Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 09:06:52 -0400

From: "Dennis R. Preston" preston[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PILOT.MSU.EDU

Subject: Re: "Ami"



I find it somewhat odd that Jason Wilke keeps trying to convince us that a

term (in this case German 'Ami' for 'American') lacks any negative

connotations by emphasizing the degree of trust, closeness, and friendship

that exists between him and those who use this term on him. For me, that is

a pretty good sign that it probably does have negative connotations.

Only my best freinds (in fact, usually only other Hungarians) ever call me

a Hunkey.

This is surely a commonplace in slurs of all sorts.



Dennis Preston



I'm not sure how long ago you were in Austria, but I know I was in grade

school during the LA Olympics.



My friends used this term freely in front of me. Not just the people

with whom I shared a dorm, but friends that I've known for YEARS --

people that I would trust my life to. It was also used by/with

"intimate" friends (sometimes during times of intimacy).



The LA Olympics were a long time ago. They were before the wall fell ...

and before that perspective fell. The world is at peace now. Don't try to

turn it back to what it was.

Jason Wilke



Dennis R. Preston

Department of Linguistics and Languages

Michigan State University

East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA

preston[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]pilot.msu.edu

Office: (517)432-1235

Fax: (517)432-2736