Re: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Sir or Madame

In Canada, I guess calling someone an eskimo would be kind of offensive,
but doing it would make you look like an idiot probably. I'm Canadian.
-John

On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 9:56 AM, Abrigon Gusiq <abrigon@...> wrote:
> Familiar vs non-familiar, as well as words used inside a group
>  but not outside the group.
>
>  Much like the old "Nigger" and "Niggah" debate.
>
>  Myself, been called "Nigga" but being "white", do not find it
>  appropriate to use it, also older, so with memories of my
>  childhood. but was taught how to say it right, but it was cause
>  of being from Alaska, and the guys, since we was all in trouble,
>  and I was from Alaska and not from the lower 48, it was okay for
>  me to use it, but ...
>
>  I did take it as a compliment, since I have been known to do a
>  mean old school hip hop. But its the music, and I needed
>  exercise..
>
>  What is age, but also group, ethnicity, religious, and gender
>  appropriate, can say alot..  Much like a buddy of mine, who is
>  racially black, but is from Puerto Rico and sees himself as
>  Hispanic, gets lost at times in the "Black" experiance and being
>  labeled as such.
>
>  Also for example, I believe in Puerto Rican Spanish, you say
>  "Mejo" (spelling) but its often an elder talking to a kid, but
>  in Mexican Spanish, its often a brother or like (blood need not
>  be in common). Dialects can be fun, also they tell people where
>  you are from.
>
>  Here in Alaska, we have over 8 native languages, but many more
>  dialects. And not saying something right can be a problem..
>
>  Inuit/Inupiaq
>  Yupik
>  Chupik
>  Siberian Yupik
>  Aleutiq
>  Aleut
>  Are all cousins to each other.  But the last two are Aleut, not
>  Eskimo. But in Canada, if you call someone an Eskimo its not a
>  nice word, but in Alaska its sort of a word of pride?
>
>  Then you have Athabaskan be they Gwichin, Athabaskan or from
>  Tetlin/Tok area, they are all different.
>
>  Then you have Tlinghit - supposedly related to Athabaskan but
>  not sure. There may have been some ancient contact with
>  Polynesia or Aztec or something.
>
>  Haida in SE Alaska
>
>  Tsimshian - small group, likely gone now as a language.
>
>  But then you have the other languages here, not unknown to hear
>  from time to time.
>
>  English
>  Spanish
>  Russian (or related language)
>
>  Are all spoken by a local population group. To include some
>  Natives (Russian especially).
>
>  Then you have
>  Phillipino (Tagalog and related)
>  Korean
>  Samoan and related languages
>
>  Also with local speakers. But also non-local as well.
>
>  Will see about Thai, Japanese, and others..
>
>  Also known people form Kazakhstan, and I suspect Afghani and
>  also some from Pakistan.
>
>  Mike
>  Alaska Crossroads of the World - heh, cheaper/easier to fly from
>  Asia to Europe via Alaska than to go to the lower 48, see the
>  globe and see why..
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...>
>  To: <CONLANG@...>
>  Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 5:49 AM
>  Subject: Re: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Sir or Madame
>
>
>  On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 9:09 AM,  <MorphemeAddict@...>
>  wrote:
>  >  When I was in the army, we always had to use just
>  >  "ma'am".  I never heard "madame", and I think it would
>  >  have been commented on at the very least.
>
>  Definitely.  The word  "ma'am" in modern English seems to be a
>  separate lexeme from "madam(e)", despite the derivation.  Around
>  here,
>  saying "yes, ma'am" is just plain polite, while saying "yes,
>  madame"
>  is putting on airs.  Unless you happen to be a maitre'd,
>  sommelier,
>  concierge, or some other French job title and are addressing a
>  customer. :)
>
>
>  --
>  Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>
>

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