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Sat 30 Jan, 2010 10:13 pm
A kinda interesting loop away from the study of language.
Quote:
Spokespirate
January 30, 2010 @ 3:52 pm · Filed by Mark Liberman under Words words words
It's still January, but I've already got a nomination for the 2010 WOTY competition: spokespirate:
Saying the US and Europe “have no moral authority” to control the aid going to Haiti, Somali pirates say they plan to donate booty from their hijackings to the relief effort. The pirates have taken in more than $150 million in the past 2 years, by one estimate, and now aim to redistribute some while thumbing their noses at the Western powers. “They are the ones pirating mankind for many years,” a spokespirate tells Agencia Matriz del Sur.
Needless to say, this is not entirely original. But I haven't previously seen it used in reference to actual ship-hijacking pirates.
Spokes-X has become a reasonably productive pattern, though only a few instances (e.g. spokesmodel) have graduated from the realm of humorous neologisms (such as spokesathlete, spokesbimbo, spokesdrone, spokesfool, spokeskitteh, spokesmime, spokesmoron, spokesnazi, spokespoet, spokesrobot, spokeszombie, …).
[Hat tip to David Donnell]
January 30, 2010 @ 3:52 pm · Filed by Mark Liberman under Words words words
Actual article is in a fering tongue.