Ivy-Covered Words

Abstract

Words and phrases coined by scholars that become part of the vernacular usually have popular resonance: pecking order, natural selection, meme. Some scholars have coined more than their share of such neologisms. Darwin was a prolific coiner and importer of terms such as cross-fertilize, subgroup, and alfalfa. Darwin’s London neighbor Dr. William Gowers contributed knee-jerk (for the reflexive jerk of a tapped knee). Robert Merton added self-fulfilling prophecy, role model, and focused interview, Abraham Maslow hierarchy of needs and peak experience. In some cases neologisms related to academic discoveries were created by “interpreters”: theory of relativity (Max Planck), focus group (Ernest Dichter), body language (Julius Fast). As with books from the world of popular publishing, some of these new words and phrases appeared in the titles of more scholarly works. They include Bowling Alone, Personal Space, and Holism and Evolution.