[Ads-l] rap as...

[Bill Mullins]

>   Wilson, who I believe is no longer on this list,

What happened to Wilson?  Has he simply stopped participating, or has something happened to him?

Bill Mullins


[Ads-l] rap as...
Geoffrey Nathan 00001a558db4a26e-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ads-l%40listserv.linguistlist.org?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BAds-l%5D%20rap%20as...&In-Reply-To=%3CIA0PR11MB8354E81E68127A43D6482DEBB592A%40IA0PR11MB8354.namprd11.prod.outlook.com%3E>
Sat May 17 20:39:20 UTC 2025

  *   Previous message (by thread): [Ads-l] rap as...<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/167072.html>
  *   Next message (by thread): [Ads-l] rap as...<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/167074.html>
  *   Messages sorted by: [ date ]<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/date.html#167073> [ thread ]<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/thread.html#167073> [ subject ]<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/subject.html#167073> [ author ]<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2025-May/author.html#167073>

________________________________

This was discussed extensively here, but quite a while ago. Wilson, who I believe is no longer on this list, argues that it derives from 'rap on', analogous to 'hit on' meaning originally to 'chat someone up' (i.e. flirt with) but then extended its sense to rhythmic talking. Obviously AAVE in origin.
Going by memory here because I can't remember where the archives are.

Geoff


Geoffrey S. Nathan
WSU Information Privacy Officer (Retired)
Emeritus Professor, Linguistics Program
http://blogs.wayne.edu/proftech/

geoffnathan at wayne.edu<https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ads-l>

Nobody at Wayne State will EVER ask you for your password. Never send it to anyon


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