Monthly Archives: May 2016

The Foco Challenge

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1. Title: The Foco Challenge

2. Informant Information:

Kyra Maxwell was born and raised in Washington D.C. She is studying Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Computer Science as a sophomore at Dartmouth College. Her favorite place to eat on campus is KAF, and she can often be found in Baker Lobby with 2-3 empty KAF cups strewn about.

3. Type of Lore (Genre and Sub-genre): Customary Lore, tradition

4. Language: English

5. Country of Origin: Hanover, New Hampshire, United States

6. Social/Cultural Context:

The Class of ’53 Commons, more informally known to the student body as “Foco,” is the main, all-you-can-eat dining hall on campus. It is known for being very “facetimey,” a Dartmouth slang word for someone or somewhere that is very social. For this reason, many people go to Foco just to socialize with friends and make small talk with acquaintances.

7. Associated File: Audio:

8. Transcript:

“The Foco challenge is this really cool tradition that we have at Dartmouth. It’s one of the less well-known ones, but me, I’ve actually seen someone do it! Basically there are a lot of organizations on campus such as Greek houses that have certain events every term where you need to invite a date, like semi and formal. The Foco Challenge is when you go to the dark side of Foco, stand on a table and get everyone’s attention, and then ask the whole crowd if anyone wants to go to your event with you.”

9. Informant’s Comments:

“It takes a lot of guts to do the Foco Challenge, I don’t think I would ever be able to do it. But the time I saw it happen, everyone in the crowd was really supportive and excited, and a random person agreed to go!”

10. Collector’s Comments: 

I have also seen the Foco Challenge completed, and as Kyra said, the crowd was very supportive and enthusiastic. In my opinion, the fact that people feel comfortable enough to perform such a bold act highlights the community that is formed by these dining facilities.

11. Tags/Keywords: Foco, challenge

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Yat

Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang

English

United States of America

Context: a term to describe a New Orleans Accent, also used to describe native New Orleanians, especially those from St. Bernard parish. derives from the Phrase “Where Y’at?”

Transcript:

“The people that live in ‘The Parish’ are commonly referred to as ‘yats’ people calld yats are native New  Orleanieans, Usually more blue collar Neighborhoods and  the term derives from  ‘Where Y’at’- Wjere are you going; what are you doing; ‘Where Y’at.’”

Collectors Commentary: (are there other informants for this?)

Key words: Yat, where Y’at?, St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans, accent

 

“Who Dat”

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Who Dat

Informant:Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang, chants, cheers

English

United States of America

Context: a phrase used by Saints (The New Orleans Football team) fans and often used to describe those same fans

Transcript:

“‘who dat’  are saints fans  the cheer is ‘who dat say dey gonna beat dem saints’”

 

Informant: Erin Fell, age 21, New Orleans, LA. Collected on May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Transcript: “Next, “Who Dat?” That is the, uh, rallying cry of (New Orleans) Saints fans everywhere. It comes from “who is that” or “who is that that says they can beat the Saints?” Right so the chant goes Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints?”

 

Collectors commentary:

Keywords: Who Dat, Saints, Football, New Orleans

“Where Y’at”

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Where Y’at?

Informant: Brian Flint, age 23, Metairie, LA. Collected on May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang

English

United States of America

Context- a phrase which means both where are you going/ where are you and how are you doing?

Transcript:

“ The next one is the Expression ‘Where y’at?’ that’s ‘where Y-‘-A-T ‘ as in ‘where are you?’ and it evolved more from a expression for where your location is to  how you are doing as a person and it’s so prevalent that the term ‘Yat’ became synonymous with a New Orleans Accent. Even more so, there is a Christmas album called the twelve yats of Christmas which are indicative of – it’s a parody of the twelve nights of Christmas. It’s a popular cd around.”

Collectors commentary: The phrase is slang because it is a common phrase that has developed into a new orleans slang word because of the accent in the region and a tendancy of exxagerating interesting characteristics, like accents, when pronouncing words. It is unique to new orleans because it is a product of the New Orleans accent. See Yat for more on the accent and the people who have the accent.

Keywords: Where y’at?, how are you?, New Orleans

“Throws”

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Throws

Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk speech, slang- associated material Lore

English

United States of America

Context:the objects thrown to spectators at New Orleans parades

Transcript:

“ New Orleanians are crazy about their parades,  the parade participants throw items to the spectators these items are called ‘throws.’”

 

Informant: Erin Fell, age 21, New Orleans, LA. Collected on May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Transcript: The next up is “throws.” These are um, the trinkets that can be thrown during a Mardi Gras parade. They could be stuffed animals. They could be sparkly shoes, in the case of the Muses parade. For example, the throws tonight at Baccus were amazing.

collectors commentary:

Key words: Mardi Gras, New Orleans, throws, beads, doubloons, go cups

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The Parish

Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: Folk Speech, slang

English

United States of America

Context: St. Bernard Parish

Transcript:

“and ‘The Parish’ usually refers to St. Bernard parish.”

Collectors commentary: This is afurther bit of folkspeech tha tis very much dependent on the geographical markers that are parishes, which are unique to Louisiana. It is unique to new orleans slang because is is specifically referring to a different parish from Orleans parish (where the city is actually located) and is connected instead to part of the new orleans metropolitan area, specifically a region where many of the blue collar workers live. The oral tradition of the transmission of the slang may be stronger in this particular parish becaiusethere tends to be less higher education and emphasis on literature and literary culture, which would allow for much easier transmission of folk lore and folk speech.

Keywords: The Parish, St. Bernard parish, Orleans parish, New Orleans

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The Interstate

Informant: Caitlin Flint, age 21, Metairie, LA. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: Folk Speech, slang

English

United States of America

context: Interstate 10, which runs east-west across the Southers United States and is the only interstate to run through the actual city of New Orleans

Transcript:

“ The next bit of slang is a little but different, it is more of a phrasing thing. Calling it ‘the interstate’. In  New Orleans there is one interstate that runs through the city , it is  Interstate 10, it runs east- west across the southern United states from Florida to Texas. It bisects the city, pretty completely, and because it is the only actual interstate in New Orleans, it is referred to as ‘the interstate.’ This is one particular thing that I have noted while I have been away from New Orleans. I don’t refer to it as interstate 10 particularly often, I have always called it ‘the interstate’, and whenever I say that to my out of town friends, the majority of them are entirely confused, because they are from places where there are multiple interstates and that it makes much more sense to  refer to it by the route name.  so this is just one particular quirks about the city. Using it in a sentence would be something along the lines of, ‘ Oh, do you live on the north side or the south side of the interstate.’ And that would be about it.”

Collectors commentary: This slang is uniqie to New Orleans because it is dependent on the geographical feature that is Interstate 10.

Keywords: The Interstate, interstate, I10, New Orleans

“Snowball”

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Snowball

Infromant: Brian Flint, age 23, Metairie, LA. Collected on May 22, 2016 and recorded on an iphone

Verbal Lore: Folk Speech, slang- associated: material, food lore

English

United States of America

Context: a sweet treat made with finely shaved ice and sugary syrup served in a cup and popular in the summer, very similar to a snow cone

Transcript:

Infromant: Erin Fell, age 21, New Orleans,LA. colleceted on May 22, 2016 and recorded on an iphone.

Transcript:

Next is “Snowball”, not the snowball that use in a snowball fight, but um, shaved ice. You put um, flavored syrups on top. It is a staple during the summer time.

Collectors Commentary:

Keywords: Snowball, New Orleans, shaved Ice, syrup, snow cone

“Stand in the Wedding”

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Stand in the Wedding

Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.

Verbal Lore: folk Speech, slang

English

United States of America

context: to be a member of a wedding party.

Transcript:

“If you ae going to be in a wedding party, you ‘Stand in the wedding.’

Collectors commentary: The origins of this term are unclear, but it only seems to exist in New orleans and the surrounding areas, as such, it is a slang phrase that is unique to NO and has been included in this list.

Keywords: New Orleans, stand in a wedding, wedding, wedding party