Snowclone

Snowclone is a neologism used to describe a type of formula-based cliché which uses an old idiom in a new context. The term emphasizes the use of a familiar (and often particular) formula and previous cultural knowledge of the reader to express information about an idea. The idea being discussed is usually contextually different in meaning from the original use of that formula, but can be understood using the same trope as the original formula was used. "Snowclone" has been described as an internet meme due to its frequent use on blogs which are critical of journalism.

A common example of a snowclone is "X is the new Y", which can be applied by inserting words or phrases for X and Y, "cloning" the trope of the original expression, "pink is the new black". For instance, this snowclone might appear as "Random is the New Order", a marketing phrase for the iPod shuffle.

History

The term was coined by Glen Whitman in an email sent on 2004-01-15 [1] in response to the following request from Geoffrey Pullum on the blog Language Log: "the thing we need a name for is a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence that can be used in an entirely open array of different jokey variants by lazy journalists and writers."[2]

The term is an allusion to one particular instance of the phenomenon:

If Eskimos have N words for snow, X surely have Y words for Z.

or simply

X have Y words for Z.

—a favourite of journalists who wish to imply that some cultural group (X) has reason to spend a great deal of time thinking about a certain idea (Z). Not only is it frequently used with a variety of values of N, X, Y, and Z, but the underlying facts are not very well-supported: the Eskimo-Aleut languages don't particularly have more words for snow than English (see Eskimo words for snow). As such, there is little reason to cite the so-called "fact", and use of the snowclone betrays a certain sloppiness characteristic of the form.

The term "snowclone" can be applied to a wide variety of formulations in addition to the original one, which can derive from a wide variety of sources both popular and obscure. A representative sample:

• In space, no one can hear you X. (Original X: "scream"; from tagline for Alien)
• All your X are belong to us. (Original X: "base"; from All your base Internet meme)
• Have X, will travel. (Original X: "gun"; from title of old US TV western Have Gun — Will Travel)
• To X, or not to X? (Original X: "be"; from Hamlet)
• Springtime for X. (Original X: "Hitler"; a fictional play in Mel Brooks' The Producers)
• Will X for Y. (Original X: "work"; Original Y: "food")

Further information: List of snowclones

Identifying snowclones

There is no specific numeric criterion, in terms of number of instances, for identifying a snowclone. A search engine can be used as a tool to identify instances of snowclones, through the use of the asterisk operator in a search.

For example, searching for "All your * are belong to us" results in several specifics:

• All your base are belong to us (the original)
• All your basketball are belong to us
• All your acid are belong to us
• All your skyscraper are belong to us
• All your base station are belong to us

By using a search engine in this way, it is possible to build a basic picture of how many times a particular snowclone appears, and the various incarnations of it that are used in Internet discourse.

See also

• Catch phrase
• Fark.com clichés
• Linguistics
• List of snowclones
• Mad Libs
• Recurring jokes on Slashdot

External links

• Pullum, Geoffrey (2004-01-16). "Snowclones: lexicographical dating to the second". Language Log. Retrieved 2006-06-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Trendsurfing: 'Snowclone' journalism" (David Rowan, The Times, 2005-12-03).
• Robot Wisdom Weblog, 02 Nov 1998 The earliest known example, under the name "MemeWatch".