Japanese fire drill

[Patti J. Kurtz]

Sorry-- I lived in Pittsburgh in the 1960's and 70's  and was in high
school during the early 70's

sclements at NEO.RR.COM wrote:

>---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Sam Clements <sclements at NEO.RR.COM>
>Subject:      Re: Japanese fire drill
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>I guess the next question I would have is "when" did you grow up in
>Pittsburgh and hear the word.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Patti J. Kurtz" <kurtpatt4 at NETSCAPE.NET>
>To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 1:42 PM
>Subject: Re: Japanese fire drill
>
>
>
>
>>sclements at NEO.RR.COM wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>It almost certainly was "Chinese fire drill" in most of the US.  If you
>>>called it "Japanese fire drill" it might be related to where you lived.
>>>
>>>Using "Chinese" as a derogatory adjective goes back to the late 1800's.
>>>
>>>
>The
>
>
>>>actual term "Chinese fire drill" is cited in RHDAS in 1952, but implied
>>>
>>>
>in a
>
>
>>>1942-5 cite.
>>>
>>>I called it that in 1961, when we would get out at a light and run around
>>>the car.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>I hadn't thought about region affecting the name-- I grew up in
>>Pittsburgh and that's what we called it-- but I wonder how being from
>>Pittsburgh would have transformed it from 'Chinese" to "Japanese."
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Patti
>>
>>
>>

--

Dr. Patti J. Kurtz

Assistant Professor, English

Minot State University

Minot, ND 58709





Sometimes, we have to bow to the absurd.



Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The Long Ladder