New linguistic theory I’m developing
You know how crustaceans are inclined to become more physiologically like a crab over time?
I’m developing the theory that the most popular sport in a given society is inclined to eventually be called "football".
My evidence is thus:
* the most popular sport in Ireland is football (Gaelic football)
* the most popular sport in Australia is football (Aussie rules)
* the most popular sport in USA is football (American football)
* the most popular sport in much of the rest of the world is football/fútbol/etc (association football/soccer)
Intermediate forms in the process of footballisation include Fußball and futsal
Issues with this hypothesis:
* Italians say calcio
* rugby football seems inclined to be shortened to rugby rather than football even in societies where it is the major sport, such as New Zealand
* might not apply if the most popular sport in a society doesn’t involve an inflated object e.g. Canadians prefer ice hockey which uses a puck
Thoughts?