Pundit (expert)

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A pundit is someone who offers mass-media opinion, analysis or commentary on a particular subject area (most typically political analysis, the social sciences or sport), on which they are presumed to be knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities. In certain cases, it may be used in a derogatory manner as well.

1 Origins
2 Past English use
3 Current use
- 3.1 List of pundits
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Origins

The term originates from the Hindi term pandit, which in turn is derived from Sanskrit pandita, learned, and is first found in English in 1672.^[1] It refers to someone who is erudite in various subjects and who conducts religious ceremonies and offers counsel to the king or mayor.

[edit] Past English use

The Oxford English Dictionary cites the first English Language use of the word "Pundit" as referring to an official of the Supreme Court in Colonial India who advised the English Judges on questions of Hindu law. In Anglo-Indian use, "pundit" also referred to a native of India who was trained and employed by the British to survey inaccessible regions beyond the British frontier. By extension, the word came to refer to, "A learned expert or teacher"

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Speculation exists that the term's contemporary use may have its origins in a Yale University society known as "The Pundits" which, founded in 1884, developed a reputation for including among its members the school's most incisive and humorous critics of contemporary society. The group's late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century focus on lampooning the social and political world were well-documented in the university's yearbook and the Yale Daily News, the entries of which are considered among the first use of the term "Pundit" to refer to a critic of or expert on contemporary matters.^{[citation needed]} Several members of the society have also gone on to become leading political pundits, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author and energy expert Daniel Yergin. Other notable Yale Pundits include A. Whitney Griswold, Lewis H. Lapham and Joe Lieberman.

[edit] Current use

In the English-speaking West, pundits write signed articles in print media (blurbs included), and appear on radio, television, or the internet to opine on current events. Television pundits may also be referred to as talking heads.

Punditry has become a more popular vehicle in nightly newscasts on American cable news networks. This rise in popularity is believed to have started with Bill O'Reilly of Fox News Channel. His opinion-oriented format led him to ratings success and has led others, including Lou Dobbs, Keith Olbermann, and Nancy Grace, to express their opinions on matters on their own respective programs.^[2]

Internet authors trying to create a name for themselves by non-traditional means, may refer to themselves as pundits, and in fact can be considered experts of their particular life experiences or observations^[3].

Comedian Stephen Colbert satirizes punditry in his show, The Colbert Report, most notably based on Bill O'Reilly but including others as well.

The term pundit is also used to refer to sports experts.^[4] Often, a 'pundit' will be partnered alongside a commentator, who will describe the action while asking the pundit for analysis. Alternatively, pundits may be asked for their opinions during breaks in the play.