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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Epithet -- sobriquet
Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet?
I think we may have discussed it here before, but if we did, U can't remember what the conclusion was, if any.
According to my dictionary the main distinction would be that a sobriqet is humouraous, and is a subcpecies of epithet, but examples given elsewhere by the likes of Fowler don't seem to be particularly humourous - e.g. "Union Jack" for "British flag".
Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
I think we may have discussed it here before, but if we did, U can't remember what the conclusion was, if any.
According to my dictionary the main distinction would be that a sobriqet is humouraous, and is a subcpecies of epithet, but examples given elsewhere by the likes of Fowler don't seem to be particularly humourous - e.g. "Union Jack" for "British flag".
Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Top answer
[nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet? . Is "Dubya" for George W.
- [nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet?
- .
- Is "Dubya" for George W.
- [/nq] Pres.
- Bush is called Dubya by the press a soubriquet Pres.
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet? . . . Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?[/nq]
Pres. Bush is called Dubya by the press a soubriquet Pres. Bush was called a moron by a Canadian MP an epithet. You right that soubriquet has an affectionate or approving connotation.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa,
Pres. Bush is called Dubya by the press a soubriquet Pres. Bush was called a moron by a Canadian MP an epithet. You right that soubriquet has an affectionate or approving connotation.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa,
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[nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet? I think we may have discussed it here before, ... humourous - e.g. "Union Jack" for "British flag". Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?[/nq]
Supposedly, he has been sober for several years now so I guess it's an epithet.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
Supposedly, he has been sober for several years now so I guess it's an epithet.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
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[nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet andsobriquet? I think we may have discussed it here before, but ... particularly humourous - e.g."Union Jack" for "British flag". Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?[/nq]
To me, it's a sobriquet but not an epithet, since it's instead of his name, rather than additional to it (like "white-armed Hera").
To me, it's a sobriquet but not an epithet, since it's instead of his name, rather than additional to it (like "white-armed Hera").
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[nq:1]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet and sobriquet?[/nq]
A sobriquet is a nickname of a person. It need not refer to any quality or attribute of that person.
An epithet is a phrase or adjective referring to a quality or attribute of a person. It need not be a nickname of that person. OK, the term 'epithet' has been used to mean to an offensive or derogatory ref
A sobriquet is a nickname of a person. It need not refer to any quality or attribute of that person.
An epithet is a phrase or adjective referring to a quality or attribute of a person. It need not be a nickname of that person. OK, the term 'epithet' has been used to mean to an offensive or derogatory ref
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[nq:2]Can anyone clarify the distinction, if any, between epithet andsobriquet? . . . Is "Dubya" for George W. Bush a sobriquet, or just an epithet?[/nq]
[nq:1]Pres. Bush is called Dubya by the press a soubriquet Pres. Bush was called a moron by a Canadian MP an epithet. You right that soubriquet has an affectionate or approvingconnotation.[/nq]
On behalf of poor Caroline Parrish, M.P., I
[nq:1]Pres. Bush is called Dubya by the press a soubriquet Pres. Bush was called a moron by a Canadian MP an epithet. You right that soubriquet has an affectionate or approvingconnotation.[/nq]
On behalf of poor Caroline Parrish, M.P., I
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But I thought it DID derive from a quality or attribute his manner of pronouncing his middle initial.
When the epithet/sobriquet first appeared I assumed that it was pronounced "doob-ya" until someone explained its origin.
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.g
When the epithet/sobriquet first appeared I assumed that it was pronounced "doob-ya" until someone explained its origin.
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.g
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Steve Hayes filted:
[nq:1]But I thought it DID derive from a quality or attribute his manner of pronouncing his middle initial.[/nq]
Then it would have to be "Dububbya"...cf "subliminable"..r
[nq:1]But I thought it DID derive from a quality or attribute his manner of pronouncing his middle initial.[/nq]
Then it would have to be "Dububbya"...cf "subliminable"..r
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