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Ask-A-Linguist - Message details
Subject: Regionalisms related to aggressiveness
Question:
Dear Linguists,

In Gender in Canada, 3rd Edition, by Adie Nelson, an argument about how language is used to emphasize positive male aggressiveness and negative female aggressiveness states that the term ''Pissing Match'' has positive connotations, when used to describe an argument among men. I have not heard it used in a positive context in colloquial speech in western Canada, specifically Edmonton, Alberta, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Could it be that this is an eastern phenomena? Dr. Nelson works out of the University of Waterloo in south-central Canada.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,
Richard Engelhardt

Reply:
I can't speak for Canada, or for "eastern," but I can vouch for the fact that in my
area of the United States -- the Arkansas Ozarks -- "pissing match" does have
positive connotations when it refers to men arguing. And the same holds for the
"pissing contest" variant mentioned by my colleague.

Reply From: Suzette Haden Elgin    click here to access email
Date: Oct-12-2009
Other Replies:
  1. Re: Regionalisms related to aggressiveness Elizabeth J Pyatt    (Oct-13-2009)
  2. Re: Regionalisms related to aggressiveness Susan Fischer    (Oct-12-2009)
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Page Updated: 26-Nov-2009

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