tchotchkes

[Bruce Dykes]

-----Original Message-----
From: Diana Sheron Fingar <df632694 at OAK.CATS.OHIOU.EDU>
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Date: Saturday, February 26, 2000 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: tchotchkes


>I'm afraid I don't have an English context/date pre-1964 for
>"tchotchkes", but I'm wondering why anyone would want to have an
>exhibit of them. Tchotchkes are junky ugly little knicknacks, like
>you'd get on vacation, or junk out of people's attics. It's a
>perjorative term.


Pejorative is in the mouth of the orator.

My favorite local radio station, WFMU (http://www.wfmu.org for info and your
listening pleasure) accepts neither government largesse nor corporate tax
abatements. Their income derives solely from listener donations, mostly
acquired during their semiannual marathons, such as the one starting this
week. And they proudly offer tchotchkes, such as refrigerator magnets, as
premiums.

Of particular note to listmembers might be JM in the AM, a Jewish music
program that airs from 6am-9am eastern time. I'm not a listener, so I can't
guarantee any findings, but you should be able to grab more than a few
examples of current Yiddish and Hebrew usages...

Shamelessly,
bkd