FlowingData - TV anachronisms

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Contents: TV anachronisms TV anachronisms May 11, 2012 11:05 am  •  Permalink Princeton history graduate student Benjamin Schmidt explores changes in language through TV anachronisms. In Schmidt's most recent analysis, he examines Megan's use of "callback" in the last episode of Mad Men. Above is the ratio of modern use to period use. Notice callback sticking out in the top left. The big one from the charts: Megan gets "a callback for" an audition. This is, the data says, a candidate for the worst anachronism of the season. The word "callback" is about 100x more common by the 1990s, and "callback for" is even worse. The OED doesn't have any examples of a theater-oriented use of "callback" until the 1970s; although I bet one could find some examples somewhere earlier in the New York theater scene, that may not save it. It wouldn't really suite Megan's generally dilettantish attitude towards the theater, or the office staff's lack of knowledge of it, for them to be so au courant. "call-back" and "call back" don't seem much more likely. Other anachronisms include the use of "pay phone" and a frequent use of "on the phone with" which didn't peak until the 1970s. Don't miss the look into Downton Abbey anachronisms. Also, more details from Schmidt on his methodology. [via Revolutions] More to read: Stop motion music video Why the American Community Survey is worth keeping House votes to cut the American Community Survey CNN transcript collection, 2000-2012 Gay rights in the United States, by state  follow on Twitter | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 FlowingData, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in on FlowingData. Our mailing address is: FlowingData PO Box 3381 Livermore, CA 94550 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences