"snap"

[Dave Wilton]

Yes, but episodes show her using the expression as a child. While she is not
a stereotypical redneck in some respects, she is far from being acquainted
with urban black culture. Not that this is indicative of real-world use of
"snap!" in any case.

(And the black guy is a highly educated man and former government
intelligence agent who is hiding out in the witness protection program. Not
your typical hip hop urbanite either.)


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
ronbutters at AOL.COM
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:52 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: "snap"

Joy is married to a black guy. Not a typical redneck.
------Original Message------
From: Dave Wilton
Sender: ADS-L
To: ADS-L
ReplyTo: ADS-L
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "snap"
Sent: Apr 7, 2009 1:20 PM

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Arnold Zwicky
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:02 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: "snap"

>from the Urban Dictionary under "snap" (entry 31):

>Pertaining to the Gay snap culture in the 80's. It's used to puncuate
>an insult by snapping the fingers. Today it's used mostly by the young
>black culture
>
>Girl, I saw your weave at Kmart...OH SNAP (*snaps fingers*)
>  .....

>check out the "In Living Color" "Men on X" sketches (beginning with
>"Men on Film"), in which Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier play two
>flamboyantly effeminate gay men reviewing films, tv, etc.  almost
>every sketch had finger-snapping accompanying the opinions.


"Snap!" is the favorite interjection of the character Joy on "My Name Is
Earl." Joy is a redneck, trailer-trash white woman.

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org