virus: In the beginning, the was the Word

Reed Konsler (konsler@ascat.harvard.edu)
Tue, 23 Mar 1999 09:40:49 -0500

>I fully support coming up with a new word for this profound concept,
>but would prefer one that could be used in spoken discourse in
>addition to writing.
>
>I couldn't come up with anything based on the Latin /fides/ that I
>liked. Maybe we could borrow words from another language that makes
>the distinction?
>
>
>- --
>David McFadzean david@lucifer.com
>Memetic Engineer http://www.lucifer.com/~david/
>Church of Virus http://www.lucifer.com/virus/

When I listen to a radio program about music and they talk about "CDs" it means one thing. When they talk about my financial future "CDs" means another thing. Sometimes [gasp] I get confused and have to *suspend judgement* for long enough to figure out which kind of CD they are talking about.

The process is called "contextualization".

I'll support the new word if everyone pledges to contextualize the use of the word "faith" until the new word enters the OED. I hope we could do so after words, also.

Reed


  Reed Konsler                        konsler@ascat.harvard.edu
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