generic Gypsy (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Isn't there also a Broadway theater sense of the word?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
> Behalf Of Victor Steinbok
> Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 9:35 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: generic Gypsy
>
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Victor Steinbok <aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      generic Gypsy
>
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> --------
>
> OED has no generic generalized version of Gypsy. The main entries are
> associated with Romani (1.a-e.), cunning (2.a-b.), US independent
> truckers (2.c, but no "gypsy cabs") and various compounds (3.).
Nothing
> related to generic nomads, wandering people, etc., not even the usual
> "transf. and fig.".
>
> But consider the referent in this article:
>
> http://goo.gl/SfQDS
> Among the Moken, the Sea Gypsies of Myeik
> > So began my six-day journey in search of the Moken, the elusive sea
> > gypsies of Myanmar's far south.
> > ...
> > Despite their long presence in this area, however, the Moken are
> > rapidly losing their way of life under pressure from the
> environmental
> > impact of fishing and logging. To survive, they have had to adapt to
> > modern life while still clinging to what's left of their culture.
> > For most of the year, the Moken live at sea, on boats known as
kabang
> > that are carved from a single tree. Their entire lives revolve
around
> > these hand-hewn vessels, which are not only a means of
> transportation,
> > but also their homes. And as the terms for describing the parts of
> > these boats attest, they are seen almost as living things, complete
> > with a mouth, cheeks, neck, shoulders, ribs and even anus.
> > ...
> > If the kabang is their home, then their backyard is the sea. ...
>
> There is also an example of "no word for X":
>
> > In their own language, they have no word for "worry," but these
days,
> > they have good reason to worry if their culture will survive another
> > generation.
>
>
> VS-)
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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