title text is more or less unreferenced. Although there are links to LanguageLog there is no explanation of what this is or why this is funny}} |
+ | This comic is a reference to the large number of Wikipedia pages that start by labeling their subject matter as a "malapropism", a "portmanteau", or a "neologism". A {{w|malapropism}} is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical utterance. An example of a {{w|malapropism}} is {{w|Yogi Berra}}'s statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes". A {{w|portmanteau}} is a word made-up of two or more combined words and their definitions. For example, motel is a portmanteau, from the words motor and hotel. A {{w|neologism}} is simply a newly-coined word that is not yet in common use. | ||
− | Here, | + | Here, Randall uses the word "malamanteau" which is both a portmanteau of "malapropism" and "portmanteau" and a malapropism of "portmanteau". Finally, "malamanteau" is itself a neologism. The methods used to create this new word are the very words used in the process. This is called a meta or “self-referential” joke. |
− | + | "Malamanteau" was originally coined in 2007, when it was proposed by user [http://www.metafilter.com/user/17900 ludwig_van] on [http://www.metafilter.com Metafilter] as a term for language errors like "flustrated" (flustered & frustrated) and "misconscrewed" (misconstrued & screwed). [http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2758 Malamanteau] did not appear on [http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/ LanguageLog] until after this strip. | |
− | + | In response to this comic, editors at Wikipedia created a malamanteau page. It was deleted multiple times and eventually turned into a redirect to the Wikipedia page for {{w|xkcd}}. Malamanteau and the controversy at Wikipedia got coverage at ''The Economist'' and ''The Boston Globe''. | |
− | The | + | The title text refers to Wikipedia's requirements of citations for a page on there to exist. It also refers to the wide range of places citations can be obtained from, showing a direct opposition due to the use of very different citations (The Language log arguments are modern and informal, whereas the obscure manuscript is formal and much older. |
− | + | Malamanteau has since been referenced on the Language log website, with a link to the comic in question. Language log has referenced XKCD many times before, reposting the comics and linking to the XKCD website. | |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
− | *[http://malamanteaus.blogspot.com/ Malamanteaus], a blog dedicated to the creation and proliferation of | + | *[http://wiki.xkcd.com/irc/Malamanteau Malamanteau] at the official xkcd wiki |
+ | *[http://malamanteaus.blogspot.com/ Malamanteaus], a blog dedicated to the creation and proliferation of malananteaux | ||
*[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Malamanteau Malamanteau] at urbandictionary.com | *[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Malamanteau Malamanteau] at urbandictionary.com | ||
*[http://wordsquirt.com/Word/View/Malamanteau/dbb34d48-e565-4012-bcc8-56718f351712 Malamanteau] at wordsquirt.com | *[http://wordsquirt.com/Word/View/Malamanteau/dbb34d48-e565-4012-bcc8-56718f351712 Malamanteau] at wordsquirt.com | ||
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+ | ==References== | ||
*[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=malamanteau Entries referencing "malamanteau"] at LanguageLog.com | *[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=malamanteau Entries referencing "malamanteau"] at LanguageLog.com | ||
− | *Malamanteau Talk Page Archives | + | *Malamanteau Talk Page Archives [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AMalamanteau/Archive_1 1][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Malamanteau/Archive_2 2] at Wikipedia.com |
− | * | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Malamanteau Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Malamanteau] |
− | * | + | *[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malamanteau_page_history.jpg Screen capture] of the deleted history for the "Malamanteau" page from Wikipedia |
− | *[//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=Malamanteau Wikipedia Log for "Malamanteau"] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=Malamanteau Wikipedia Log for "Malamanteau"] |
*Beutler, William (May 5, 2010) "[http://thewikipedian.net/2010/05/18/much-ado-about-malamanteau/ Much Ado About Malamanteau]". ''The Wikipedian'' | *Beutler, William (May 5, 2010) "[http://thewikipedian.net/2010/05/18/much-ado-about-malamanteau/ Much Ado About Malamanteau]". ''The Wikipedian'' | ||
*McKean, Erin (May 30, 2010) "[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/05/30/one_day_wonder/ One Day Wonder]". ''The Boston Globe'' | *McKean, Erin (May 30, 2010) "[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/05/30/one_day_wonder/ One Day Wonder]". ''The Boston Globe'' | ||
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[[Category:CC-BY-SA comics]] | [[Category:CC-BY-SA comics]] | ||
[[Category:Portmanteau]] | [[Category:Portmanteau]] | ||
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