No Word is an Island: Distinguishing “Nerd” and “Geek” Erin Powers 2 , Laura Cabrera 1,2 , Derek Cabrera 1,2,* 1 Cornell University, College of Human Ecology, Cornell Institute for Policy Affairs, Ithaca, NY. 2 Cabrera Research Lab, Ithaca, NY. * Correspondence: dac66@cornell.edu Citing this Case: Powers, E., Cabrera, L., & Cabrera, D. (2016) No Word is an Island: Distinguishing “Nerd” and “Geek”. Cognitive Case Study Series. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Abstract Part of the Cognitive Case Study Series from Cabrera Research Lab, this case explores the distinction between the terms “nerd” and “geek” in qualitative and quantitative terms. In the same way that all terminology (text) is conceptually distinguished from other similar terminology (context), an exploration of the nerd-geek distinction explicates the structure of distinction making. A “cognitive case study”—inspired by the cases used in business and policy schools that involve students in real-world problem solving—is designed to engage students in metacognition (thinking about thinking). Cognitive cases introduce the cognitive patterns underlying our mental models, and then encourage us to explore how our and others’ mental models affect our emotions, behavior, action, and even our reality. These cases explore a broad range of topics, from politics to social issues to the physical sciences to everyday phenomena, with the purpose of enabling readers to see the cognitive structures at play across a variety of realms. .............................................................................. Introduction 1 ”And then, just to show them, I’ll sail to Ka-Troo and bring back an 2 It-Kutch, a Preep, and a Proo; a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker 3 too!” - Dr. Seuss (1950) 4 Jim Burrows’ blog “The Origin of the Nerd” (2005) reports this as the first 5 documented use of the word “nerd.” It was written by Dr. Seuss in his 1950 6 story If I Ran The Zoo when the main character described the various 7 extravagant creatures he would show at his zoo. The Nerd of Ka-Troo is 8 illustrated as a Grinch-like yellow creature with a red forehead and three tufts 9 of white hair, wearing a black t-shirt. 10 The American Heritage Dictionary explains that within a year, youth were 11 using the word to describe anybody they perceived as “comically unpleasant.” 12 Soon it became synonymous with “square,” evolving to its dictionary definition 13 today. 14 n. Slang. 1. A foolish, inept, or unattractive person. 2. A person 15 who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical 16 pursuits but is felt to be socially inept. [2] 17 No Word is an Island: Distinguishing “Nerd” and “Geek” 1/6