Many a maven makes a misprint

'People who use the word "shaman" always seem to have knotted hair and play the drums badly'

Every newspaper has its linguistic expert these days, answering readers' questions on English usage, but there has never been a language maven quite like our resident sage, Dr Wordsmith. Dr Wordsmith spends much of his time doing his research on licensed premises, as he swears it is in pubs that the best, most creative English is spoken; even now he has just come from the saloon bar of The Printer's Eror, one of Canary Wharf's top taverns. Welcome, Doc. Let's have the first question!

Every newspaper has its linguistic expert these days, answering readers' questions on English usage, but there has never been a language maven quite like our resident sage, Dr Wordsmith. Dr Wordsmith spends much of his time doing his research on licensed premises, as he swears it is in pubs that the best, most creative English is spoken; even now he has just come from the saloon bar of The Printer's Eror, one of Canary Wharf's top taverns. Welcome, Doc. Let's have the first question!

Dear Dr Wordsmith, What's this word "maven" used in your introduction? That's a new one on me.

Dr Wordsmith writes: It's an American Yiddish word meaning "expert" or "know-all", which has entered the mainstream in America. They used it on my instructions. It's about time you readers started broadening your vocabulary.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, But why should we need to know an American word?

Dr Wordsmith writes: In case you ever read an American book or newspaper, dummkopf, or meet an American.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, But we already have several words meaning "expert" or "know-all", such as, well, "expert" and "know-all". Why another one?

Dr Wordsmith writes: Because that's the way language works, O simple one. The American word "maven" has slight pejorative overtones, meaning someone who has an obsessive, almost unhealthy knowledge of a subject. Why do we not have such a word? Well, we do, actually: "anorak". The Americans do not have "anorak"; we do not have "maven". There seems to be room for exchange here, or at least a bit of showing-off. Anyway, all words die eventually, and all the words for "expert" will pass away, to be replaced by others, so it's nice to have "maven" waiting in the wings.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, Can you give an example of a word for "expert" that has died and gone to heaven?

Dr Wordsmith writes: Surely. The word "boffin" was very popular in the war to mean an "expert", but it is seldom used now and always sounds dated.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, What about recent arrivals such as "guru"?

Dr Wordsmith: Recent arrivals? Do me a favour! The word "guru" has been around for a long time, imported years ago from the great subcontinent, as indeed was "pundit", which is the same word as "pandit" and means a great expert. But it's only recently that they've taken off. I suppose I should also mention the word "shaman", though I hate to, as people who use the word "shaman" always seem to have knotted hair and play the drums badly. But words grow, flourish and die. That is how language works. You cannot plant them artificially or keep them alive artificially.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, Then why try to introduce the word "maven"?

Dr Wordsmith writes: To add a bit of colour to your drab, monochrome lives. Next question, please!

Dear Dr Wordsmith, What effect do you think the laws against measuring things in pounds and ounces will have on language? Will we abandon our folk phrases based on imperial measures, such as "a pound of flesh", and start talking about "454 grams of flesh"?

Dr Wordsmith writes: I severely doubt it. In my observation there are already many new quantities coming in that are based not on the metric system nor the imperial system nor any known system. I'm talking about words such as "slew" and "tranche" and "tad" and "basket".

Dear Dr Wordsmith, "Basket"?

Dr Wordsmith writes: A quantity much loved of politicians. They like to refer to "baskets" of policies and options, and such-like. They also have "rafts" of things. And "rounds" of talks. And "clutches" of amendments. But "baskets" are what they chiefly like.

Dear Dr Wordsmith, Talking of "baskets", why is a mad person referred to slangily as a "basket-case"?

Dr Wordsmith writes: Come to that, why is a mad person called a "nutcase"?

Dear Dr Wordsmith, Why do you answer one question with another?

Dr Wordsmith writes: Why not?

As Dr Wordsmith is clearly in an unusually playful mood, I hope to bring him back tomorrow for more insightful looks at language.