[Air-L] Lurking terminology in different languages?

[andres lombana-bermudez]

Hello Scott,

The etymological roots of the lurker terminology in different languages is
a fascinating topic of discussion. As you have already noticed with the
french language, the semantic connotations tend to be different and reveal
the nuances of internet cultures across different contexts.

In Spanish, my mother language, the literal translation of "lurker" is
"acechador." This translation, however, is not commonly used perhaps due to
the fact that it has semantic connotations linked to the behavior of
animals and hunters (*El leon acecha a su presa/ The lion lurks for its prey
*). Another Spanish translation for "lurker" is the term "mirón." This term
is more commonly used and it is linked to the act of watching, and to
voyeuristic practices. However, what I have also heard in my Spanish
conversations with people from South America and Spain is that when we
speak about internet culture, online participation, and communities of
practice, we tend to use the anglicism "lurker."

Thanks,

//andres


On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 10:14 AM, Scott Kushner <scott.kushner at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi AOIRites (apologies for x-posting),
>
> I'm at the beginnings of a project on internet lurking and have a question
> for the polyglots among you.  What are the terms used in languages other
> than English for lurking, which I understand to refer to the practices of
> reading online without writing?  Bonus points for etymological guideposts.
>
> For example, the contemporary English "to lurk" is tied to words having to
> do with scowling, lowering, working, and scheming, whence the familiar
> eavesdropping connotations.  It is also linked to shrugging off one's work
> responsibilities.
>
> In French (at least here in Québec), they use the terms "badauder" (verb),
> "badaud" (individual), and "badaudage" (practice).  These are all linked to
> words having to do with stupefaction, surprise, and involuntary
> astonishment.
>
> So, in the two languages I speak, two very different sets of etymological
> baggage.  Thanks in advance for enlightening me to terminology in languages
> you speak, either on- or off-list.
>
> Scott Kushner
> scott.kushner at gmail.com
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