Monthly Archives: January 2011

Game – USA

Nationality: Scottish, Irish, Italian, Swiss, German
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: March 9, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“The ‘Chuck, Fuck, and Mary game.’ Okay. Basically, you have to name three people, and they can be anybody, like friends, some of my friends choose teachers and whatever, to give to someone else as choices.  And the other person has to choose among those three. So, one of them has to be ‘Chuck,’ and ‘Chuck’ is like someone you would eliminate. Like you wouldn’t fuck or marry them. It’s usually the person you can’t stand. And ‘Fuck’ is somebody you would sleep with, no strings attached. And ‘Marry’ is well, obviously, you would marry the person. It’s all kind of relative, because you wouldn’t necessarily do any of that really in real life, but it’s the most preferable order.”

Katherine said that her friend, Lauren, taught her this game not too long ago, while they were catching up on college experiences. Katherine went to high school with Lauren in Los Angeles, and considers her a relatively close friend. They were having a conversation about college in general and their experiences in co-ed living. Eventually, they started talking about how people rank each other based on attractiveness and how everyone in co-ed living makes it a point to notice who is attractive. As a result of this perceived pattern, Lauren brought up this game as a related topic.

Later on, Katherine would teach this game to my roommate and I, which became a cause of a lot of laughter. She taught it to us because she thought it was a random and amusing game that could pass the time. Katherine said that it was probably most appropriate in a social setting with friends who are familiar with each other and each person’s social networks, because then the game would take on a lot more significance. However, the game can also be played with strangers or among people who are not as close. The choices would then have to be celebrities, so that everyone could participate. An example of when to play this game would probably be during a party or a small get together. Katherine said that it is best played with only people in the same social circles, because the answers are “obviously funny and nobody would get offended because it’s just a joke.”

Katherine says this game is just a fun way to pass the time and was probably created by a couple of high school or college friends hanging around. She does not typically get offended and takes all answers with a grain of salt. Katherine finds it especially funny to predict what other people will say and considers it a silly method to get to know someone better. However, she also gives a caveat against playing this game with a new significant other, because the game might cause some unnecessary tensions and/or drama.

I agree with Katherine in that the game was probably created by young adults entering a period in their life when exterior looks play a very important role in their social lives. It toys with a question that crosses everyone’s mind at one point or another, but because it is in a game format, the topic becomes easier to bring up. On the surface, the game is a lighthearted way of getting to know someone. Each individual’s choices in a given scenario reveal a lot about that person and their values. At the same time, I think that the game also plays on the insecurities about physical appearance and behaviors common during that age. Because acceptance is so important during this age, the game serves a sort of outlet to mock the system of superficialities.

Folk Speech – USA

Nationality: African-American, Irish, Italian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Louisville, KY
Performance Date: April 5, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“I know when I’m at home when I ask for coke and it means any kind of soft drink. It’s like a saying. For example, if you’d have a conversation like,

‘What would you like to drink?’

‘Oh, coke.’

‘Oh what kind of coke?’

It would be totally normal.”

According to Joe, having a “coke” to drink in the South is equal to getting any kind of soft drink. Instead of strictly referring to Pepsi or Coca Cola, “coke” in the South can mean anything from Sprite to Dr. Pepper. Joe said that he learned the multiple meanings of coke growing up in the South. He claimed that everyone from his area understood that “coke” is an umbrella term meant to be inclusive of all soft drinks. It is the accepted term whenever one needs to order or ask for a drink. The majority of residents in the South across all demographics use this term. In fact, asking for a “coke” is actually a more appropriate way of getting the drink of your choice in the South than asking for a fountain drink. Joe said that the term could be used when ordering drinks at restaurants or simply asking a friend for a beverage at their house.

Joe did not think anything of it until he moved out to California for college. He did not even notice that there was a difference in meaning until he went to a restaurant and asked for coke, where the server did not question selection and actually gave him a coke. He said that in the South, few people ever ask for a ‘soft drink’ or a ‘fountain drink.’ “Coke’s” multiple meanings are supposed to be understood by everyone.

The reason behind expanding the meaning of “coke” is probably one with self-serving intentions. Joe said that he believes that it is because Coca-Cola was first sold in Atlanta, Georgia. He attributes the far-reaching spread of this term as a product of common identification of residents living in the South. Thus, the accomplishments of Georgia are the accomplishments of the whole southern region. He feels like “southerners are really into their own stuff,” and therefore pride in celebrating all things related to them.

I think that the term “coke” in this context is probably the result of a successful marketing ploy from the past that has gradually made its way into common lingo as time has passed. Coca-Cola is arguably one of the largest corporations in the world, holding a huge influence over American culture through its advertising strategies. The company is often credited with inventing the modern image of Santa Clause, a portly old grandfather clad in a red suit. Considering their achievements in generating publicity, I would not consider it shocking if it had been their idea to transform the word “coke” into an equivalent of all soft drinks. If southerners really are as proud as Joe claims, it would not be very difficult to convince the general population of the area to adopt the term.

Using “coke” as a reference to all soft drinks has not caught on outside of the “South” probably because of a longer history and familiarity with the company than the rest of the nation. Perhaps by the time that Coca-Cola gained much of its prominence in other areas, rival companies already had competitive shares of the market in the other parts of the United States.

Folk Speech – USA

Nationality: African-American, Irish, Italian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Louisville, KY
Performance Date: April 5, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“Saving the dishes.”

“Saving the dishes,” means to put dishes away in the cupboard after washing and drying them. It is a phrase commonly used in southern Louisiana and is the equivalent to putting away the dishes. It implies more of the actual action of placing the dishes in the cupboard than the literal meaning. “Saving the dishes” does not mean that the dishes are in danger, but that they must be neatly put away so that they can be used later. Although not a commonly heard or used phrase outside of Louisiana, Joe said that most inhabitants of the area would understand what is meant.

Joe told me that his mother told him about this phrase a couple of years ago. He remembers that they were having a conversation at a Vietnamese restaurant about various kinds of speech that they found strange. She told him that a lot of people from the South liked to say this phrase. His mother is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a child whenever she would wash the dishes and put them away, her family would call that action “saving the dishes.” However, Joe’s mother disapproves of using that phrase because he calls her a “really proper newslady,” who prefers to use proper English. She considers it a very backward phrase to use and does not encourage Joe to use it either.

The phrase is used in place of saying, “putting away the dishes.” In fact, Joe’s grandmother always replaces “putting away the dishes” with “saving the dishes.” Generally, the phrase is used by the older generation from the South. However, it would be appropriate for both adults and children to use this phrase. Joe said a good example of when to use this phrase would be when one is done washing and drying the dishes and about to put away all the dinnerware. One could say that they are “saving the dishes” for another time.

Although, Joe himself does not use this phrase himself, he thinks that it is an interesting way to translate actions into words. He said that he would not recognize the true meaning of the phrase without a little bit of thought. When he first heard of “saving the dishes,” he could not fathom the meaning behind the phrase, probably because he is from Kentucky.

Besides his brief encounters with the phrase and the stories about his grandmother from his mother, Joe has no detailed background knowledge of its meaning. He assumes that the phrase probably originated from when African-Americans were still relatively marginalized. The dishes were presumed to be the nicest things they owned and were extremely valuable to them. Thus, the need to “save” them for the best occasions might be a common practice.

Joe’s interpretation of the phrase is probably on the right track. Since Louisiana is known for their different ways of speaking, also known as Cajun English, it is understandable that they would have their own phrases. The area has been influenced by many different cultures, such as the French and the Spanish. Also the area is densely populated with African-Americans who probably did value dishes. But considering the multiple meanings of save, I am not surprised that the word was chosen in place of putting away. According to Oxford American Dictionary, the word “save” can mean to keep safe or rescue or to keep and store up. A century ago (if the phrase has been around that long), dishes might really have been in danger of being broken and ruined, and the phrase might have actually used the first definition. However, in present-day, I think that the phrase has evolved to operate based more on the second definition.

Festival – USA

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 30
Occupation: Editor
Residence: Newport Beach, CA
Performance Date: April 10, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“The Renaissance Fair is this fair that’s put on every year usually out in the country. It’s just a big fair where people pretend that they are in the Medieval Era. Let’s see. All I usually do there is drink. But some people. You can sit and watch plays. And they have magicians and stuff like that. Bring people up on stage. They have blacksmiths where you can buy swords. Way, way overpriced. Everything there is overpriced. You can chop trees (Well, big logs that are already chopped.) with big huge axes. They have a strong man competition, and jousting, and arena sports, where there’s guys with a big spike ball and chains. People that go there are all dressed up like knights and kings and queens and squires. It’s fun. Mmm… there’s a bunch of different stages where people are singing old, old songs. There’s just a lot of games and shops and things like that. It’s funny. There’s food vendors where you can get popcorn chicken and fries, and others where they try to make it authentic with skewers roasting and stuff like that. Overall, you know, it’s just a lot of fun.”

The first time Benjamin heard about a Renaissance Fair was when he was 17, while still in high school. He remembers because he was working at a bagel shop, when a promoter for the fair entered dressed up like a knight. The promoter was selling discount packets for about ten dollars and he remembered thinking that the promoter was the craziest person for dressing up. He didn’t have any money then, so it was not until three years after that he finally went. When he was about 20, he drove with his girlfriend to San Bernardino to attend one. He said that his first experience was not as fun. He was kind of bored, because he said that one needs to have the money to spend to make going worthwhile.

Since then, Benjamin has gone to the Renaissance fair about five times. He said that each time is a different experience, especially since three out of the five times he went, he went when he was in the U.S. Navy. He said those times were a lot more money and times when he spent more than he should have.

Benjamin said that the Renaissance Fair travels around the country and arrives depending on the type of weather in the area. For example, in Chicago, they usually hold them in early Fall, because its too cold in the winter on and too hot in the summer. When they arrive, they send out promoters to advertise their presence to draw large crowds.  They stay for a couple of weeks to a month and are usually open all day. Benjamin advises people to go early and stay late in order to take advantage of the whole experience.

Benjamin cites that the reason behind the popularity of Renaissance Fair is because there are a lot of “dorks everywhere that wish they were knights.” He said that usually the people that go are the types that play a log of Dungeons and Dragons, who go to meet people who also wish they were born in that time. However, he forgets to mention that he has attended these fairs quite a few times himself. He may not fit these stereotypes, yet there is still something draws him back there time and time again. He said that it is a good way to experience somewhat the culture during the English Renaissance period, despite missing aspects of realism.

I think that there are more reasons behind having a Renaissance Fair than Benjamin thinks. Not only is it a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon, but it is also a way for people (mainly European descendents) to get in touch with their roots. The Renaissance Fair is a good example of Hans Moser’s “folklorismus,” or seemingly genuine folklore not placed in the right context. The Renaissance Fair tries its best to create a sense of realism, but also realizes that it must cater to modern constraints (Hence, the popcorn chicken being sold right next to the pork skewers.). Like tourist attractions, the Renaissance Fair is its own sort of folklore and caters more to the native people, which in this case would be those who have been far removed from their roots, than to people who are unrelated to the whole culture.

Proverb – USA

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 30
Occupation: Editor
Residence: Newport Beach, CA
Performance Date: April 10, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“Strap before you tap.”

Benjamin learned this proverb while he was in the U.S. Navy from his captain out at sea. Usually, the boat would be out at sea for about six months straight, with only a three to eight days in between every couple of weeks at port. Docking was a valued time off the ship, where many of the men could find female company they had been lacking on board. Right before the ship is about to port into a foreign country, the captain would deliver port briefs, which were basic rules and regulations. Benjamin said, “He would tell us the ‘do’s and don’ts’. Like ‘don’ts’ would be, ‘don’t piss off the locals, don’t act like an idiot and get drunk and get arrested. ‘Do’s’ would be like go have a good time. Join tours and enjoy yourself.” The captain would also reiterate the phrase, “strap before you tap,” during these briefs. As sort of a ritual to reinforce the message, the sailors on watch would have a big basket of condoms right before people exited the ship.

Benjamin said that the proverb means exactly what it sounds like. “Wear your condoms before doing anything stupid.” He believes the proverb to actually be a very good recommendation. He said that in foreign countries, especially places like Australia, following this simple piece of advice could save a lot of future headaches. “As you can imagine, STD’s aren’t too treatable when you’re on an aircraft carrier,” he said. It also keeps the medical departments from getting too busy. Due to the limited medical abilities on board, sexually transmitted diseases are difficult to treat.

The proverb simply means to put on a condom before having sex. It is a short quip warning the sailors of the dangers of having sexual relations in familiar territory with unfamiliar people. It is generally understood fact amongst the crew that most sailors heading to shore will be engaging in sexual activities, so the captain makes a preemptive attack on the trend, since he knows it will happen, and issues a warning to prevent possible health problems in the future.

The phrase is a direct reflection of the stereotypical idea that carnal desires take over men when they have not been in contact with the opposite sex for a long period of time. Although the proverb may not be applicable to everyone, it is targeted towards the sailors who will be prone to falling under this stereotype. Especially in the military, the captain uses this proverb probably to make fun of this accepted idea, as well as to warn the sailors.

I think that this proverb can probably be applied to everyone, not just to the Navy. It is solid advice for all men who participate in loose sexual relationships. However, it takes on special significance when told to those affiliated with the military. Because the military is mostly made up of men, the proverb targets that specific gender audience. Although it can also apply to women in the general meaning, it does not work directly. Women can’t “strap” a condom before having sex. The advice would be more about having safe sex.

Especially because the military breeds aggression and capitalizes on masculinity, the exact words used are very appropriate. The proverb draws on the understanding of slang in the group. “Strap” is equivalent to putting on a condom, while “tap” means to have sex. These words are a more vulgar way of warning men. By rhyming, the captain makes the advice easier to remember, and as a result, more likely to be spread.