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The Wisconsin Historical Society has recently published a book of stories/anecdotes about cemeteries under the title Badger Boneyards. I think it is disrespectful to refer to a cemetery as a boneyard, and wrote them to say so. Actually, I thought it not only disrespectful but a cheesy alliteration as well. I was told in response "The term “boneyard†dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and has been used in the United States to refer to a graveyard or cemetery in journalistic writings as well as in literary works from the 1840s to the present."
Okay, but in what context? Is boneyard a legitimate respectful name for cemetery - whether in 1840 or today?
Is there someone who can speak with authority in such matter? Thanks, Dennis
I am, in fact, a Badger.
I am not a linguistic authority.
But in my experience, both growing up in the Midwest, and now living in Arizona, I've heard "boneyard" used in many ways, none of which were disrespectful. I've heard the term used in casual conversation to mean cemeteries, scrap auto yards, flea sales, yard sales, even antique auto auctions. I think it's a pretty generic term these days. And I don't think the Wisconsin Historical Society was off base. That's the way we talked back there.
Heimhenge said:
I am, in fact, a Badger.
I am not a linguistic authority.
But in my experience, both growing up in the Midwest, and now living in Arizona, I've heard "boneyard" used in many ways, none of which were disrespectful. I've heard the term used in casual conversation to mean cemeteries, scrap auto yards, flea sales, yard sales, even antique auto auctions. I think it's a pretty generic term these days. And I don't think the Wisconsin Historical Society was off base. That's the way we talked back there.
I'm comfortable enough with "boneyard" to use it casually in recently asking a local utility manager about the place where they store old equipment and bits of stuff they've used in the past, and I consider it more appropriate for that than for an actual scary graveyard location where spirits might be offended and actual living people related to the residents might feel a bit of that and shiver.
Dennis,
I see your point that "boneyard" is a bit more casual and without reverence. I mean you wouldn't want to tell someone who's family member had just passed away that their body was ready to go to the boneyard. At the same time, if this was a book of stories and anecdotes, it sounds like it was a pretty light take on the subject anyway. So boneyard would have been appropriate in that case.
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