NationStates Jolt Archive

I have been looking at two words that to me, at least make no sense based on their components, or are commonly used incorrectly.

1. Homophobia - Fear of the same.
Do your socks match? If so are you afraid of this sameness or any other sameness? If so you are a homo-phobic.

Why not a combination of existing words such as Homo-erotic-phobia literally fear of same sexuality? That way, you can look at the parts of the word and figure out it's meaning.

2. Antisemitism - Against the Semites (Children of Shem)

This word is commonly used (much to the disgust of demographers and linguists) in place of Anti-Jewish or Anti-Zionist. The Semites where identified as the Children of Shem or people coming from or speaking middle eastern languages, this would include Amharic, Arabic, Aramaic, Akkadian, Hebrew, Maltese, Syriac, Tigrigna, etc.

While there is undoubtedly some degree of self-loathing in the Anti-Jewish Arab communities to say that "There is a community of Antisemitic Arabs" is a misstatement.

Any words that you see that do not make sense, could make more sense, or a frequently misused?

Common usage rules.

The suffix "-phobia" doesn't necessarily mean a fear. It also refers to an irrational hatred. Also, the meanings of words can differ from their roots, unless you want to tell me that "xenophobia" means a "fear of the strange", instead of "an irrational hatred of outsiders".

The suffix "-phobia" doesn't necessarily mean a fear. It also refers to an irrational hatred. Also, the meanings of words can differ from their roots, unless you want to tell me that "xenophobia" means a "fear of the strange", instead of "an irrational hatred of outsiders".
Ok... so we have "Hatred of Same."

Ok... so we have "Hatred of Same."
Did you read the rest of my post? No, you couldn't have, or you would be aware that that comment you jsut made is insipid.

I have been looking at two words that to me, at least make no sense based on their components, or are commonly used incorrectly.

1. Homophobia - Fear of the same.
Do your socks match? If so are you afraid of this sameness or any other sameness? If so you are a homo-phobic.

Homophobia. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=homophobia)
Hom(o)- (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hom-)
-phobia (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-phobia)

You'd think people bitching about etymology would actually know something about it. :rolleyes:

Did you read the rest of my post? No, you couldn't have, or you would be aware that that comment you jsut made is insipid.
I stand corrected. For the first one anyway :)

Homophobia. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=homophobia)
Hom(o)- (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hom-)
-phobia (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-phobia)

You'd think people bitching about etymology would actually know something about it. :rolleyes:
The term homophobia means a "fear of or contempt for homosexuality or homosexuals" or the fear of becoming homosexual. It is derivable from the words homosexual and Φοβος (meaning "fear" or "panic" in Greek). The term itself is, however, often broadened to encompass other feelings such as aversion to, disagreement with, disapprobation of, disparagement of, or discrimination against homosexual people, their lifestyle, their sexual behavior, or culture [1] and is generally used to assert bigotry. Opposition to same-sex sex on religious, moral, or political grounds is also often labeled homophobic. It may be found confusing, but the literal meaning of the term homophobia is a fear of ones own gender.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
:rolleyes:
Imagine that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
:rolleyes:
Imagine that.

Wikipedia? You've got to be kidding. :rolleyes:

Hom(o)- = 2 : homosexual (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hom-)

-phobia = 2 : intolerance or aversion for (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-phobia)

Homophobia = irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homophobia)

Anyway, etymology is irrelevant to the meanings of words. Or would you claim that sandwiches have to contain sand? Or that the Swedish word for sandwich, smörgås, which consists of "smör = butter," "gås = goose" actually means butter goose and not sandwich?

Face it, you're wrong. Not only about the etymology, but also about etymology deciding the meanings of words.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
:rolleyes:
Imagine that.
You think wikipedia is going to work on Fass? What are you on?

Wikipedia? You've got to be kidding. :rolleyes:

Hom(o)- = 2 : homosexual (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hom-)

-phobia = 2 : intolerance or aversion for (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-phobia)

Homophobia = irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homophobia)

Anyway, etymology is irrelevant to the meanings of words. Or would you claim that sandwiches have to contain sand? Or that the Swedish word for sandwich, smörgås, which consists of "smör = butter," "gås = goose" actually means butter goose and not sandwich?

Face it, you're wrong. Not only about the etymology, but also about etymology deciding the meanings of words.Sandwich in English is named after it's inventor John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, it is a proper name.

The origins of the word homosexuality:

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word homophobia in the meaning "fear or hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality" was first used in print in Time Magazine in 1969. It was coined by clinical psychologist George Weinberg, who claims to have first thought of it while speaking at a homophile group in 1965 [2] and popularized by his book Society and the Healthy Homosexual in 1971. It combines the Greek terms phobos, meaning "fear" or "panic", and homos, which means "the same". The "homo" in homophobia comes from the word homosexual, not to be confused with the Latin homo, meaning man (as in homo sapiens).

A possible (and etymologically more precise) precursor was homoerotophobia, coined by Dr Wainwright Churchill in Homosexual Behavior Among Males in 1967.
Wikipedia.

You know what is more annoying than these words? People who refuse to accept the fact that words have more meaning than the sum of their parts, and that you can't rationalise away the connotation that these words have.

Sandwich in English is named after it's inventor John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, it is a proper name.

So? The name still contains "sand." Thus every derivative of it must still contain the original meaning of the word, as per your logic. So, are you gonna start pouring sand into your sandwiches?

Wikipedia.

Precisely, wikipedia. :rolleyes:

So? The name still contains "sand." Thus every derivative of it must still contain the original meaning of the word, as per your logic. So, are you gonna start pouring sand into your sandwiches?
In all likelyhood it should be Sandwiches, I have mentioned nothing about proper names. :D
Precisely, wikipedia. :rolleyes:
You want to look up the reference, or dismiss the Oxford English Dictionary out of hand? Dr. Weinberg is credited with and takes credit for the term.
http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/interview/020397in.htm

You know what is more annoying than these words? People who refuse to accept the fact that words have more meaning than the sum of their parts, and that you can't rationalise away the connotation that these words have.
How about we just adopt newspeak and be done with it?

How about we just adopt newspeak and be done with it?
You mean, reinvent the meaning of words, so that when you are called homophobic you can laugh and say, 'I'm not afraid of my own gender you stupid fag!'?

I personaly hate the word 'truck'. I think we should call all trucks 'cthulu's'. Cthulu is a much cooler word than truck.

You mean, reinvent the meaning of words, so that when you are called homophobic you can laugh and say, 'I'm not afraid of my own gender you stupid fag!'?
Ah, you are against the words I picked :D
Just calling it homoerotophobia instead of homophobia does not make the practice any better, it makes the word more clear.

Thank you for insinuating that I am a bigot.

In all likelyhood it should be Sandwiches, I have mentioned nothing about proper names. :D

Again: it must mean something with sand because it contains sand. Or is etymology somehow wrong to use when it shows the silliness of your argument?

You want to look up the reference, or dismiss the Oxford English Dictionary out of hand?

You are the one refuting the OED as well as MW.

Dr. Weinberg is credited with and takes credit for the term.
http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/interview/020397in.htm

He does not dictate the meaning of the word, just like simple etymology doesn't. But in this case, the etymology actually spoke against you, as the word is built up of a prefix "homo-" and suffix "-phobia." You are just plain old wrong. You've been proved wrong by both the OED as well as MW. Just let it go already.