Mysteries of vernacular: Earwig - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-o...
An earwig is neither an ear nor a wig; it is an insect. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how folklore gave this bug its name, combining entomology with etymology.
Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck.

[@rockcabbage]

I feel like this guy should be reading Lovecraft novels to me before I fall asleep.

[@Catobleppa]

You probably already know this, but we are on an educational channel, so... Centipedes aren't insects, neither are spiders. Although they are all arthropods. The word you are looking for is probably bugs, vermin or wigca

[@nigelrussell1838]

I got an earwig drunk but I think I have made a mistake because he might go home and bring all his friends to my house

[@MsAttiD]

Look around you.

[@woodfur00]

Bugs usually don't bother me much, but earwigs just freak me out. XP

[@ShawnRavenfire]

Once they burrow into your brain, you feel compelled to serve Khan.

[@Yuusou.]

Do you understand what's written on these pages?

[@ChrissieWF]

Who is the author of the book? Title says "Lebenserfahrungen", I tried a search based on that and chapter titles, but no success :(

[@DivinityStripes]

Love that accent.

[@Fricetix]

"Big spiders with flesh" - Did you say FLESH!?!?! Dafuq? I'm already afraid enough of regular big spiders, the fuck are these like?

[@BeastOfTraal]

What about silverfish?

[@late_arvie]

In Latvian we call them 'spīļaste' [sp-ee-ly-as-te] And translation would be 'claw-tail'. Makes sense, doesn't it?

[@faboo811]

The text of the book is german... the first heading translated reads: "How a Dutchman evangelises" :D

[@xxFORTYSEVENxx]

Still better than a damned spider, those things are just pure evil :0, yes claw tail makes far more sense, I like it!

[@JinxauthorMel]

Regarding the book ... A year ago, *AWEF GAFD* stated: "If anyone wants to read the book in the background, it's called "The Jungle", by Upton Sinclair." This is simply incorrect. Around the same time, *ChrisWF* pointed out: "Title says "Lebenserfahrungen", I tried a search based on that and chapter titles, but no success" (and also: "Apparently it's a written German priest that moved to America and lived there by 1888 and also during the world exposition in Chicago 1893.") I'm not sure how he came across the latter, since I didn't find that, but I do think it's correct. The title is actually "Lebens-Erfahrungen" and I had to search exacly like this. The only result was this book: www.amazon.de/Lebens-Erfahrungen-Geschrieben-Kinder-Kindes-Kinder-Freunde/dp/1276222505 While it was published in the US in 1886, it seems to have been a german publisher (Central Verlagshaus der Ref. Kirche in den Ver. Staaten) and the edition, therefore the typesetting, was in Old German as well. It's about religion and meditation which would concur with many chapter titles shown in this video. For example, as mentioned by *Fabian Hafner*: "The text of the book is german... the first heading translated reads: "How a Dutchman evangelises"" at 0:17 "Was it God's Hand?" at 1:23 "The Christmas Movement" at 1:28 "The Spirit of God Realizes Child's Prayer and Intercession" at 1:32 "Jesus and Nikodemus" at 1:38

[@ChrissieWF]

Apparently it's a written German priest that moved to America and lived there by 1888 and also during the world exposition in Chicago 1893. Maybe I'll figure out the name!

[@Laflamablanca969]

You spelt it "wicga" and "wigca"... Are they both right?

[@somon90]

Woke up with one of those guys burrowed in one of my ears once, it hurt a bit but the worst thing was the noise, if you think the sound of creepy crawlers wandering around is horrible you should be able to imagine the unadulterated horror of the cacophony that the humble earwig produces when it moves about in your ear. Shaking and hitting my head for a bit got the little bugger out though, no rel harm done.

[@limbus_patrum]

Do you know they can fly? :)

[@Pandidolod]

Ears would be a perfect home for insects IF it weren't for our acidic earwax. ;)

[@mistahoody]

yes

[@MAledish]

I would call them pincher bugs.

[@Kassidar]

real men pause after every page flip and read the book

[@mayaayam9361]

The video is beautiful *_*

[@alexchris32]

at 240p

[@j001m4l3370n3]

ok

[@gummyvites2720]

Lol

[@NautyEskimo]

um it seems german

[@user-mo7wm8ny5e]

I followed your advice and have come to the conclusion that the content of the book has absolutely nothing to do with the video. Too bad xD

[@lesorax123]

please reply to this comment!!!

[@nathanielzivstern2325]

Sorry, I don't understand German.

[@aliancemd]

Not like my girlfriend...

[@Zwerggoldhamster]

So you mean real men have to learn German???

[@Utspeladfz]

Cuz that's what men do?

[@ANGELSBOND]

Lol