I learned a new word just now: ‘backronym.’ This refers to a situation where you take an existing acronym and create a new description based upon it. The excellent web comic PhD could be considered an example.
Somehow, this all arose from re-watching Oh Brother, Where Art Thou: definitely one of the better films of the last decade.
Author: Milan
In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford.
Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.
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I remember now how it happened. The bank robber mentioned the Walther PPK. That made me curious enough to check the Wikipedia entry. That entry mentions the term ‘backronym.’
The Coen brothers are very talented.
I want to see all of their films.
A very fine film.
I have seen a fair few. I think ‘Miller’s Crossing’ is currently my favourite next to ‘O Brother…’; the order shifts depending on my mood.
Then ‘Barton Fink’
There are hundreds of backronyms related to computers:
http://www.ahajokes.com/com088.html
PCMCIA: People Can’t Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms
So does the army:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._Army_acronyms_and_expressions#Slang_initialisms_and_acronyms
No Country for Old Men:
http://www.metafilter.com/61617/Return-to-Form