Re: Word usage in group versus out of group.

Andrew Smith scripsit:

> Among Anzacs they are referred to as pommies.
Yes, that's why I inserted "American" at the last minute.
You'd think there would be a Canadian equivalent of "pommy",
but AFAIK there isn't (inferiority complex vis-a-vis the motherland?).

> In NZ at least it is
> uncommon but not unknown.  The etymology is not entirely certain.  Most
> people think it stands for (p)risoners (o)f (m)other (E)ngland, a
> reference to the convict founders of Australia.  There is no historical
> proof of this.  Another theory, for any particular reason, derives it from
> pomegranate.
Actually, the etymology has now been nailed down:
immigrant > jimmygrant > pomegranate > pommy > pom.
These stages can be traced in Australian newspapers of the period
(mid-19th century).

Standard emphatic form: whingeing [complaining] pom.

--
John Cowan                                      cowan@ccil.org
                e'osai ko sarji la lojban.