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Wanglage

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 2 months ago

Back to Fan Language

 

Wanglage

 

The term "wanglage" is a complicated bit of fan language, with several contradictory definitions.

 

In its broadest meaning, "wanglage" is short-hand for the ELotH:TES fan language. It was invented as a deregatory term by dotlits, a group that hoped ELotH:TES would finally bridge the gap between hard-core fantasy and serious literature. They believed that by using terms such as "elemenstormers" and "elemenstormpersons", fans were opening themselves to ridicule by mainstream popular culture and destroying any hope that ELotH:TES would be taken seriously by a larger audience.

 

Origin

 

The use of fan language began on alt.fan.elothtes in early 1997. Several fans petitioned the community to create an alt.literature.elothtes group, in order to give fans a place to discuss the ELotH:TES universe and its mythos in an academic context and in relation to other great works of literature. Central to the proposal was the prohibition of fan language. Instead, alt.fantasy.elothtes was created, and fan language flourished.

 

Incensed, the dotlits lashed out at members of alt.fan.elothtes and alt.fantasy.elothtes. They accused their fellow fans of betraying the saga's true potential and exhibiting "mere pretense at appreciation for the works of the ELotH:TES universe." The term "wanglage" (and its derivitive "wanglist") were popularized in these frequent rants by dotlits to the larger community.

 

Adoption

 

The dotlits' linguistic inginuity backfired. "Wanglist" was quickly adopted by elemenstormers as a term describing anyone who used fan language, without its original negative connotation. Overnight, all the previously published demagogary railing against fan language was trivialized by its ironic inclusion of fan language. Their writings increasingly disregarded with wry wit, the dotlits experienced a sharp decline in converts to their cause.

 

The irony of the term's entrance into fan language was not lost on the dotlits, and drove them into a period of embittered silence. Many dotlits later became Enthralled.

 

Current Usage

 

Today, the term "wanglage" is used simply as a short-hand for ELotH:TES fan language. "Wanglist" is commonly used in exchanges between elemenstormers, although the term can still indicate different things in different contexts. Frequently it is used as a derogatory term, with a wink and a nod to the implicit humor or that definition. It is also occasionally used as a pejorative by wannabe-dotlits who don't really think through their arguments. Most frequently, though, it is free of such connotations.

 

Alternate Meanings

 

The term "wanglage" is also the name of a minor dialect of the Wang Kingdom. Coincidentally, the term creak comes from an onomatopoeia in that language. An elemestormer who uses the term "creak" might therefore be called a wanglist in reference to the dialect, rather than fan language. (It should be noted that while this is technically correct, it is only used in writing by people attempting to demonstrate their linguistic prowess or just generally trying to confuse the hell out of everyone.)

 

Because of these conflicting definitiions, it is difficult to know with any degree of certainty what a particular instance of the word is intended to signify.

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