[Ads-l] a different take on "chain migration"

[Barretts Mail]

Try using a slur on someone where that slur applies to both of you. Pick a person that is close to you and you have a good rapport with. Also pick someone who isn’t going to go stark-raving nutso over something like that. 

You might get laughter in return because you have broken a taboo. You have said something offensive but something that also applies to yourself. What you do is build solidarity with your interlocutor because you have a shared understanding of what it’s like to have that word used against you, and because you have reclaimed the word, making it possible to use the term in-group while excluding others. 

Just my personal thoughts on the matter. Surely a linguist has studied this. 

Benjamin Barrett
Formerly of Seattle, WA

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 23, 2018, at 05:07, Baker, John <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM> wrote:
> 
> I’ve heard the question before, but I don’t understand it. Why would you want to call someone a nigger or a faggot?
> 
> 
> John Baker
> 
> 
> On Feb 22, 2018, at 7:57 PM, Barretts Mail <mail.barretts at GMAIL.COM<mailto:mail.barretts at GMAIL.COM>> wrote:
> 
> 
> The same applies to the word “faggot”. It’s an in-group/out-group thing combined with reclamation. BB
> 
>> On 22 Feb 2018, at 16:38, paul johnson <paulzjoh at MTNHOME.COM<mailto:paulzjoh at MTNHOME.COM>> wrote:
>> 
>> I'm upset that on television blacks can call themselves or each other 'nigger' but I can't say it unless I'm packing. Curious, can they under that protocol, are they proscribed from calling whites 'honkys'
>> 
>> 
>>> On 2/22/2018 6:29 PM, W Brewer wrote:
>>> Wonder who pulled her chain.
>>> 
>>> -
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org<http://www.americandialect.org>
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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