+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: dude

 
  1. #1
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    170
    Rep Power
    299

    Default dude

    Dude, as recently as four years ago I met a young person from Philadelphia who was utterly baffled with my Californian usage of the word "dude". Who around the U.S. or Canada does or does not use this word, and why?

  2. #2
    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Havana,Cuba
    Posts
    1,294
    Rep Power
    1899

    Default

    During my years as translator, I have never heard the word "dude" in any conversation, formal or not. Doing some further reading since your thread really got me interested I confirmed what I previously thought...

    dude is an address term that is used mostly by young men to address other young men; however, its use has expanded so that it is now used as a general address term for a group (same or mixed gender), and by and to women.
    Dude is developing into a discourse marker that need not identify an addressee, but more generally encodes the speaker’s stance to his or her current addressee(s). The term is used mainly in situations in which a speaker takes a stance of solidarity or camaraderie, but crucially in a nonchalant, not-too-enthusiastic manner.
    Dude indexes a stance of effortlessness (or laziness, depending on the perspective of the hearer), largely because of its origins in the “surfer” and “druggie” subcultures in which such stances are valued. The reason young men use this term is precisely that dude indexes this stance of cool solidarity.
    Such a stance is especially valuable for young men as they navigate cultural Discourses of young masculinity, which simultaneously demand masculine solidarity, strict heterosexuality, and non-conformity.
    Last edited by SandraT; 04-23-2007 at 02:04 PM.
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Argentina
    Posts
    390
    Rep Power
    431

    Default

    elmeromero,
    Over on the east coast we use "dude" but not very often and usually in a sarcastic way to make fun of surfers. the word "dude" usually brings to mind "fast times at ridgemont high".

  4. #4
    Forum User
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    51
    Rep Power
    226

    Default

    I use dude casually and it is used constantly in american movies and shows. I am born and raised (except for two years) in the Northeast US. I grew up in the 80's but maybe your young person is very young or is only exposed to one type of crowd. One example I could give you is Randy on American Idol. He uses dude very often and he is not a surfer.

  5. #5
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    170
    Rep Power
    299

    Default Thanks, SandraT

    Wow, SandraT, I had no idea the academic community had devoted so much energy to the word "dude". And thanks to you east coasters for your input. Now that you mention it, I have heard of Randy on American Idol saying "dude". Though I'm not saying I would ever watch that crap.

  6. #6
    Forum User
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    51
    Rep Power
    226

    Default

    I don't know why you have to insult other people's taste elmeromero - that's very adolescent of you.

  7. #7
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    170
    Rep Power
    299

    Default Is this a joke? If so, it's in the wrong category.

    "I don't know why you have to insult other people's taste elmeromero - that's very adolescent of you."

    I must be misunderstanding something here. Or did you really use the word "taste" in reference to American Idol? Isn't that the show where women are continually voted to remain in the competition on the basis of the fellatio they perform and not their singing skills (Antonella Barba)? Aren't the winners more often than not generally agreed to not be the best singers in the competition? Get a clue and lighten up.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    260
    Rep Power
    603

    Default

    Apoyo la opinión de elmeromero... (sin intención de provocar a nadie)

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    353
    Rep Power
    490

    Default Dude

    I guess that word is a typical American expression for I never heard it say in London...Am I right?

  10. #10
    Forum User
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    51
    Rep Power
    226

    Default

    Wow, elmeromero, you know so much about the show...

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •