Re: Is 'Yanks' felt to be insulting or derogatory?

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:44:37 +0200, nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (J. J.
Lodder) wrote:

tony cooper <tony_cooper213@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:53:26 +0200, nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (J. J.
Lodder) wrote:

In another discussion in another forum (be.history)
someone claimed that using '(the) Yanks'
to indicate Americans in general
is deliberately insulting,
(like the use of 'Jap' perhaps?)
or derogatory
(like the British usage of Frogs or Krauts)

BTW, to avoid misunderstandings:
in Europe 'Yankee' is used indiscriminately for all USonians.
The fact that some USonians would not consider themselves
to be Yankees is unknown or ignored.

This is often discussed in aue. Personally, I don't find "Yank" or
"Yankee" offensive in any way. However, I can recognize when it is
used disparagingly. The context or the tone determines the
offensiveness, not the word.

OK, thanks.

What do the USonians here think about it?

I don't think it's offensive, but "USonians" is a silly term.

But a very American one, though used rarely nowadays.
(outside alt.usage.english)
Frank Loyd Wright coined it,
John Dos Passos used it, among others.

You think that I should accept a term because Frank Lloyd Wright
coined it? I admire FLW's work, and I'm trying to schedule a short
road trip to Lakeland, Florida to Florida Southern University to see
the finally-completed fountain he included in his plans for the
university.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/26/america/NA-GEN-US-Wright-Fountain.php

I've been to two houses he designed in the Chicago area, toured
Florida Southern several years ago, and went to a showing of his plans
and sketches at the Guggenheim in NYC (which he designed). I also
enjoyed an exhibition of his furniture.

Great architect. Lousy word coiner.

--


Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL
.

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