Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 06:12:04 -0400

From: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA

Subject: `scare-quotes'



below is a request i've had from a south african lexicographer on

behalf of the OED. it seems they had not heard of "scare quotes"

until they read a paper of mine. another case of me speaking

american english without realizing it.



does anyone have any citations or etymological info? it's not in

_american heritage_ (the only u.s. dictionary i have at the office).

any idea how old it is?



i pointed out in my response to the below that i think "scare quotes"

can also be used to refer to the gesture of miming double quotes with

two fingers on each hand.



respond to me or the list, and i'll summarize for penny & edmund.



thanks,



lynne murphy





------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

From: "Penny Silva" PENNY[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]Aardvark.ru.ac.za

Organization: Dictionary Unit for SA English

To: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]muse.arts.wits.ac.za

Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 10:02:49 +200

Subject: `scare-quotes'



Hi Lynne,



We're having some correspondence with OED on

this. Having pointed out your use of the word, we

discover that it isn't reflected in their holdings at

all! Do you know its etymology? age? Presumably

it's only found in US Eng.? I heard Richard Bailey

using it last year and wondered, at the time.



Edmund Weiner would be delighted to get hold of

some citations illustrating its use, if you come across

any...



Best wishes



Penny

Penny Silva - Director - Dictionary Unit for SA English - Rhodes University

PO Box 94 - Grahamstown 6140 - South Africa. Tel. (0461) 31-8107.

Fax No. (0461) 25642. E-mail: Penny[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aardvark.ru.ac.za