[aroid-l] Yanks

From: Ted.Held at hstna.com on 2004.02.03 at 18:55:17(11060) "Yank", of course being short for "Yankee". It originated as a Britishism in the American War of Independence, thought pejorative by the King's men but adopted as a badge of honor by the American side. In the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), or War Between the States as it is sometimes called by those south of the Mason-Dixon line, "Yankees" referred to the northern side. The southerners (certain white southerners), who were defeated in that war, then refrained from usage of the term "Yankee" for themselves, unless it was pejorative. Overseas we all are often called "Yanks", especially in British-influenced areas, without differentiating between the sides of the old Civil War divide. The Mason-Dixon line split has tended to fade in the past years, although remnants are still seen. A white southerner, even one with modern views on racial matters, still might not think of himself as a "Yank" or a "Yankee" unless he is outside the US. "Yankee" is often a pejorative name for an American in Latin America, especially among left wingers. It is a loaded term as you can see. Then there are the New York Yankees, an American baseball team with many sports rivalries, a dominant force in the game for decades. Some American sports aficionados, regardless of geographical latitude, think of the New York Yankees as a menacing force. As with all languages, I presume, it is the shadings of meanings that make all the difference. I am always amazed that we on this list manage to be understood as well as we are.

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