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Re: Word usage in group versus out of group.

From:John Cowan <cowan@...>
Date:Saturday, May 22, 1999, 18:51
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.