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This past weekend's show covered a lot of ground, including new political language like "glass pockets" and "horseracism," and whether there is a relationship between "caucus" and "Caucasian."
Listen here:
https://waywordradio.org/barbecue/
Thomas called to talk about Italian-American culture, including the word "fugeddaboutit." We mentioned a list of other such mushed-together words collected by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Here's that list, as reported by present-day word researcher Barry Popik:
Also, we discussed "moot point" vs. "mute point." Here's the "Friends" scene we mention on the show:
Hallie Leighton sent us a copy of the book she co-authored with her father, Jan Leighton. "Rare Words II, and Ways to Master Their Meanings," from Levenger Press, is a book-length digression on words that are interesting to have on one's tongue.
We also received two signed copies of the new edition of William Safire's political dictionary, called, of course, "Safire's Political Dictionary." It's been updated to include new language from more than three presidential terms and even includes language from the current political race.
If you'd like to have one of these two *signed* copies of the dictionary, then sign up to play our slang quiz. Submit your name, your phone numbers, the best time to reach you, and your favorite *political* slang word. Tell us the word, what it means, and why you like it.
By the way, Grant interviewed Mr. Safire about the new book and will be posting that online soon.
Listener Tracy Jane Comer (pronounced "comber") of Verona, Wisconsin, sent us copies of her new album called "Quietly There." It's a bluesy rocking set of tunes with heart. You can find out more about Tracy at her web site:
http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/
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Best wishes,
Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett
Co-hosts of A Way with Words
https://waywordradio.org
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It's been bugging me fow weeks, now. Since all comments have to be approved, I guess my worry about this comment going completely unnoticed is a mute point. But I told you about it any way.
Grant, I am *very* *disappointed*. I should think that you would have at least given a nod to the eggcorn database when the topic of mute point came up. You made a caller feel bad for no good reason. "Mute point" is *perfectly* acceptable, and to be honest, I hear it much more often than the original.
I say them both, depending on the topic and the audience. If I say it's a moot point, then I mean it does not matter. Whatever the point is, it does not affect the topic at hand.
Mute point, however, has a different meaning. It means I don't want to hear about it anymore. It may be perfectly cogent and it could matter alot, but if I say it's a mute point, it means that I do not want to debate it, so shut your pie hole.
The eggcorn database has another use: to quiet someone, or indirectly say that their comment is less than genius. Either way, it is documented, prevalent and *not* going away. If someone wants to tell me otherwise, it's a mute point, because I don't want to hear it!
Thanks, Paul. We have in the past mentioned the eggcorn database--Martha and I are both fans and I've contributed at least one item there. It's a marvelous site to browse. It deserves all of the mentions we can give it and we should have said something this time, too. We'll be sure to bring it up in a future episode.
I do like the divergent mute/moot point meanings you've so aptly described. I wonder how widespread they are.
Grant, I think it goes coast to coast. I'm about the same age as you and I've lived on both coasts and in the midwest (I am a native Buckeye). I do not recall anywhere I did not hear it. And a recent boss man of mine who is from NOLA was particularly fond if it, too, so I know it's on the south coast as well.
I have noticed that you are more of a descriptivist than Martha, who I adore despite her prescriptivist leanings, so I was a bit astonished when you echoed her disapproval of this phrase.
Thanks for hearing me out. I've been a listener since the Charles & Richard days when I lived across Lindo Paseo from the KPBS building (I'm sure that makes much more sense to Martha, and no, not at a frat house). And I am *very* glad you came back this season - I had believed the rumor that the show was going to go quietly into that sweet night.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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