Ghetto/nigger-rig

Scot LaFaive spiderrmonkey at HOTMAIL.COM
Tue May 1 13:36:22 UTC 2007


Just kind of a social question, but when would we consider it kosher for
someone to use this adjective, i.e. at what socio-economic level? Do you
have to make a certain amount or do you have to have grown up in a ghetto?
Can it be a rural ghetto (i.e. trailer park) or does it have to be an urban
ghetto?
I actually use it and I'm a dirty white boy from rural middle class. Though
since entering school I've been a resident of the lower class.

Scot LaFaive


>From: Sarah Lang <slang at UCHICAGO.EDU>
>Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: Re: Ghetto/nigger-rig
>Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 23:36:58 -0500
>
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Sarah Lang <slang at UCHICAGO.EDU>
>Subject:      Re: Ghetto/nigger-rig
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Yup.
>
>Annoying when you actually live in the "ghetto" and have to clarify.
>Or, frankly, when it comes out of the mouth of your students who(se
>parents) are paying $50K for them to go to school.
>
>Anyone familiar with "nigger-rig"? As in hacking something together
>to make it sort of, kinda, just barely work?
>
>S.
>
>On Apr 30, 2007, at 10:10 PM, Doug Harris wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Doug Harris <cats22 at FRONTIERNET.NET>
> > Subject:      Re: Ghetto
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> >
> > While that usage may not yet be documented in the likes of HDAS or
> > OED,
> > it most _definitely_ has been 'standard' for ~at least~ 6-8 years
> > among
> > teens and 20-somethings in NY if not elsewhere.
> > (the other) doug
> >
> > =============
> > I've looked in HDAS and the OED, and I didn't find "ghetto" listed
> > as an
> > adjective, as in "Buy a replacement on ebay for $20, don't replace
> > it with a
> > plain mirror, that's ghetto."
> > (http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.chrysler.sebring/msg/
> > 905ec155d0ee9
> > 43f)
> > It seems fairly common slang nowdays.
> >
> > Scot LaFaive
> >
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> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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