Linguist deconstructs the word, dude

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Wolverine
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Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:09 pm

Linguist deconstructs the word, dude

Post by Wolverine »

Pittsburgh-

A linguist from the University of Pitt. has published a scholarly paper deconstructing and deciphering the word "dude," contending it is much more thana catchall for lazy, inarticulate surfers, skaters, slackers, and teens.

An admitted dude-userduring his college years(as was I), Scott Kiesling said the four letter word has many uses:

in greetings(What's up, Dude?)

as an exclamation(Whoa, Dude!)

commiseration(Dude, I'm so sorry.)

to one-up someone(Dude, that's so lame!)

as well as agreement, surprise, and disgust(DUDE!)

Kiesling says in the fall edition of American Speech the the word derives its power from something he calls cool solidarity-- an effortless kinship that is not too intimate.

Cool solidarity is especially important to young men who are under social pressure to be close with other males, but not to be suspected as gay.

In other words, "Close, Dude, but not that close."

It's like man or buddy, there is often this male-male addressed term that says, "I'm your friend but not much more than that."

To decode the word's meaning, Kiesling listened to conversations with frat boys he'd taped from 1995 to 1997. He found the word taps into nonconformity and a new American image of leisurely success.

Anecdotally, men were the predominant users of the word, but women sometimes called eachother "dude."

Less frequently, men will call women dudes and vice versa. But that comes with some rules. Men reported that they use "dude' with women with whom they are close friends, but not with women with whom they are intimate.

It was also shown that people were less likely to use 'dude' with bosses, parents, and professors.

Historically, dude originally meant, "old rags"--- a dudesman was a scarecrow. In the late 1800s, a dude was akin to a "dandy," a meticulously dressed man. It became cool in the 1930s and 40s. Dude began to rise in the teenage lexicon with the release and growing popularity of the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"


Get your mind out of the gutter - it's blocking my view

Mind like a steel trap - Rusty and Illegal in 37 states.

john8pies
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:53 am

Linguist deconstructs the word, dude

Post by john8pies »

No comment possible, dude!
LottomagicZ4941
Posts: 752
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:00 pm

Linguist deconstructs the word, dude

Post by LottomagicZ4941 »

"Dude looks like a lady" Aerosmith

Still perfer their work up to Aerosmith Rocks to their new stuff.

Done with Mirrors was also worth while.

Lotto

http://www.flalottomagic.net/?sponsor=Z4941

MagicZ4941A

PS will Dudet for female dude ever catch on?
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cars
Posts: 11012
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:00 pm

Linguist deconstructs the word, dude

Post by cars »

Wolverine wrote: Pittsburgh-

A linguist from the University of Pitt. has published a scholarly paper deconstructing and deciphering the word "dude," contending it is much more thana catchall for lazy, inarticulate surfers, skaters, slackers, and teens.

An admitted dude-userduring his college years(as was I), Scott Kiesling said the four letter word has many uses:

in greetings(What's up, Dude?)

as an exclamation(Whoa, Dude!)

commiseration(Dude, I'm so sorry.)

to one-up someone(Dude, that's so lame!)

as well as agreement, surprise, and disgust(DUDE!)

Kiesling says in the fall edition of American Speech the the word derives its power from something he calls cool solidarity-- an effortless kinship that is not too intimate.

Cool solidarity is especially important to young men who are under social pressure to be close with other males, but not to be suspected as gay.

In other words, "Close, Dude, but not that close."

It's like man or buddy, there is often this male-male addressed term that says, "I'm your friend but not much more than that."

To decode the word's meaning, Kiesling listened to conversations with frat boys he'd taped from 1995 to 1997. He found the word taps into nonconformity and a new American image of leisurely success.

Anecdotally, men were the predominant users of the word, but women sometimes called eachother "dude."

Less frequently, men will call women dudes and vice versa. But that comes with some rules. Men reported that they use "dude' with women with whom they are close friends, but not with women with whom they are intimate.

It was also shown that people were less likely to use 'dude' with bosses, parents, and professors.

Historically, dude originally meant, "old rags"--- a dudesman was a scarecrow. In the late 1800s, a dude was akin to a "dandy," a meticulously dressed man. It became cool in the 1930s and 40s. Dude began to rise in the teenage lexicon with the release and growing popularity of the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"


Where's the DUDE on a DUDE Ranch?:-2
Cars :)
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