Name-dropping (or name-checking or a shout-out) is the practice of naming or alluding to important people and institutions within a conversation,[1] story,[2] song, online identity,[3] or other communication. The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively,[1] and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach of professional ethics.[4] When used as part of a logical argument it can be an example of the false authorityfallacy.[5]
Name-dropping is used to position oneself within a social hierarchy. It is often used to create a sense of superiority by raising one's status.[citation needed] By implying (or directly asserting) a connection to people of high status, the name-dropper hopes to raise their own social status to a level closer to that of those whose names they have dropped, and thus elevate themselves above, or into, present company.
Name-dropping can also be used to identify people with a common bond. By indicating the names of people one knows, one makes known their social circle, providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate.[6]
As a form of appeal to authority, name-dropping can be an important form of informal argumentation, as long as the name being dropped is of someone who is an expert on the subject of the argument and that person's views are accurately represented.
Methods
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2011)
Use of the first name may be effective, as in the case of "Kingsley" for Kingsley Amis.[7]
Name-dropping is also sometimes used in works of fiction to place a story in a certain historical timeframe, or to imply the involvement of a historical figure in the action (for example, in a story set during World War II, mentioning Adolf Hitler or Winston Churchill).[citation needed]
^ abWibberley, Leonard (24 February 1950), "It's Hard to Eradicate the Name-Dropping Pest", Los Angeles Times.
^Bauer, Harry C. (1960), "Bibliographic name-dropping", Library Review, 17 (6): 408–410, doi:10.1108/eb012326.
^Donath, J.; Boyd, D. (2004), "Public displays of connection", BT Technology Journal, 22 (4): 71–82, doi:10.1023/B:BTTJ.0000047585.06264.cc.
^Anderson, Mark B. (2005), "'Yeah, I work with Beckham': Issues of confidentiality, privacy and privilege in sport psychology service delivery" (PDF), Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 1 (2): 3–13, (PDF) from the original on 5 October 2015.
^Bixler, Susan; Dugan, Lisa Scherrer (2000), "Name-Dropping", 5 steps to professional presence: how to project confidence, competence, and credibility at work, Adams Media, pp. 154–155, ISBN978-1-58062-442-8.
^Joseph Epstein, "A Nice Little Knack for Name Dropping" in Narcissus Leaves the Pool, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007, p. 80ff.
External links
The dictionary definition of name-dropping at Wiktionary
Appeal to Authority Breakdown
February 07, 2023
name, dropping, name, checking, shout, practice, naming, alluding, important, people, institutions, within, conversation, story, song, online, identity, other, communication, term, often, connotes, attempt, impress, others, usually, regarded, negatively, under. Name dropping or name checking or a shout out is the practice of naming or alluding to important people and institutions within a conversation 1 story 2 song online identity 3 or other communication The term often connotes an attempt to impress others it is usually regarded negatively 1 and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach of professional ethics 4 When used as part of a logical argument it can be an example of the false authority fallacy 5 Contents 1 Purposes 2 Methods 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksPurposes EditName dropping is used to position oneself within a social hierarchy It is often used to create a sense of superiority by raising one s status citation needed By implying or directly asserting a connection to people of high status the name dropper hopes to raise their own social status to a level closer to that of those whose names they have dropped and thus elevate themselves above or into present company Name dropping can also be used to identify people with a common bond By indicating the names of people one knows one makes known their social circle providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate 6 As a form of appeal to authority name dropping can be an important form of informal argumentation as long as the name being dropped is of someone who is an expert on the subject of the argument and that person s views are accurately represented Methods EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it May 2011 Use of the first name may be effective as in the case of Kingsley for Kingsley Amis 7 Name dropping is also sometimes used in works of fiction to place a story in a certain historical timeframe or to imply the involvement of a historical figure in the action for example in a story set during World War II mentioning Adolf Hitler or Winston Churchill citation needed See also EditHomageReferences Edit a b Wibberley Leonard 24 February 1950 It s Hard to Eradicate the Name Dropping Pest Los Angeles Times Bauer Harry C 1960 Bibliographic name dropping Library Review 17 6 408 410 doi 10 1108 eb012326 Donath J Boyd D 2004 Public displays of connection BT Technology Journal 22 4 71 82 doi 10 1023 B BTTJ 0000047585 06264 cc Anderson Mark B 2005 Yeah I work with Beckham Issues of confidentiality privacy and privilege in sport psychology service delivery PDF Sport amp Exercise Psychology Review 1 2 3 13 archived PDF from the original on 5 October 2015 Evans Donald Palmer Humphrey 1986 Understanding arguments Drake Educational Associates p 286 Bixler Susan Dugan Lisa Scherrer 2000 Name Dropping 5 steps to professional presence how to project confidence competence and credibility at work Adams Media pp 154 155 ISBN 978 1 58062 442 8 Joseph Epstein A Nice Little Knack for Name Dropping in Narcissus Leaves the Pool Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2007 p 80ff External links Edit The dictionary definition of name dropping at Wiktionary Appeal to Authority Breakdown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Name dropping amp oldid 1094497575, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
