Cogno-Intellectual

The following was sent out from Harvard University in December of 1997:

We invite you to take part in a large-scale language experiment.  It concerns 
the word "cogno-intellectual." This noble word can be used as an adjective or 
as a noun. We just invented it. The fact that "cogno-intellectual" has no 
meaning makes it a useful word. Meaning nothing, it can be used for anything.

Here is the experiment. Use the word "cogno-intellectual" in written and oral 
communications...  {snip}

The most interesting, and the most useful, stage of the experiment will be to 
then gather evidence that the word is seeping into general use. When you see 
such evidence, please send a copy to us at:
                Institute of Cogno-Intellectual Research
                c/o AIR, PO Box 380853, Cambridge MA 02238 USA



This reply to the C-I project arrived at Harvard recently:


COGNO-INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT
Investigator Sturle Sunde reports on Norwegian business practices:      

"A friend of mine used the word 'cogno-intellectual' several times in a presentation 
(which he wasn't very well prepared for) for his employer.  He also used the word 
'pro-active.' His employer liked the idea of being cogno-intellectual, and promoted 
my friend immediately. He is now in charge of some projects which he doesn't know 
anything about. "


Editor's note:  Sounds positively Dilbertian (is that a new word too?) to me : ).