According to Fowler's Modern
English Usage, sarcasm is to
faults as what intellectual stance is to
morals?
Etymology, Etymology, and more Etymology
as well as grammar, usage, euphemism, slang, jargon, semantics (meaning), linguistics, neologism, idiom, word origin, syntax, dialect, lexicon (vocabulary), diction, pidgin, synonym, antonym, homonym, cant, argot, lingo, and redundancy.
The critically-acclaimed board game
MooT
consists of tough questions about the nuances of the English language.
Answer:
cynicism
According to Fowler, sarcasm is directed towards people's
faults and cynicism towards their morality.
Please note that these are draft questions for the board game MooT.
If you spot an error or disagree with anything I've said here,
please let me know and I'll fix it.
(the Mootguy)
Feedback
What about ridicule? Sarcasm would seem to
involve the verbal expression of feelings as would ridicule. Cynicism can
easily be expressed through a leer, and doesn't need a verbal
expression.
x-jdoody_rochester.rr.com
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Don't agree! Cynicism
can be directed toward morality as well as amorality and sarcasm can be
directed toward people's faults as well as their strengths. It seems moot to
me.
x-ellenberns_aol.com
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What edition of fowler? like a lot of his
stuff, what was correct 50 years ago sounds dated and pedantic now. personally,
I love the distinction, and think it useful
x-
david.lennard_kingsgroup.org
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Sarcasm may equally be directed toward a person's virtues; cynicism
may equally be directed toward a person's lack of
morality.
x-black_newways.org
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No, the parallel is improper ? faults are by definition undesirable,
whereas morality is neutral. Change "morality" to "immorality" and you have a
more plausible and tougher issue . . .
x-mdk_math.princeton.edu
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I can see Fowler's point, although I don't believe it is a necessary
one. I think I can be cynical about faults and sarcastic about morality just as
easily as the other way around.
x-james.t.wood_att.net
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