Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier
While the American English demonym hoosier refers to Indiana residents, it means “poor, rural, white trash” in St. Louis, Missouri. This paper uses discourse analysis of several texts across a range of registers and formalities to explore why its use persists despite less-localized alternatives (re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Names |
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| Online Access: | http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2138 |
| _version_ | 1811219776886800384 |
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| author | Daniel Duncan |
| author_facet | Daniel Duncan |
| author_sort | Daniel Duncan |
| collection | DOAJ |
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While the American English demonym hoosier refers to Indiana residents, it means “poor, rural, white trash” in St. Louis, Missouri. This paper uses discourse analysis of several texts across a range of registers and formalities to explore why its use persists despite less-localized alternatives (redneck, etc.) and why it has become enregistered as a feature of the local dialect. Findings show hoosier is used to police the behavior of the target. Unlike similar slurs, its use requires knowledge of St. Louis’ social geography. Hoosier allows speakers to demonstrate localness while positioning themselves and St. Louis as cosmopolitan compared to the derided target. As such, hoosier asserts positive values for St. Louisans who use it.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:31:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccdadfefd2174cc28c4fc70e707c230e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0027-7738 1756-2279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:31:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Names |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccdadfefd2174cc28c4fc70e707c230e2022-12-22T03:42:04ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghNames0027-77381756-22792018-01-0166110.1080/00277738.2017.1344460Understanding St. Louis’ Love for HoosierDaniel Duncan While the American English demonym hoosier refers to Indiana residents, it means “poor, rural, white trash” in St. Louis, Missouri. This paper uses discourse analysis of several texts across a range of registers and formalities to explore why its use persists despite less-localized alternatives (redneck, etc.) and why it has become enregistered as a feature of the local dialect. Findings show hoosier is used to police the behavior of the target. Unlike similar slurs, its use requires knowledge of St. Louis’ social geography. Hoosier allows speakers to demonstrate localness while positioning themselves and St. Louis as cosmopolitan compared to the derided target. As such, hoosier asserts positive values for St. Louisans who use it. http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2138Restaurant namesAmerican Chinese restaurantstransliterated hanzifood onomastics |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Duncan Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier Names Restaurant names American Chinese restaurants transliterated hanzi food onomastics |
| title | Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier |
| title_full | Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier |
| title_fullStr | Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier |
| title_short | Understanding St. Louis’ Love for Hoosier |
| title_sort | understanding st louis love for hoosier |
| topic | Restaurant names American Chinese restaurants transliterated hanzi food onomastics |
| url | http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2138 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielduncan understandingstlouisloveforhoosier |