Having lived in various region of the US, I've found that there are nouns such as "bubbler" (Milwaukee), and "pocketbook" (Philly), and sneakers as mentioned in a recent show that bob along in our language soup. The noun is used with a stubborness by native speakers even if advertisers and marketer don't use it. In fact, if a newcomer lives there long enough usually s/he adopts it and children born there will almost always own it. Is there a term for these nouns? It doesn't seem to be a regionalism, because users know they are different, but still use them even on social network sites. Isn't being prideful about one's nouns, some kind of language sin????
Jocelyn said:
It doesn't seem to be a regionalism, because users know they are different, but still use them....
How does that mean it isn't a regionalism? I don't see the connection.
Jocelyn said:
The noun is used with a stubborness by native speakers even if advertisers and marketer don't use it.
Why should advertisers and marketers cast the deciding vote? To take a non-regional example: everyone else says "toilet paper"; they say "bathroom tissue". Which is the real name for the stuff?
Bob Bridges said:
Jocelyn said:
It doesn't seem to be a regionalism, because users know they are different, but still use them....
How does that mean it isn't a regionalism? I don't see the connection.
I am trying to open the question on a fine point, gentlmen.
I always thought a regionalism was a word or term used by the speaker not knowing that it is limited by geography. But, when a person becomes aware that a term differentiates them and continues to use it, almost as a test of native-ness (?), then in my mind their behavior indicates that it has become something different. As to marketers giving it validity, my point is that they must pick the most common term in order to be accepted by the most consumers. This goes to basic techniques in persuasion. I never said the marketers were The Word, I was simply noticing their behavior while attempting to persuade.
Bob Bridges said:
Jocelyn said:
It doesn't seem to be a regionalism, because users know they are different, but still use them....
How does that mean it isn't a regionalism? I don't see the connection.
I am trying to open the question on a fine point, gentlmen.
I always thought a regionalism was a word or term used by the speaker not knowing that it is limited by geography. But, when a person becomes aware that a term differentiates them and continues to use it, almost as a test of native-ness (?), then in my mind their behavior indicates that it has become something different. As to marketers giving it validity, my point is that they must pick the most common term in order to be accepted by the most consumers. This goes to basic techniques in persuasion. I never said the marketers were The Word, I was simply noticing their behavior while attempting to persuade.