> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • Student-Success Resource Center
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Lingua Franca-Circular Icon

Lingua Franca

Language and writing in academe.

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

The Trumptionary

By  Allan Metcalf
March 7, 2016
220px-Donald_Trump_announcing_latest_David_Blaine_feat_3-alt

Nine months ago, Donald Trump brought forth on this continent a new model for attaining the U.S. presidency, one that focused on statements so outrageous, and thereby so delicious for journalists, that he would be sure to make the top headlines day after day. And incidentally to capture the favorable attention of voters.

We're sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network.

Please allow access to our site, and then refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, please contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

220px-Donald_Trump_announcing_latest_David_Blaine_feat_3-alt

Nine months ago, Donald Trump brought forth on this continent a new model for attaining the U.S. presidency, one that focused on statements so outrageous, and thereby so delicious for journalists, that he would be sure to make the top headlines day after day. And incidentally to capture the favorable attention of voters.

With his remarks, the Donald has managed to create an alternate universe, where Mexicans build a wall to keep themselves from crossing the border into the United States, where Nabisco will have to make its Oreos back in the U.S.A., where 11 million illegal immigrants will be deported.

His simple, direct language is captivating. Linguists as well as journalists have ventured into this Trumpiverse and brought back detailed accounts. In December, for example, New York magazine published “A Major, Super-Classy List of Donald Trump’s Favorite Words.”

In addition to words uttered by him, the Trumpiverse has also given birth to numerous words about him. The lexicographer David Barnhart, editor and publisher of the quarterly Barnhart Dictionary Companion, has been assiduously collecting these and providing them with the full apparatus of formal definitions worthy of the Oxford English Dictionary.

ADVERTISEMENT

So far Barnhart has collected, defined, and illustrated some two dozen Trump words. They are far too extensive to fit in a Lingua Franca post, even several posts. But here’s a full post for one entry, illustrated by three ample citations:

* Trumpertantrum, n. Also Trumper-tantrum or Trumper tantrum. See the quotation for the meaning. Nonstandard (used in slang contexts dealing especially with U.S. politics; infrequent)

-- Going right at Trump in the way Trump usually eviscerates opponents, Cruz said, “Donald is throwing yet another temper tantrum, or, rather, a ‘Trumpertantrum.’ It seems his reaction to everything is to throw a fit. I understand Donald Trump has a hard time losing, but the people of Iowa have spoken.” Geoff Earle, “Wild a’Cruz’ations ‘Losing It’ Trump: Ted ‘stole’ Iowa,” New York Post, February 4, 2016, p. 10.

-- Donald Trump knows a good business opportunity when he sees it and he says Ted Cruz may be on to something after going nuclear on Wednesday and while classifying Trump’s recent Twitter meltdown as a “Trumpertantrum.” Chad Merda, “Trump on ‘Trumpertantrum': I’m Going to Trademark It,” Sun Times, February 4, 2016.

-- Cruz shot back with his fiercest attack yet on the man who has dominated opinion polls in New Hampshire, suggesting the reality star doesn’t like the reality of losing. He’s having a “Trumpertantrum,” Cruz told reporters. “He’s losing it.” “Bromance Turns to Brawl: Trump and Cruz Drop the Gloves.” The Hamilton Spectator), February 3, 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

(To be continued next week with a list of the whole collection.)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Accessibility Statement
    Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
  • Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin