Monday, May 14, 2012

For Dave Orr--Anthropomorphic Nouns



We are all familiar with a herd of cows, a flock of chickens, a school of fish, a gaggle of geese, a pride of lions, a murder of crows, rooks, and ravens, an exaltation of doves, and presumably because they look so wise, a parliament of owls.

Now consider a group of Baboons.  Baboons are the loudest, most dangerous, most obnoxious, most viciously aggressive and least intelligent of all primates.  And what is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons?  Believe it or not, a congress.  That's right a congress of baboons.........

If there is anything else I can do to help you Dave, let me know.

3 comments:

dpowhitetiger said...

Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics (or characteristics assumed to belong only to humans) to other animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s.[1][2] Examples include animals and plants and forces of nature such as winds, rain or the sun depicted as creatures with human motivations, and/or the abilities to reason and converse. The term derives from the combination of the Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos), "human" and μορφή (morphē), "shape" or "form".

As a literary device, anthropomorphism is strongly associated with art and storytelling where it has ancient roots. Most cultures possess a long-standing fable tradition with anthropomorphised animals as characters that can stand as commonly recognised types of human behavior. In contrast to this, such religious doctrines as the Christian Great Chain of Being propound the opposite, anthropocentric belief that animals, plants and non-living things, unlike humans, lack spiritual and mental attributes, immortal souls, and anything other than relatively limited awareness.

Wade: Slow down big guy...I am just a small town guy that was born twenty miles from Clyde Beatty's home...and at age 73 went to the Hill on my own dime.

Special Thanks: Wikipedia for the above.

Wade G. Burck said...

Dave,
Don't "slow down big guy" me!!!!! You and other other fine folks at OABA are doing a bang up job.
Here are Ken Kawata's thoughts: Keep it up folks, we need to maintain the citizens' right to appreciate wild animals in captivity INTACT across the country, for us and for future generations to come. Let's not allow the vocal extremist minority to run our lives. Ken

Don't slow down big guy, keep it up!!!!! Being born in a small town near Clyde Beatty's home is nothing. Being a pal with small town guy Wade Burck is what put's you in the big leagues, Dave. :) It was your nickle, because it is your "heart" they are messing with, and all of show business appreciates you and your ilk very much.

Wade

Anonymous said...

I'm no expert but I always thought it were a 'troop of baboons'. So many things have changed so not surprised.
Cheers
Glenn