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{{Short description|Pejorative epithet in Newfoundland English}}
In ], a '''skeet''' is a ] and ] epithet in ], ], describing lower class youth, "uneducated, aggressive and unruly", of low education, often wearing sportswear, and associated with loitering, non-standard English language, drug and alcohol use, and petty crime.<ref>. Kelly Best, Memorial University, ''Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, Volume 22, Number 1 (2007) </ref> The term is similar to the English ] or American ]<ref>. Gregory Pike, '']'', August 7 2012</ref><ref name="Clarke2010">{{cite book|author=Sandra Clarke|title=Newfoundland and Labrador English|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=moDVp5TTpgcC&pg=PA151|year=2010|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0-7486-2617-5|pages=151–}}</ref> or ].<ref name="Sporting">''''{{deadlink|date=July 2014}}. Elliott Barrett, Sporting Life 360, May 15, 2007</ref> Sandra Clarke suggests the term may be related to the ] word ''skite'' (a young scoundrel).<ref name="Clarke2010"/>
The noun '''skeet''' in ] is considered to be a ] ]. Though it has never been formally defined in the ], it is used as a ] to describe someone who is ignorant, aggressive, and unruly, with a pattern of ] use of ], drug and alcohol use, and who is involved in petty crime, very similar to the word "]" used in the UK.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Pierce|first=Leslie|date=2006|title='Not the Cream of the Crop': Using the Word Skeet as Vernacular Speech in Newfoundland|journal=FSAC}}</ref>


From this noun, the adjective "skeety" is derived.


==References== == History ==
The origin of this use of skeet is unknown.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Skeet|url=http://www.dchp.ca/dchp2/Entries/view/skeet|access-date=2020-06-26|website=A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles}}</ref> However, it is possible that it is a new use of an old word, coming out of the use of skeet as 'rascal'.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Clarke|first=Sandra|title=Newfoundland and Labrador English|publisher=Edinburgh University Press Ltd.|year=2010|pages=151|chapter=Language attitudes and language change}}</ref> There have been some who theorize that the use of the word skeet is linked to the townie versus bayman divide in ] and how it speaks to class, education, and use of vernacular ].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Clarke|first1=Sandra|last2=Hiscock|first2=Philip|date=2009|title=Hip-hop in a Post-insular Community: Hybridity, Local Language, and Authenticity in an Online Newfoundland Rap Group|journal=Journal of English Linguistics|volume=37| issue=3 |pages=241–261|doi=10.1177/0075424209340313| s2cid=145630214 }}</ref>
⚫ {{reflist}}

== Use as pejorative ==
Skeet has been called a pan-provincial slur against rural life.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Best|first=Kelly|date=2007|title=Hip-hop on the East Side: A Multi-sited Ethnography of Breakdancing and Rap Music from St. John's and Grand Falls, Newfoundland.|journal=Newfoundland and Labrador Studies|volume=22| issue=1 |pages=315–334}}</ref> It is linked to stereotypes of those living in ] communities: the use of vernacular Newfoundland English, living in economically poor areas, and to lower levels of education.<ref name=":0" /> Though vernacular use of English is on the decline in Newfoundland and Labrador,<ref name=":1" /> those that continue to speak using non-standard forms of English are often stereotyped as uneducated fishermen from Newfoundland outports.<ref name=":2" />

Skeets are characterised as rough around the edges, unintelligent, poorly dressed, and poorly spoken.<ref name=":0" /> However, of equal importance is the skeets' connection to petty crime, and drug and alcohol use.<ref name=":3" /> Skeet stereotype is linked to those living in economically poor areas and lower levels of education.<ref name=":2" /> The stigma of being from a lower income area, or dropping out of school is associated with being a skeet, and it is unlikely that an educated or professional person would be associated with the term unless it was used in jest.<ref name=":0" />

Phillip Hiscock, associate professor of folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland has said that using the word skeet says more about the person using it than the person being referred to.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016|title=Why don't skeets know they're skeets?|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/why-dont-skeets-know-theyre-skeets-1.3758774}}</ref> He also claims it is more a reflection of modern post-capitalism culture than a true identity.<ref>{{Cite news|last=MacDonald-Dupuis|first=Natasha|date=2015|title=Electronic Music Promoters in Newfoundland Are Trying to Keep "Skeets" Away By Throwing Safer Events|work=VICE|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/4x8wad/electronic-music-promoters-in-newfoundland-are-trying-to-keep-skeets-away-by-throwing-safer-events}}</ref>

This use of skeet is virtually unknown outside of the province, though people displaying the same characteristics may be referred to as ] or ] in some areas of ] and the ], ] in the ], ] in ], or skanger in ].<ref name=":2" /> Sandra Clarke suggests there could be a connection between skeet and ]'s skite.<ref name=":1" />

== Pop culture ==
Bands like ], a ] group from Airport Heights, ], Newfoundland and Labrador, play on some of the stereotypes of skeet, incorporating it into their music and parody the skeet stereotype.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Coupland|first=Nikolas|date=2009|title=The Mediated Performance of Vernaculars|journal=Journal of English Linguistics|volume=37| issue=3 |pages=284–300| doi=10.1177/0075424209341188 | s2cid=144381910 |via=SAGE Publications}}</ref>

Some local Newfoundland and Labrador companies have begun to use the word on some of their products.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=SKEET Slouchy Beanie|url=https://saltwaterdesignsnl.com/collections/newfoundland-collection/products/skeet-slouchy-beanie|website=Saltwater Designs NL}}</ref>

Depictions of "skeet" characters in entertainment have included the television series '']'', and the theatrical feature films '']'' and '']''.


==See also== ==See also==
* ], a Newfoundland rap group with skeet cultural references *], a Newfoundland rap group with skeet cultural references
*]
*]

==References==
⚫ {{reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* ''''. Leslie Pierce, Folklore Department, ], 2006. * ''‘Not the Cream of the Crop': Using the Word 'Skeet' as Vernacular Speech in Newfoundland ''. Leslie Pierce, Folklore Department, ], 2006.
* ''''. '']'', 4 January 2012 * ''Best of St John's: Best of Local Slang''. '']'', 4 January 2012
* '''' Sandra Clarke, '']'', 2007 * '''' Sandra Clarke, '']'', 2007


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Latest revision as of 19:57, 6 December 2024

Pejorative epithet in Newfoundland English

The noun skeet in Newfoundland and Labrador English is considered to be a pejorative epithet. Though it has never been formally defined in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, it is used as a stereotype to describe someone who is ignorant, aggressive, and unruly, with a pattern of vernacular use of English, drug and alcohol use, and who is involved in petty crime, very similar to the word "chav" used in the UK.

From this noun, the adjective "skeety" is derived.

History

The origin of this use of skeet is unknown. However, it is possible that it is a new use of an old word, coming out of the use of skeet as 'rascal'. There have been some who theorize that the use of the word skeet is linked to the townie versus bayman divide in Newfoundland and Labrador and how it speaks to class, education, and use of vernacular Newfoundland English.

Use as pejorative

Skeet has been called a pan-provincial slur against rural life. It is linked to stereotypes of those living in outport communities: the use of vernacular Newfoundland English, living in economically poor areas, and to lower levels of education. Though vernacular use of English is on the decline in Newfoundland and Labrador, those that continue to speak using non-standard forms of English are often stereotyped as uneducated fishermen from Newfoundland outports.

Skeets are characterised as rough around the edges, unintelligent, poorly dressed, and poorly spoken. However, of equal importance is the skeets' connection to petty crime, and drug and alcohol use. Skeet stereotype is linked to those living in economically poor areas and lower levels of education. The stigma of being from a lower income area, or dropping out of school is associated with being a skeet, and it is unlikely that an educated or professional person would be associated with the term unless it was used in jest.

Phillip Hiscock, associate professor of folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland has said that using the word skeet says more about the person using it than the person being referred to. He also claims it is more a reflection of modern post-capitalism culture than a true identity.

This use of skeet is virtually unknown outside of the province, though people displaying the same characteristics may be referred to as white trash or trailer trash in some areas of Canada and the United States, chav in the United Kingdom, spide in Northern Ireland, or skanger in Ireland. Sandra Clarke suggests there could be a connection between skeet and Prince Edward Island's skite.

Pop culture

Bands like Gazeebow Unit, a hip-hop group from Airport Heights, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, play on some of the stereotypes of skeet, incorporating it into their music and parody the skeet stereotype.

Some local Newfoundland and Labrador companies have begun to use the word on some of their products.

Depictions of "skeet" characters in entertainment have included the television series Little Dog, and the theatrical feature films How to Be Deadly and Skeet.

See also

References

  1. ^ Pierce, Leslie (2006). "'Not the Cream of the Crop': Using the Word Skeet as Vernacular Speech in Newfoundland". FSAC.
  2. "Skeet". A Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  3. ^ Clarke, Sandra (2010). "Language attitudes and language change". Newfoundland and Labrador English. Edinburgh University Press Ltd. p. 151.
  4. ^ Clarke, Sandra; Hiscock, Philip (2009). "Hip-hop in a Post-insular Community: Hybridity, Local Language, and Authenticity in an Online Newfoundland Rap Group". Journal of English Linguistics. 37 (3): 241–261. doi:10.1177/0075424209340313. S2CID 145630214.
  5. ^ Best, Kelly (2007). "Hip-hop on the East Side: A Multi-sited Ethnography of Breakdancing and Rap Music from St. John's and Grand Falls, Newfoundland". Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. 22 (1): 315–334.
  6. "Why don't skeets know they're skeets?". CBC News. 2016.
  7. MacDonald-Dupuis, Natasha (2015). "Electronic Music Promoters in Newfoundland Are Trying to Keep "Skeets" Away By Throwing Safer Events". VICE.
  8. Coupland, Nikolas (2009). "The Mediated Performance of Vernaculars". Journal of English Linguistics. 37 (3): 284–300. doi:10.1177/0075424209341188. S2CID 144381910 – via SAGE Publications.
  9. "SKEET Slouchy Beanie". Saltwater Designs NL. 2020.

Further reading

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