Melvyn Quince, linguistic pinch-hitter.
I’m a big fan of Language Log; I believe it’s one of the finest upenn-hosted collaborative linguistics weblogs Mark Liberman has ever given an alliterative name to. And the folks (and — let’s not be sexist – folksette) over there by and large do a pretty fine job of talking about the ongoing collapse of the English language as we know it. Plus, they post a lot of fascinating BBC science news, which saves me some web-surfing.
But this new fellow, this Melvyn Quince, is something else. For as hard as the rest of that lot have tried, over the years, they’re looking a little old hat, a little out-worded if you will, by Quince, whose first two postings display already the kind of verve and insight and flat-out linguifictive integrity that you just can’t fake.
And though he’s a newcomer to the Log, an examination of his credentials (e.g. via a google search) will, I think, both underscore his bona fides and suggest, to the discerning reader, the estimable value of his future contributions to this proud, arguably somewhat science-esque discipline.
Steve HK Said,
March 24, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
As you hint by claiming the opposite (”integrity you just can’t fake”) and suggesting a google search, MQ is clearly a pseudonym, and MQ’s style is not that of an academic, to my ear. Do you know his/her true identity?
Josh Millard Said,
March 24, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
I can imagine Melvyn on the phone with his attorney as I type this, shouting something or other about “libel” in the hoarse tones of a man too often wronged. God help me.
But assuming (uncharitably, of course) that Melvyn was a pseudonym, I honestly have no idea whose. My money is on Geoff—the particular rhetorical heft of the writing reminds me of him as much as anyone—but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Mark or Arnold instead, or someone else, or even a collaborative or hotseat effort.
I doubt its someone who doesn’t already write for LL—unvetted freeform linguistic sarcastography seems like a dangerous thing to run with, and there’s less chance of hurt feelings if folks who already know each other’s writing style well are working out an experiment than if someone is “auditioning” and it doesn’t work out.
What I’m wondering is this: barring any contact information for Mr. Quince, who is getting the credulous, popped-eye emails complaining about (or lauding, or supplementing) his contributions? I suppose the distribution of such emails among the regulars there could be taken as a kind of ad hoc vote, if they feel like doing some tabulation when/if the reveal comes along.
Though if they choose to play it deadpan (and dismiss, at the advice of Mr. Quince’s attorney, and with or without comment, this heretical accusation we’re engaging in), I’d pretty much respect the hell out of that too.
Steve HK Said,
March 24, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Googling “Melvyn Quince” yields only 7 ghits–all of them referring to the two posts on LL. That is how I found your blog. Note also the most recent post by Mark Liberman on the Austria and Ireland issue on Google translation: he makes no mention of the so-called MQ posting on the same topic. That’s weird. MQ does not exist. I have no idea what is going on. Your guess that some other LL poster is behind the pseudonym is logical. But at the same time it seems so counter to the transparent dialogue that is typical of LL. Perhaps the best guess is that it is a ploy by an LL poster to see if news outlets (like the BBC, for example) will pick up and publish claims by a person who doesn’t exist. That’s my guess.
Josh Millard Said,
March 24, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
Oh! The BBC bait…that’s just superb. A pseudonymous know-it-all as honeypot for lazy language-science journalists — guest blogger as trap street! That’s got promise, though if that’s the case I almost feel bad about this entry. Might function as a tell, should the journo in question actually take two minutes to google.
Perhaps a network of LL readers should start manufacturing a bit of a bio for Mr. (well, Dr., surely) Quince.
Josh Millard Said,
March 25, 2008 @ 6:21 am
(As to the transparency thing: Geoff, at least, has a history of occasional dry-as-earth sarcasm on the site, and I suspect he’d like to be able to make straightfaced and subtle but outlandish claims now and then without getting a storm of email correcting him; so perhaps Melvyn is also [or even merely] a way to give those rocky-reception posts a pseudonymous home. A home without an email, in particular.
The temptation to supplement my information about Dr. [definitely, I think, Dr., though from what degree program available on what website in what short number of weeks or days I haven't been able to figure] Quince with a donated email address is nigh overwhelming. Imagine the correspondence he is missing out on!)
Josh Millard Said,
March 25, 2008 @ 6:22 am
There’s also speculation from a good friend of mine that Dr. Quince’s birthday may be the first of April; it’s nearby, so we’ll see, I suppose. And I haven’t even thought to get him anything. Hmm.
Josh Millard Said,
March 25, 2008 @ 8:29 am
A couple tiny flares of Quinciana:
- eternally stressed semanticist notes some inconsistencies in the translation theory “Dr. Fifteen” put forward on Monday.
- Falstaff pits the good doctor’s earlier top/bottom complaint against Cole Porter’s take on the situation.