h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Robot? I believe that word was coined several hundred years ago.

Sorry Peregrin, Asimov didn't invent the word robot, I think it may be from a Checzh (Oh for a spell check)word for peasant. What Asimov did invent was the Three Laws of Robotics, and the phrase 'positronic robot'.

Anyway, what about

'Peace in Our Time'- Neville Chamberlain
'We will fight them on the beaches' - Churchill
'If you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs' - Kipling
'Exceedingly good cakes' - Mr Kipling (Sorry)
That's all I can think of at the mo'

I think "Iron Curtain" was also coined by Churchill

I think most of those mentioned by Granny were nothing more than quotes. Except maybe Peace in our time.

Re. 'robot': Yes, there was a Czech word Robot, meaning a man made of metal (a bit like a thingammy... can't remember what it's called now... a man made of clay, who has instructions written on a piece of paper and sealed in his head. The only literature I can remember them being in offhand is Discworld, but I'm sure there's a more classical version!).

Asimov was the first to dream up the concept of a sentient mechanical being designed to do the work of a human, and he applied the word Robot to it. So he was the first to use the word in the sense we use it today.

And most of the other words and phrases listed above were used before you mention them, they just weren't used commonly in those sentences and contexts.

*Whispers* Golem

thanks! *hits brain repeatedly*

I think post-it notes would be good for making golems. You can easily stick the words to it´s head.

The invention of golems was the first conception of stored computer programs in my opinion
Pity we can't incorporate magic into our computers too...

"Borrowed" from the web...

In 1921, the Czech author Karel Capek produced his best known work, the play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), which featured machines created to simulate human beings. Some references state that term "robot" was derived from the Czech word robota, meaning "work", while others propose that robota actually means "forced workers" or "slaves." This latter view would certainly fit the point that Capek was trying to make, because his robots eventually rebelled against their creators, ran amok, and tried to wipe out the human race.

However, as is usually the case with words, the truth of the matter is a little more convoluted. In the days when Czechoslovakia was a feudal society, "robota" referred to the two or three days of the week that peasants were obliged to leave their own fields to work without remuneration on the lands of noblemen. For a long time after the feudal system had passed away, robota continued to be used to describe work that one wasn't exactly doing voluntarily or for fun, while today's younger Czechs and Slovaks tend to use robota to refer to work that's boring or uninteresting.

I just reread the post about Golems. I read about a movie made over the thing and there was something different. The note was put on the outside of the Golem´s head, and wasn´t instructions. It was to bring it to life, I believe the hebrew word for life was used. And the guy who made the Golem used spoken instructions. Is this just made up for the movie or is that the actual thing?

And when do we ever use the term "positronic robot" in daily life?

probably only when talking about Asimov's books.

Do you think we could rustle up a guide entry on books that have contributed concepts to the language?

So far we have - concepts from books (and Dr Who!):

Catch 22
Big Brother
Room 101
An albatross around his neck
Cyberspace
Cyber-anything digital
Quixotic
Tardis

Names and phrases from anywhere and concepts not from books
Information Superhighway
Do or die
Simulpost
Wendy
Dalek
Iron Curtain

I think straight quotes and catchphrases are off topic, though.

Maybe we should extend this to tv and films.

Any others, this is intriguing me.

agcB

So, is it right that we are after names and phrases and concepts recently (since Shakespeare?) added to the English language?

Should "Freudian Slips" and "Spoonerisms" be included.

Are abbreviations like "awol", "snafu" and "OK" merely catchphrases unworthy of consideration. Mention them not?

What about "ufology", "Oxbridge", the term "parallel universe", the "twin paradox"?

Do we have to say who first came up with these, as well?

"So, is it right that we are after names and phrases and concepts recently (since Shakespeare?) added to the English language?"

No - we are specifically looking for concepts which have come out of works of fiction, primarily books.

But I feel honourable mention goes to 'Tardis' (ie something bigger on the inside than the outside, like my house) which came out of a TV series.

Concepts argued first in non-fiction (like 'meme') though tempting, are in a different category.

a nit-picker called Ben

Ta.
Wasn't quite sure-now I know.

Its a little frustrating - I feel there may be a guide entry lurking in here, but a list of concepts is a pretty dull thing. But the list itself is quite interesting.

Catch 22, Big Brother, Room 101, are about dis-empowering the individual.

Tardis is just a neat way of describing a previously known mathematical concept.

But Cyberspace is - well - simply the most challenging and exciting thing I know of.

Don't know what to make of it, which is why I am interested in what else we can come up with.

There is Sadism, of course. Though in that case the author of the work of fiction gave his name to a concept. Hmmm.

agcB

Peter Pan - a boy who never grows up

What about communication satelites? It is not a phrase but the concept is acknowledged to have been invented by Arthur C. Clarke in one of his novels, before even Sputnik went up. Don't know which one it was though.