Chrysti The Wordsmith: Idiom - 4

Greetings This is Christy Smith Christie the wordsmith from Montana State University in Bozeman during the last few words with additions. We've been looking at a clan of words that include the Greek element ID i o the etymological family portrait includes idiot idiosyncrasy and it will close the series today after we've met the most recently coined and perhaps the most obscure cousin of the family the word idiolect. I D I O L E C T. First a look at the Greek based element idio which means one's own or personal. So idiosyncrasy for example means personal peculiarity with the Greek element idio at the helm. The term idiom refers to an expression peculiar to a language such as our common verbal formulas. Go jump in a lake or keep a stiff upper lip. In 1940 8 the American linguist Bernard Bloch folded the Greek idio into his newly coined term idiolect which refers to a language usage pattern unique to an individual observing that each person has a special way of

using the language with unique word and grammar selection and vocal inflection. BLOCK formulated a word to describe that phenomenon idiolect a blending of the Greek idio meaning personal and the word dialect or language unique to a group of people. So etymologically your idiolect is your own personal dialect. I'm Christi the wordsmith a Montana State University in Bozeman good daver before Christie the wordsmith a sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Zoot enterprises a high tech firm in Bozeman Montana offering challenging careers and innovative solutions for the financial services industry sued web dotcom.