4 ms·

"Pseudpocalypse"... why not "pseudocalypse" or "pseudoapocalypse"? As an aside, it's always surprising to see how English speakers split Greek words like "Apoc

"Pseudpocalypse"... why not "pseudocalypse" or "pseudoapocalypse"? As an aside, it's always surprising to see how English speakers split Greek words like "Apocalypse". That is to say, they always split them in the middle of Greek syllables, or just drop letters like "pseud[o][a]pocalypse" and often in a way that ends up sounding clunky and weird even in English. Can't think of other examples now. Brain going to sleepzzzz.... Edit: oh wow there's actually a word for that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libfix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libfix OK, now I go to sleep.

dooglius 3mo ago
"pseud" is it's own atom here, see definition 2 in https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseud https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseud It's not trying to say "something like an apocalypse" it's saying "an apocalypse of pseuds"
- viccis 3mo ago
  Yeah, pseudpocalypse would be Substack going out of business or something similar.
Exoristos 3mo ago
Let's see, expanded it's "the (or an) apocalypse of pseudonyms." In Greek, this would roughly be "ἀποκάλυψις ὧν ψευδωνῠ́μων." It's not impossible for a genitive like this to become a word, possibly "ἀποκάλυψευδώνῠμοι" (think of "φιλέλλην") -- although it's a little fanciful. There may even be precedent for a construct that puts "ψευδώνῠμοι" first. But ultimately I agree that the word the article offers seems tortured.
- YeGoblynQueenne 3mo ago
  Πολυτονικό! Haha! But yeah, αποκαλυψευδώνυμοι/α sounds better, but it would work even less well in English.
Avicebron 3mo ago
It's a speech and attention thing. With the American accent you weigh the pseud part higher than the -onym because it's the downward part of the word. pseudocalypse highlights the -ocalypse on the upswing which detracts from the pseudo- so to maximize traction use both recognition highlights pseud- and -pocalypse.
Schlagbohrer 3mo ago
English speakers even mix latin and greek roots! From a t-shirt I saw once: "I am against polyamory! It should either be multiamory or polyphilia!"

dooglius 3mo ago

"pseud" is it's own atom here, see definition 2 in https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseud https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pseud It's not trying to say "something like an apocalypse" it's saying "an apocalypse of pseuds"

viccis 3mo ago
Yeah, pseudpocalypse would be Substack going out of business or something similar.

Exoristos 3mo ago

Let's see, expanded it's "the (or an) apocalypse of pseudonyms." In Greek, this would roughly be "ἀποκάλυψις ὧν ψευδωνῠ́μων." It's not impossible for a genitive like this to become a word, possibly "ἀποκάλυψευδώνῠμοι" (think of "φιλέλλην") -- although it's a little fanciful. There may even be precedent for a construct that puts "ψευδώνῠμοι" first. But ultimately I agree that the word the article offers seems tortured.

YeGoblynQueenne 3mo ago
Πολυτονικό! Haha! But yeah, αποκαλυψευδώνυμοι/α sounds better, but it would work even less well in English.

Avicebron 3mo ago

It's a speech and attention thing. With the American accent you weigh the pseud part higher than the -onym because it's the downward part of the word. pseudocalypse highlights the -ocalypse on the upswing which detracts from the pseudo- so to maximize traction use both recognition highlights pseud- and -pocalypse.

Schlagbohrer 3mo ago

English speakers even mix latin and greek roots! From a t-shirt I saw once: "I am against polyamory! It should either be multiamory or polyphilia!"