woodpile (and the N-word)

[Frank Abate]

J-A Buchmann's observations (copied below) re the use of "nigger" among
blacks and whites contained some very interesting statements.  Could the
evidence for these be given?

I was with Oxford U Press when the "N-word" controversy re American
dictionaries was in the news.  Merriam-Webster caught some flak over their
coverage.  OUP was also contacted about coverage in its dictionaries.  Some
of those who objected felt strongly that the word should not be entered at
all.  Lexicographers generally disagreed, noting that it is not the role of
general dictionaries to exclude terms known to be in common use.

What is still needed in dictionaries, for this and some other terms that are
usually considered slurs, but that are also used in a different, less or
non-disparaging way, according to one's group (e.g., queer), is accurate and
full description of the usage in all of the ways it is commonly realized.
But to do this properly evidence is needed, and of course such terms tend to
be avoided in print, except in some literature.

It is fairly easy to label (or exclude) ethnic and other slurs in
dictionaries.  The much harder thing is to be accurate and descriptive
enough about other uses of the same words.  Solid evidence of the
contemporary use of "nigger" by and among blacks would be very helpful to
white lexicographers (like me) who know of the usage but do not have
sufficient exposure to it to define and label it accurately.  And those
fuller descriptions would be very helpful to us all.

Frank Abate

***************************
>>
There is a large sociolinguistic component to the contemporary use of
"nigger."

Among blacks the usage endures among the upper middle and working classes.
"Hey, Nigger" is a not uncommon form of address [akin to similar forms of
affectionate
abuse by whites]. [It is a taboo usage for whites around blacks.] It is
eschewed
by the
middle classes (especially intellectuals).

The use among whites as a simple descriptive term for blacks [with no (or
slight)
slur
intended] is extant though diminishing in frequency. It is especially
prevalent
among
those whites with continuing close contacts with blacks -- the upper and
working
classes.
[In other words, a term with the same ubiquity -- and the same emotive
value -- as

"Yankee" -- a descriptive term (with a slight negative affect).]

A few years ago I was discussing racism at UGA with black students and the
point
was raised that one rarely heard "nigger" in Atlanta, but affluent whites
who
would
never use the word would also never offer assistance to blacks; but the
Athens
whites,
who still used the term, would stop to help blacks needing assistance.

However, Athens is just south of the 'white belt,' so overt racism is
especially
prevalent there, and, among many whites from the mountains, "nigger" IS used
as a slur for people they have little history of contact with and who are
seen as
alien.  In all cases that I have examined, "nigger" is an in-group bonding,
out-group distancing, word.

J-A BUCHMANN<<