Date: Wed, 2 Mar 1994 09:31:00 CST

From: Tom Murray TEM[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]KSUVM.BITNET

Subject: Re: Expert Witnesses (Florida); "Family"



I have two things to share with everyone: First, I've received a letter from a

Mr. Joel Charles, who does a lot of work with audio and video recordings for c

ourt trials. At one point in the letter, he wonders, "Is there any person in A

DS in these local areas, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, or Miami, who has th

e capability of testifying in court without falling all over his tongue and who

can influence a jury to believe him? If you know such a person or persons, I'

d like to have their names so that I can specifically name someone instead of j

ust saying, 'You need a linguist from a local college.' Any takers can reach M

r. Charles at 9951 N.W. 5th Place, Plantation, FL 33324 (305-370-7499). Second

, a colleague has asked whether I know anything about the origins of the word F

AMILY in the gay sense. I can't find it in any of my slang dictionaries, or in

any of the Among the New Words essays in AS, and I'm wondering if anyone has a

ny ideas I can pass along. My instincts tell me that this is a very recent coi

nage, maybe as late as 1990, and that it may be linked to Quayle's diatribe on

"family values"--but that's just a hunch. Can anybody help? Thanks in advanc

e.

Tom Murray

P.S.: To those people who have bitmailed me questions for the new PADS on sur

reptitious recording, thanks. The rest of you have till July 1!