But as Cohan's childhood attests, there was nothing imaginary about Podunk. This nameless comic left behind only his or her initials"R.P. VASPKIT and SeeK-path recommend different paths. Vulgar suggests something that is offensive to good taste or decency, frequently with the added implication of boorishness or ill breeding [examples omitted], derogatory, depreciatory, depreciative, disparaging, slighting, pejorative mean designed or tending to belittle. Cows graze in a field in the Podunk section of East Brookfield, Mass. Maybe Webster's was right. To save this word, you'll need to log in. is podunk derogatory. podunk 1. adjective Completely insignificant, out-of-the-way, and unsophisticated or uninteresting. Negro descent; a black person. hide caption. So I think the main distinction is that "offensive" is something that offends, and being derogatory and vulgar are things that could offend. "Plantation shutters" are featured in a recently-purchased condominium in Arlington, Va., Sept. 17, 2006. When a gnoll vampire assumes its hyena form, do its HP change? Of Algonquian origin. By 1934, Webster's defined it as "an imaginary small towntypical of placid dullness.". 1. See, the mega-popular entertainer George M. Cohan had spent his childhood summers in Podunk, Massachusetts (part of what is today North Brookfield) and used the name in his act. I don't think anybody knows that," he said. "I found his table Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023. any small and insignificant or inaccessible town or village: After a year in the big city, I was ready to move back to Podunk. Learn a new word every day. A common implication of Podunk is that it's a place so dreary and remote that it's not even worth situating on a map. With reasonable men, I will reason; ry di-rg--tr- -tr- 1 : intended to lower the reputation of a person or thing 2 : expressing a low opinion derogatory remarks derogatorily -rg--tr--l -tr- adverb More from Merriam-Webster on derogatory Nglish: Translation of derogatory for Spanish Speakers 2. noun A fictional rural place that is completely insignificant, out-of-the-way, and unsophisticated or uninteresting. I'm tempted to think that a simple way of putting it is that something being offensive means that the derogation or vulgar offends somebody, though I'm not sure about this. Derogatory may be used of one's own actions or activity that tends to detract from his reputation or to lower him in the estimation of others [examples omitted] More often the term is applied to expressions or modes of expression (as choice of words or tone of voice) and then implies an intent to detract or belittle by suggesting something that is discreditable [examples omitted], offensive, loathsome, repulsive, repugnant, revolting are comparable when they mean utterly distasteful or repellent. what is "Podunk" - Model Railroader Magazine - Model Railroading, Model derogatory, depreciatory, depreciative, disparaging, slighting, pejorative mean designed or tending to belittle. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates? It denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations, particularly the people's winter village site on the border of present-day East Hartford and South Windsor, Connecticut. "OH DEAR GOD! n. Slang A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. derogatory: 1 adj expressive of low opinion " derogatory comments" Synonyms: derogative , disparaging uncomplimentary tending to (or intended to) detract or disparage ", Wolvengrey seemed to have a similar take. Great question. If Podunk happened to be a junction with a branch line, the railroad might set out a sleeper at Podunk during the day. A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. Quick explanatory comma: Algonquian languages are a family of indigenous languages spoken from New England to Saskatchewan to the Great Plains. Also a podunk town can be quite a bit larger than a hamlet. The Oxford Online Dictionary speculates it evolved from the fictional surname "Houlihan," included in a popular pub song about a rowdy Irish family. So while all three terms may apply to things that cause offense, the types of offense involved are relatively specific in the cases of vulgar and derogatory but very general in the case of offensive. I think this is the answer that's quite good. Narragansett, Mohegan, and Podunk tribes and ended with their virtual destruction, opening southern New England to unimpeded colonial . "But when he got to Eastern areas, there wasn't any information.". Author Rudyard Kipling is pictured, circa 1910. Generally located in rural country towns; {Po-dunks} Hicks; {Po-dunktion Junction } A town that reflects the qualities of being Po-dunk. It is listed in the oldest Webster's Dictionary as such, (plus, I'm from there!!) "), But according to Goddard, when it comes to Native American place names in the Eastern United States, a lot of what we think we know is actually misinformation. Language can have a positive or negative influence on who we are, and how we see other people. Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, When I started off by saying that the three words may in some contexts have the same meaning or be indistinguishable is because someone may say: "He spent the whole time at the party drinking and making vulgar Explore the world's oddities every week with Ken Jennings, and check out his book Maphead for more geography trivia. "He was a good linguist, a smart guy," Goddard says of his colleague, who died in 2006. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. The proverbial podunk town is perfectly named, so perfectly that if Podunk didn't exist, we would be forced to invent it. ", See podunk, poughkeepsie, pough town, rural, backwater, small town. The "peanut gallery" was the cheapest section of seats, usually occupied by people with limited means. 2023 Cond Nast. "Paddy" originated in the late 1700s as a shortened form of "Patrick," and then later a pejorative term for any Irishman. "I "The phrase has very offensive roots as the Native American's who were found 'off the reservation' were killed," Kelly explained. Common areas/landmarks in Podunk: Podunk Cemetary, High Rocks, Lake Lashaway, Devil's Kitchen, Hayden Lodge, Union Chapel. This is the big city, not Podunk. When 1930s radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas told his listeners that there was "no such place as Podunk," he was immediately corrected by a resident of Podunk, New York, outside of Ithaca, who told him that this was like saying "there is no Santa Claus!". Podunk is used specifically to transmit that sense, and because hamlet does not convey that sense, I didn't mention hamlet (or similar terms). Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. male actors who play psychopaths . Although not a comprehensive list, here is a list of some commonly used phrases and their origins as identified by experts who spoke to ABC News. "You'll be able to find guesses in the sources if you look around. Business, Economics, and Finance. The meanings of "derogatory" imply "to belittle", "to disparage", or to "derogate" (to take away, detract, discredit. (Sometimes "Pullman" could be on both ends.). By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Podunk. "I think the jokey use of Podunk isn't really connected. intentionally offensive Collins English Dictionary. Primary Season Is Here And 'Hispandering' Is Back, Ready For A Linguistic Controversy? "but the articles cemented Podunk in the American imagination as the go-to name for a rural hicksville. Of Hillbillies or Backwoods folk. One moose, two moose. A kimono is associated with formal attire in Japanese culture, over time this 1970s-era slang has been misinterpreted from myths that certain Japanese warriors would open their robes to show someone that they were not hiding their weapons. Denver Harbor, Houston - Wikipedia His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project. The ORIGINAL Podunk was an area in south-central Mass inhabited by the Podunk Indians. Vulgar and obscene are similar in their suggestion of indelicacy or indecency. Countless times in the movie, they used slang phrases such as "podunk" or "pough town" to describe the area. As to this last point, it's interesting that the Collins Dictionary definition mentioned specifically "intentionally offensive." (Good luck getting as much from ELU.SE). There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Therefore "derogatory" may be badmouthing or depreciating a person or group, but "offensive" may be a breach against societal or human sensibilities. It denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations, particularly the people's winter village site on the border of present-day East Hartford and South Windsor, Connecticut. The last I heard he had moved to some podunk little town in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps context is key with it then? 2. noun A fictional rural place that is completely insignificant, out-of-the-way, and unsophisticated or uninteresting. Sometimes the term implies injured feelings as a result of an affront or insult [examples omitted] and frequently it suggests the evocation of such aversion that endurance involves mental strain or moral distaste [example omitted] or it may imply a vileness (as of appearance or odor) that excites nausea or extreme disgust [example omitted]. That's the question we're faced with now. Those languages include Fox, Cree and Ojibwe. It comes from the Latin: vulgus, the common people American Heritage Dictionary. As this answer is long enough, I'll just try to illustrate an obvious difference with an example. It wasn't until the Pullman Co. was split up after WW2 that railroads bought their own sleeping carsand many of them still contracted with Pullman for porters to man the cars. rev2023.4.21.43403. Today, if someone "sells you down the river," he or she betrays or cheats you. Anyway, I'm surprised how even university researchers in philosophy and sociology have been struggling, trying to figure this out. "And this book was considered authoritative. Podunk. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Podunk. The exact origin of the name is murky, but it appears that "Podunk" comes from an Algonquian word, either the name of a tribe that inhabited an area near Hartford, Connecticut, or a more generic term meaning "swampy place. In 1846, an anonymous columnist for the Daily National Pilot of Buffalo, New York wrote a series of humorous. Don't use slang or colloquial expressions. "Half of those [languages] might be gone within a hundred years," he says. I have been guilty, in several posts on this forum, of using the fictional Podunk and Northern as a synonym for a minor short line of total insignificance. hmm welll.. zuppameep to u too u jerk!!! ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Derogatory quickly took on the additional meaning disdainful, disparaging, as may be seen in the words frequent use in derogatory comment. At Michigan an interpretive guide called "What Students Should Know " went beyond the scope of the actual code in saying that even a, The woman also alleged that Bear-McClard had addressed her using, The affidavit listed seven unnamed victims, who relayed accounts of exploitation and abuse, including, Earlier complaints accused Bourne of making, Post the Definition of derogatory to Facebook, Share the Definition of derogatory on Twitter. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Another difference I can see is that people can take offence to things that aren't directed at them, but to things that may just be a breach of civility or custom. "Podunk" might be nothing more than an imaginary place before long. On Language - The New York Times but to tyrants I will give no quarter, Crypto In its earliest evidence, experts explain that this phrase dealt with policing, killing and colonizing Native Americans and removing them from their native land. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for Podunk. Today, the phrases have caught on with many individuals and spread throughout many states and towns all across America. And according to Arok Wolvengrey, a professor of Algonquian languages and linguistics at First Nations University of Canada, many of those languages are in danger. Podunk, Vermont is fewer than fifty people, their farm animals, and a boarded-up schoolhouse. Elmira, where Twain had lived earlier, is within 30 miles (48km) of Podunk, New York, so it is not clear to which village Twain was referring. I still don't understand how anything can be profane or bad language. But beyond its Algonquian roots, much of the linguistic history of Podunk is kind of murky. "Those comments he made on the radio about Chinese According to Lydia Sears in an article written by Peggy Gallagher, "it was a rough, tough crossroads." Located on Bolter Creek, it was a small manufacturing community and at its peak had a population of about 100 people. In American discourse, the term podunk came into general colloquial use through the wide national readership of the "Letters from Podunk" of 1846, in the Daily National Pilot of Buffalo, New York. I understand calling a polish person a 'Polak 'is derogatory - Reddit nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. It was on part of the Milwaukee RR, but the trains never stopped there. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Podunk, Wisconsin, a now defunct town containing a sizable Bradner, Charnley & Co. Or maybe it will continue to be that place where you pray you don't run out of gas. American English Ditionary, adj tending or intended to detract, disparage, or belittle; Copyright 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The word plantation appeared in English in the 1400s originally meaning "plant," according to Kelly. "This simply seems to have attached a particular name and again, unless someone from a place named Podunk is particularly offended by it, it doesn't sound like it was done with any malicious intent towards any particular people. S.I. Podunk is not necessarily derogatory; there is an implication of insignificance but then 99.9% of all the inhabited communities in the U. S. of A. fill that bill. However, in modern politics there has been recognition that term is racially offensive. ", "South Windsor Creates 2.5-Mile Trail System Through Wapping Park", "Podonque Cemetery Town of Rushford, Allegany County, NY", "Podunk Pond Fishing near Dixfield, Maine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Podunk&oldid=1137232740, Podunk, Connecticut, an area of the town of, Three places, over 100 miles (160km) apart, in, Podunk, Michigan, a community on Podunk Lake in, Podunk, Michigan, an alternative name for. My opinion is in some cases those three might mean exactly the same thing. I could say that right in front of my family, friends and colleagues. Where is Podunk Oklahoma? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? However you use it, remember, it doesn't matter too much as long as the road to Podunk is paved with good intentions. Guy 1: "So now that Poughkeepsie is no longer a podunk little town, what else can we call podunk? a new stereotype which is pretty much what every other stereotype doesnt cover, its for people too poor to be scene and too happy to be emo, Lindsee: hey there should be a stereotype for people like us, See scene, emo, gangster, thrift store, punk. They can deteriorate and they can sometimes become much stronger than they were in the first place.". An area of northwestern Rhode Island 3 miles (4.8km) WNW of Pascoag, An alternative spelling; "Podonque" is found as a name on a road leading into a settlement area (intersection of County roads 23 and 243) which is still sparsely populated, believed to having been established in the 1800s as: Podonque, Town of. In reality, the "peanut gallery" names a section in theaters, usually the cheapest and worst, where many Black people sat during the era of Vaudeville. Plus, the broadcasting authority Ofcom has been exploring 'latest attitudes' to offensive language? found his behaviour toward his mother to be really derogatory. A correspondent asked that question of the editors of the Buffalo, New York, Daily National Pilot in 1846, then answered himself: "It is in the world, sir; and more than that, is a little world of itself." Why do we use the words "vulgar", "offensive" and "derogatory"? Today, the phrases have caught on with many individuals and spread throughout many states and towns all across America. You find yourself at a rest stop with no toilet paper, where the vending machine eats your last single. people are really offensive.". See more. A team of builders are working on a site, and every fifth word that comes out of their mouths is the 'F' word. So if you're looking at Bright, as I just did, he cites Huden, and then he cites like three or four people after Huden who are just copying Huden, of course, and are equally uninformed. English author and poet Rudyard Kipling's 1892 poem "Fuzzy Wuzzy" opined on the brave actions of the Hadendoa warriors in colonial Sudan -- the phrase in the work of literature was a reference to their hairstyle and texture. Surrounding towns have all been overcrowded by many people coming from the suburbs of NYC due to the ripple effect. Possibly the term was meant to exemplify "plain, honest people", as opposed to more sophisticated people with questionable values. When a friendly MALE proceeds to forcfully stimulate your prostate with an OPEN alcoholic beverage bottle. Podunk is an Algonquian word. The result looks like the.. Last edited on Oct 07 2016. Podunk, U.S.A. Is RealHere's How to Find It - Cond Nast Traveler Today, the phrase is a way of talking about revealing corporate information. But with a lot of others, he says, "We don't really have any hope of figuring them out. What does it mean when someone calls you Podunk? Today, "gyp" has become synonymous with cheating someone. ", Wolvengrey says there are obviously words that "reflect a racist attitude towards indigenous people" but Podunk doesn't seem to be one of them. Oshkosh, Kankakee, Ho-Ho-Kus, Rancho Cucamonga, and Kalamazoo all came in handy, but Podunk still had an inside advantage. Podunk, Kektucy is a city located in Satan Rock County, USA . In 1846, an anonymous columnist for the Daily National Pilot of Buffalo, New York wrote a series of humorous "Letters from Podunk," dispatches from a comically insignificant village. I believe a listener or reader of these would take the "derogatory" sentence to mean it's offensive to Chinese people", whereas the "offensive" sentence may be taken to mean it's both offensive to Chinese people, but in addition to that, may be seen as offensive on a more general scale; that is, offensive to people at large because racial intolerance is offensive to everyone. Podunk - Wikipedia The word podunk is of Algonquian origin.It denoted both the Podunk people and marshy locations, particularly the people's winter village site on the border of present-day East Hartford and South Windsor, Connecticut. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! In English it's derogatory due to the history ("dirty Polack", "stupid Polack") so Pole is more appropriate. It has wide application and can be used to characterize anyone or anything that is unpleasant or disagreeable [examples omitted]. Railroad slanghas many such examples. (little sense as far as I can see). remarks.". The book portrays Waxtend as being drawn by his interest in public affairs into becoming a representative in the General Assembly, finding himself unsuited to the role, and returning to his trade. Huden "would look through all this amateur literature and find a [place] name, find a translation, and pick the one he liked," Goddard explains. First of all, if you look up "derogatory" in dictionaries you'll get something like the following: adj. Derogatory is increasingly seen today in credit reports, although it should not be taken as a credit card company making unkind comments on the character of the cardholder. now offensive, ethnic slur, vulgar, see usage notes) A dark-> skinned person, especially a person of, or primarily of, One of the most famous people to refer to Podunk was Mark Twain, who in 1869 wrote that a certain fact was known even "in Podunk, wherever that may be. Their one-horse, backwater burg may be a quintessential American everytown, but over the centuries it's been given a name, and that name is "Podunk." boondocks | Etymology, origin and meaning of boondocks by etymonline Many common terms and phrases are actually rooted in racist, sexist, or generally distasteful language. Copyright 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 12 Common Phrases and Terms That Are Actually Racist or Offensive He goes to Podunk all decorated up in geraniums and the rest of his life is a 'college man. "Is its use doing more harm than good? This is a late 1800's term used by British colonial soldiers to refer to the members of an East African tribe. "Wagon" naturally refers to a vehicle. ", "I found his table manners to be really offensive." The word podunk is of Algonquian origin. A website for the property says, "Oak Alley as a sugar plantation was built by and relied on enslaved men, women and children.". Akin to "flyover states," "nowheresville" and "hicksville," people use "Podunk" as a stand-in for anywhere they think doesn't have much going on. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? When derogatory first began to be used in English it had the meaning detracting from the character or standing of something. It comes from the verb derogate, which can be traced to the Latin word derogare (to detract or to annul (a law)). Slang or Colloquial Expressions - Skidmore College This is actually a place. If it's not directly racist, it's classist and rude at the very least. "If it was, I suppose, directed in a negative way at a particular cultural group, that would be more troubling," he said. By being spread through word of mouth, many people lost the true meaning of podunk and did not even realize it was . First, Podunk is the name of a few real towns. Learn a new word every day. Guess what. It was not until the 1600's that the word was defined as estates where the enslaved labored in bondage and were forced to grow such crops as cotton and tobacco. At the time, he was living in Buffalo, moving to Hartford, Connecticut in 1871, in a home within 4 miles (6.4km) of the Podunk River. The fact that this is a Native American name to begin with is irrelevant. One moose, two moose. This phrase started appearing in London newspapers around 1898. boondocks. A racially segregated audience sits for a concert at the Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Ill., July 16, 1943. ", Podunk, village in Massachusetts or locality in Connecticut, Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. Podunk - Idioms by The Free Dictionary What are the differences between them? Along these lines, after launching an extensive research and engagement process on the name three years ago, with an emphasis on listening to Inuit communities, The Edmonton Eskimo Football Club Board of Directors made the decision to discontinue the use of the word "Eskimo" in the team's name to continue the tradition of being responsive to community perspective. In the same vein, after decades of debate and court cases over its name and logo, the Washington Redskins have decided to change their name, which was an offensive term in reference to Native Americans. Just to be safe, we can easily avoid the first two words. There are exceptions for instance, we know that "Connecticut" means "long river." By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Capitalized in this use. Vulgar can mean rude or inappropriate, which may also offend, hence making it offensive. : a small, unimportant, and isolated town. Is there a generic term for these trajectories? Podunk was the "Lake Wobegon" of the 1840s. Though steeped in controversy, some think the first part of this phrase relates to anti-Semitic demonstrations that started in Germany in the 19th century. [After Podunk, name of two New England towns, of southern New England Algonquian origin .] In the midst of a cultural awakening on race, commonly used words and phrases and their origins are being reexamined and, in some cases, redefined entirely. While the phrase sitting "Indian style" is often associated with stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans, some experts believe the phrase means "lotus position," a cross-legged meditation pose with roots in India. Apparently the term derived from a real locale somewhere in New York State. [7] The term gained currency as standing for a fictional place. To me the essence of podunk, however, is the notion of "country bumpkin'. Talk:Podunk - Wikipedia The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE. And you wouldn't know (from the sentence itself) whether he spent his whole time making rude jokes inappropriately (vulgar), making hateful comments against Mexicans (being derogatory), or was just talking in a way that the others found offensive (being offensive). [5] It is unclear whether the author intended to evoke more than the place near Ulysses, New York by the name "Podunk". Maybe someday we'll use the word to refer to a center of culture or a lush New England getaway. It is now known as East Brookfield, MA. ', He also had other holdings "neer Podunk," and "on ye highway leading to Farmington.". ", The other thing people likely don't know? Send us feedback about these examples. 1. Or we never knew them in the first place. Following are the relevant discussions in MWDS: coarse, vulgar, gross, obscene, ribald are comparable when applied to persons, their language, or behavior and mean offensive to a person of good taste or moral principles. Another term implying an insignificant locale is "jerkwater" which does have a railroad connotation! podunk, n. Green's Dictionary of Slang There's considerable difference between the three listed words you asked about in your first question, so maybe you should consider including the research you've done so far. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Originally, the term started within the Black community, but the racists adopted it pretty quickly. Thank you. Here are some commonly used terms that actually have racist origins. Eskimo Pie packaging in the style of the 1920's was released for the product's 75th anniversary in 1997. But a side comment on Wiktionary - ", University researchers in philosophy, sociology and other fields have spent years trying to figure this out. Alternatively, others believe that the term didn't originate as a racist phrase, but instead evolved to have racist usage. Mumbo jumbo was first used in the 1700s in West Africa by travel writer Francis Moore in his book "Travels In The Interior Districts of Africa," who described Mumbo Jumbo as a masked dancer who was involved in certain religious ceremonies. NPR reports that during slavery in the US, masters in the North often sold their misbehaving slaves, sending them down the Mississippi River to plantations in Mississippi, where conditions were much harsher.

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