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real"</title></head><body>
<div>Being fairly sure that "keep it real" considerably
predates George's use in that classic death by
licking-poisoned-cut-rate-wedding-invitation-envelope episode, I
cross-posted the query to the American Dialect Society list, where all
the expert antedaters hang out. I got the response below from
John Baker.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Larry Horn</div>
<div>=============================</div>
<div><font
color="#FF0000">Date:
Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:35:17 -0400<br>
Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU><br>
Sender: American Dialect Society
<ADS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU></font></div>
<div><font color="#FF0000">From: "Baker, John"
<JMB@STRADLEY.COM></font></div>
<div><font color="#FF0000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#FF0000">It seems to come from the performing arts;
I suspect the origin was theatre, although for some years I believe
it's been more associated with music. As for what it means, I've
never been quite sure, although my first example may provide a
hint.<br>
<br>
</font></div>
<div><font color="#FF0000">New York Times (7/12/1981) (Westlaw):
Jack Lemmon has been showing directors and audiences for more than 30
years, and they have usually believed him. "He has that very
fortunate Mr. Everyman face and it's very difficult not to believe
him," said Stuart Rosenberg, who directed Lemmon in "The
April Fools." "He can keep it real, as opposed to
theatrical."<br>
</font></div>
<div><font color="#FF0000">Sacramento Bee (2/2/1986) (Westlaw):
'It's the last waterfront community on the bay where you can fish, and
it's nice to walk your dog on the beach,' Arneson said. 'We're trying
to preserve it. We don't want to turn it into glitz or a little Jack
London Square or Fisherman's Wharf. But how do you keep it real?'<br>
<br>
Orlando Sentinel (4/28/1986) (Westlaw): JAY LENO: 'KEEP IT
REAL' . . . ''Nothing can be funny if you don't have a basic normality
to come away from. If they don't buy the premise, they don't buy the
joke.'' [discussion of the "rules" for comedy]<br>
<br>
Philadelphia Inquirer (2/6/1987) (Westlaw): Before the populist
[Joan Jett] swoops off to her next campaign stop, she utters a phrase
that could be her slogan, pointing her finger in emphasis: "It's
important to keep it real."<br>
<br>
<br>
Joan Jett's 1987 usage is the kind we now think of. I'm not
certain if we should think of the 2/2/1986 example from the Sacramento
Bee as the same usage, or just the literal meaning of
"real."<br>
<br>
<br>
John Baker</font></div>
<div>===================</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>At 3:53 PM +0900 7/12/08, Robert O'Mochain wrote:</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Dear Sarah Colvin,<br>
<br>
I first heard that expression on an episode of "Seinfeld"
(probably 1997).<br>
In the context of the storyline it seems funny on the lips of the
character,<br>
Costanza, because he uses it to say goodbye to the parents of his
former<br>
finance. They seem too old and high class for that phrase; it seems
too<br>
casual in the context because of the serious tone involved with the
parents<br>
(he was partly responsible for the death of their daughter); and
finally,<br>
because the character in the show often lies to this couple (and often
lies<br>
in general) so the implication of authenticity in "Keep it real,"
seems<br>
incongruous coming from "Costanza".<br>
<br>
Hope this helps (if only a little!)<br>
<br>
Robert O'Mochain.<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: International Gender and Language Association<br>
[mailto:GALA-L@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG] On Behalf Of Sarah
Colvin<br>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 10:24 PM<br>
To: GALA-L@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG<br>
Subject: [GALA-L] "keep it real"<br>
<br>
<br>
Can anybody give me a reference or advise me re. the history, use,
and<br>
meaning of the phrase "keep it real"?<br>
Thanks,<br>
Sarah Colvin<br>
<br>
Professor Sarah Colvin<br>
University of Edinburgh<br>
David Hume Tower<br>
George Square<br>
Edinburgh EH8 9JX<br>
Tel. ++ 131 650 3630<br>
email: sarah.colvin@ed.ac.uk<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in<br>
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.</blockquote>
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