Photos for sociolinguists

[Baker, John]

        I'm skeptical of the theory that the Muncie Hawk Shop is a hock shop.  It seems much more likely to me that "hawk" is used here in the sense of peddling goods aggressively, a meaning that is unrelated to "hock" and, in my experience, now has little association with traveling peddlers.  I heard the term frequently in my childhood in southern Kentucky in the 1960s and 1970s but do not recall hearing it in Massachusetts or Maryland.

        I called the Muncie Hawk Shop, and they confirmed that they buy and sell goods and do not hock or pawn them.

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: Mai Kuha [mailto:mkuha at BSU.EDU]
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 10:36 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Photos for sociolinguists


It's nice that the "I'll buy almost anything" part of the sign is visible,
because it provides a clue that the establishment doesn't sell hawks or hawk
supplies, or have clientele consisting of hawks, but is actually a hock
shop, probably owned by someone who participates in the low vowel merge.

Thanks to everyone for the positive responses on- and off-list!

-Mai

> From: "Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
>
> What's the significance of the Muncie Hawk Shop?
>
> John Baker
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mai Kuha [mailto:mkuha at BSU.EDU]
>
> Dear all, I've started a collection of original photos relevant to language
> variation:
>
> http://www.bsu.edu/classes/kuha/lgphoto/lgphotos.html
>
> I hope some of you will find the images entertaining or maybe even useful.
> The most recent photos can be viewed and downloaded in color or B&W. There
> are only 4 items so far, but I'm happy to announce that one of these is the
> Muncie Hawk Shop that Herb Stahlke noticed!
...
>
> -Mai