When you're 'in'

I was a military brat. As I alluded to some posts back, I've been working on a "project" for the past few months. That project is me. I'm working to get back in shape... wait, there's an improper implication there. Let me rephrase. I'm working to get in shape so that I can enter the U.S. Navy's Officer Candidate School. Why? The reasons are numerous, obvious, personal and most importantly, not relevant to this post. So, about face!

We did a lot of moving around when I was a kid. I've done a lot of moving around as an adult. My father calls it the "family wanderlust." We just ache to see what's over the next hill, vista, horizon or corner. There are times when it is a terribly bothersome ache. I can already see that my little boy has it. He can't sit still for more than 15 seconds.

During all of this moving around, I (and my brother) were forced to become particularly adept at picking up the subtleties of each place that we lived. Those students of the social sciences call this field of study "ethnography". As the name implies, it is the study of a particular group, but it doesn't have to be based on race. I've read a fascinating (really!) ethnographic study on people who attend baseball games. They have their own "lingo" that is common to every major league field. Then they have their "local flavor."

You can see it on some of the cable special interest channels, particularly on shows on Food Network that try to determine which way of preparing pizza (New York "slice" or Chicago "deep dish"... I say both are winners, particularly if they're of the "free" and "hot" varieties) or toppings for hot dogs (who knew?).

I've also been fascinated with The History Channels' miniseries Ice Road Truckers. I only realized last night that it was because of the ethnographic slant on the entire show. In other words, you learn their lingo; how they use the jargon that is unique to their occupation.

We all do this to some degree. Twenty years ago, we geeks started really misapplying the language: "mouse" no longer referred to a rodent, "files" weren't manila, "monitor" was now a noun instead of a verb, etc. In musical pursuits, "fretting" was good, not bad. A "lug" was important, not annoying. A "gig" meant money in the bank, not a boat in the water.

The language is still dancing into new territory. Personally, the Angry Grammarian in me still cringes when I hear someone use a noun as a verb. As in, "Just 'Google' it." Argh. But is it worth losing sleep over? Nah. It's just a sign that our language is alive and well, adapting, growing and giving this time period its own "flavor."

Families do this too. Funny names we give each other, little phrases we say (often held over from "baby talk" days with kids) that indicate special meaning to us, but sound meaningless to others outside of our ethnographic circle.

Why is all of this especially important to me as a military brat? Learn the language and you're "in" -- you're accepted, you know what you're talking about. Is it pop, soda or a coke -- even if you're referring to a Dr Pepper? Are we going to the store, shop or grocers? Subtle, but little slips give away that "you ain't from 'round here."

So what about you? Ever come across funny, interesting, stupid regionalisms in language or interesting ethnographic circles? Share with the group please. That's the nice thing to do...

In other news: So I've applied to be an officer. I've been running. I've been doing boatloads of push ups and sit ups. I've been studying manuals. I've been trying to learn the lingo (or "gouge" as the Navy calls it). I've applied to be a Public Affairs Office ("PAO"). That's basically what I've been doing for the last 10 years. I'll be working with the same age groups. However, I'll give orders instead of advice. Important distinction.

Over and out.