James baldwin, notes of a native son we choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard jfk all the best stories in the world are but one story in reality. But, it was accepted as all correct because of its pronunciation best match is all correct. Oct 12, 2010 i like to discover the origins and evolution of language, and thats exactly what allan metcalfs book ok. This was before words had one accepted spelling, and he spelt it oll korrect. It began with a boston newspaper fad for abbreviations of common phrases like ng, no go, or gt, gone to texas. May 27, 2016 oll ko rrect using my subscription to, i searched for the oldest recorded use for oll korrect in the subset of current newspapers available to me, as of may 11, 2016. Ok is most likely short for oll korrect, a jokey misspelling of all correct that needs a little historical context to make sense. Okay is such a short word and the origin of it causes so much dispute. Nov 30, 2010 the origins of ok, i have recently learned, are the subject of considerable debate.
May 05, 20 the public reaction to the book at the time was mixedconfederate general jubal early denounced it as pure fictionbut modern scholars have found some of it to be quite accurate. In june 2009, retired librarian ann kietzman generously donated 230 childrens book in many foreign languages to the national museum of language. In response, whig opponents attributed ok, in the sense of oll korrect, to the bad. Ok is a peculiar word in many ways, all of them evaluated here. Ok first appeared as an abbreviation for oll korrect, printed in a. Apr 14, 2010 today i found out what ok stands for, namely oll korrect. The improbable story of americas greatest word allan. Okay ok is a colloquial english word denoting approval, acceptance, assent, or acknowledgment. Like snafu situation normal all fed up, its believed to be a bantering term of military origin. It is possibly the phrase with more alternative suggested derivations than any other. Jun 09, 2007 i read in my history book last year that thomas jefferson wanted to abbreviate all correct.
Subsequent choctaw spelling books deemphasized the spellings lists in. Ok hardcover allan metcalf oxford university press. Surprisingly, the expression isnt even two hundred years old. The grand tour cast on amazon vs the bbc, cars, and being recognized in syria british gq duration. Out of that riproaring confrontation came two, new words unsurpassed in vote power. Nov 08, 2010 indeed, ok became emblematic of a uniquely american attitude, and is one of our most successful global exports. Basically, the editor of the piece abbreviated all correct as if it were spelled oll korrect.
Ok simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. First recorded use of ok as an abbreviation for oll korrect. He also documented controversy surrounding ok and the history of its folk. Many years ago, i read in a history book that okay is a adaptation of a creek word.
It is okthe most ubiquitous and invisible of american expressions, one used countless times every day. The entire history of the word is laid out in a book called ok. Platonis opera, cum scholiis a ruhnkenio, collectis ad optimorum. The most likely origin of ok is as an acronym for oll korrect, a deliberate. Nov 06, 2014 how the word ok was invented 175 years ago. People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them. I read in my history book last year that thomas jefferson wanted to abbreviate all correct. Oll korrect synonyms, oll korrect pronunciation, oll korrect translation, english dictionary definition of oll korrect. It is not at all surprising that a spectacular expression like o. Horizontal harmony of the four gospels in parallel columns. Nov 09, 2010 an appealing and informative history of ok. It is a wonderful story that would have made a lovely magazine article.
Ok is an american english word denoting approval, acceptance, agreement, assent. Jaargang 5 dbnl squashed philosophers complete text plato lesser hippias. Ive known for a long time that ok was short for oll korrect, a joking misspelling of all correct from boston. Im glad you asked, because otherwise this article would have been way to short to publish. It is said to be the most frequently spoken or typed word on the planet, more common than an infants first word ma or the everpresent beverage coke. Yet few of us know the hidden history of okhow it was coined, what it stood for, and the. Jul 06, 2018 oll korrect idiomatic, dated all right.
You can read more about the history of the word in allan metcalfs book, ok. He also discusses the matter briefly in his lacus presidential address, lacus 14. This is the difference between scientific etymology and folk etymology. During the 1840 election the oll korrect ok merged with martin van burens. Indeed, ok became emblematic of a uniquely american attitude, and is one of our most successful global exports. It has been described as the most frequently spoken or written word on the planet. It all began in the office of charles gordon greene at the boston morning. Allen walker read first advanced the oll korrect explanation in his 1963 article the first stage in the history of o. I read this over the course of the couple months in short, short snippets. Memes oll korrect bbc music introducing session youtube. It sprang, more generally, from an 1830s fad for abbreviations, like ng for no good and ow for oll wright or.
Ok started as an intentionally misspelled abbreviation of all correct oll korrect. This welcome addition to the museums library is available to visitors to the museum and is used in displays and as part of school visits and summer camp activities. Finally, theres the book of historical documents, another primarily historical work. Each political campaign brings out a new wrinkle in persuasion fast response being this years fashion but nothing compares to the immortal phrases concocted in the vanburenharrison contest of 1840. This welcome addition to the museums library is available to visitors to the museum and is used in displays. How the word ok was invented 175 years ago smart news. While ok originated as a joking abbreviation that implied the user was a simpleton, it has evolved and become a word used and understood worldwide. May 15, 2019 the grand tour cast on amazon vs the bbc, cars, and being recognized in syria british gq duration.
Ok is an expression that almost all of us, young or old, rich or poor, sprinkle throughout our sentences all day, every day. What is surprising is that it ended up sticking around for so long. Oll korrect etymology edit a deliberate, humorous corruption of all correct, dating from the 1830s, recognized as one of several possible origins for the term ok. Theres even a chapter on folk and false etymologies of ok, of which there are many. Soon comedians were making initials from misspelled phrases, especially o. The complete works 31 books english edition ebooks em. The public reaction to the book at the time was mixedconfederate general jubal early denounced it as pure fictionbut modern scholars have found some of it to be quite accurate. The book of changes and spring and autumn annals, respectively covering divination and history, also come up often. If you liked this article and the bonus facts below, you might also enjoy.
Around this time, the editor used it as an efficient, trendy way of saying oll korrect, or all correct. Ok first appeared as an abbreviation for oll korrect, printed in a satirical article about. His book is based in the thorough scholarship of allen walker read, a columbia professor who for years scoured historical sources for evidence about ok, and published his findings in a series of. Mar 23, 2017 its intended to be a shortening of oll korrect, a comical misspelling of the words all correct.
Meant as an abbreviation for oll korrect, a popular slang misspelling of all correct at the time. Ok is frequently used as a loanword in other languages. Or folksinger pete seegers salute to the linguistic melting pot, all mixed up, which perpetuated the. Its intended to be a shortening of oll korrect, a comical misspelling of the words all correct. A shortened version of oll korrect, used by president andrew jackson when initialing papers.
And the book was published in 1974, so this idea is not out of date. Here is a book explaining all this and how ok evolved into the term it is today. He was still a shy nerd who spent what little free time he had reading a book, but he refused to let his world break down around him again. As you might expect, this also gave rise to van burens opponents quipping that van burens supporters were all illiterate. His book is based in the thorough scholarship of allen walker read, a columbia professor who for years scoured historical sources for evidence. In response, whig opponents attributed ok, in the sense of oll korrect, to andrew jacksons bad spelling. Washington post book world after reading metcalfs book, its easy to accept his claim that ok is americas greatest word. Today i found out what ok stands for, namely oll korrect. The spring and autumn annals is one of confucianisms five classics, and like the book of documents is a work of history, in this case chronicling the history of the state of lu, confucius home state, from 722481 b. One theory claims ok abbreviates oll korrect, a bastardized spelling much like n. In response, whig opponents attributed ok, in the sense of oll korrect, to the bad spelling of andrew jackson, van burens predecessor.
How to find a good book to get an overall view of the history of. The countrywide publicity surrounding the election appears to have been a critical event in okays history, widely and suddenly popularizing it across the united states. Although its usually written in all capitals and pronounced as separate letters. Erin mckean, boston globe entertaininga treat for logophiles. Ive known for a long time that ok was short for oll korrect, a joking misspelling of all correct from boston in 1839. Read then definitively established the source as oll korrect, with an attestation a few months earlier in the same year as the archenemys march, 1839. He was beautiful and determined, a far cry from the wallflower he was. Oll korrect definition of oll korrect by the free dictionary.
Then martin van burens presidential campaign popularized it and its brevity proved useful for sending telegraph messages. With the release of her book, velazquez may have married for a fourth time and is last documented as living in nevada. Reviews from washington post critic ron charles book. Martin van buren, old kinderhook, was governor in 1829 and president from 1837 to 1841. In fact, he is the person who first advanced the oll korrect explanation. A spitzer tale is not oll korrect the new york times. In this everchanging subset of printed archives, the oldestearliest documentation i could find was in the brooklyn daily eagle. Allen walker read, a playful prospector of the american tongue who hunted down the source of words like dixie and podunk, phrases like the almighty dollar and.
The abbreviation fad and the term ok traveled to newspapers in other cities. So it wasnt so surprising for someone come up with o. We use it so often and with so many shades of meaning that most of us assume its been around since the big bang. English examined in 100 words linguist david crystal believes every word has a story to tell, even the ones as commonplace as and. I like to discover the origins and evolution of language, and thats exactly what allan metcalfs book ok. Club, thus having the double meaning of oll korrect and old kinderhook. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. The countrywide publicity surrounding the election appears to have been a critical event in ok s history, widely and suddenly popularizing it across the united states.
Like a high school term paper, the contents have been unnaturally stretched to meet a greater length than the subject merits. According to the world, what is the full form of the wordok. The improbable story of americas greatest word, which cites the telegraphs. Like good politicians, van burens supporters latched onto this trendy new affirmative and nicknamed their grassroots organizations. Det har blitt foreslatt flere forklaringer til opprinnelsen. This is generally assumed to be an acronym for orl korrect. The grecodegges article from the 1970s you cited is built upon allen walker reads work in the 1960s. Oll korrect chapter 1 dreamehz new dangan ronpa v3. The improbable story of americas greatest word does.
With the release of her book, velazquez may have married for a fourth. How did ok become one of the most popular words in the world. Or folksinger pete seegers salute to the linguistic melting pot, all mixed up. It is a curious fact that the telegraph clerks in england and america employ the letters o. The improbable story of americas greatest word by allan. However, oll korrect is part of the documented history of the word okay. Read discusses the debate with some passion in a new yorker profile of sept. Oblivious ol shuuichi still doesnt understand that at least half the class adores him. The origins of ok, i have recently learned, are the subject of considerable debate.
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