4

I'm looking for a name of a below grammatical feature in writing. I googled a lot and I can't find it.

I think the name of this is something 'reverse', but not sure. Can someone help?

Spelling is most probably wrong.

laptop - shmaptop

car - shmar

python - shmython

belfast - shmelfast

Improve this question
1
  • Does this answer your question? "Josephine, Schmosephine": 'It is a type of productive reduplication forming a Yiddish “despective”, also known as shm-reduplication. (sometimes schm)' according to @Cascabel there.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Dec 19, 2019 at 16:47

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
8

Shm-reduplication - Wikipedia

Shm-reduplication is a form of reduplication in which the original word or its first syllable (the base) is repeated with the copy (the reduplicant) beginning with shm- (sometimes schm-), pronounced /ʃm/. The construction is generally used to indicate irony, sarcasm, derision, skepticism, or lack of interest with respect to comments about the discussed object

…

The construction originated in Yiddish and was subsequently transferred to English, especially urban northeastern American English, by Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrations from Central and Eastern Europe. It is now known and used by many non-Jewish English speakers, particularly American English.

The most famous example of dismissive usage is the saying:

Cancer, shmancer, abi gezunt!

which mean something like "Cancer, who cares, as long as she's healthy!"

Improve this answer
1
  • Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for.
    – tr53
    Commented Dec 14, 2019 at 17:51

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .