Etymology and folk etymology

Abstract An etymologist studying iconicity rarely feels secure outside the most obvious cases of onomatopoeia (bow-wow, oink-oink; perhaps squeal and its likes). Yet a broad comparison of languages shows that certain sound groups, such as those investigated by Wilhelm Oehl and called phon(a)esthemes by John R. Firth, play an important role in word creation across language borders. Br-, kr-, skr-, spr-, str-, and their likes are often mentioned in this context. A word historian cannot always distinguish between onomatopoeia and sound symbolism. Thus, Engl. sl- occurs in numerous words suggesting something foul, but it is impossible to show that slime, slut, or sleazy arose under the influence of the phonestheme sl-. Discussed in this chapter, among others, are the origins of many j-words (jig, jog, etc.) and words ending in -dge (dodge, nudge), some etymologically obscure sp-, st-, and tr- nouns (spook, star, and trash among them), the putative phonestheme er- in words designating “earth,” and the symbolic role of geminates. Speakers instinctively, and for good reason, fight the idea of an arbitrary linguistic sign. Therefore, the chapter ends with notes on folk etymology.