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Chris -- 2018-04-11
‘Applauds’ for ‘applause’. ‘Loud applauds’ returns a lot of hits on Google.
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Welcome to the forum, sjk. This is certainly an interesting find. The writers are clearly reinterpreting “applause” as “applauds”—the plural of a supposed singular noun “applaud.” Makes sense—verbs and nouns denoting the same action are often identical in English. When you’re out walking, you’re taking a walk. So when you’re applauding someone’s performance, it’s an applaud. The OED lists a noun “applaud,” but it’s labeled “obsolete,” with the last citation coming from the early 17th century. “Loud applauds” currently gets 88 raw hits on Google. Amazingly, “an applaud” currently gets 6500 raw hits and 460 unique hits.
This is a cool reshaping, but I don’t think it’s an eggcorn. There’s no change of imagery here; both forms depend on the idea of applause.
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A brilliant theory. I couldn’t verify it quickly; the first 40-50 Google hits didn’t turn up anything obvious. But I bet you’re right—non-native speakers may be helping to drive “an applaud.”
Last edited by patschwieterman (2008-03-26 01:12:42)
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Changing tack, what are we to make of?:
I am applaud by the customer service!
One of many.
It’s got to be spell-check. “Appauld” has “applaud” as its suggested correction.
Unless anybody can think of an eggcornish reason…..
On the plain in Spain where it mainly rains.
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