posted
A "demonym" is a name for an inhabitant of a place. So "German" is the demonym of "Germany", "American" is the demonym of "United States", and "Londoner" is the demonym of "London". You get the idea.
In my quest to find out what people from Massachusetts are called, I stumbled across this page on Wikipedia. If you scroll down, you can find a list of demonyms for American states.
Some of them are fairly obvious (Alaskan, Californian), and some are really well known (Texan, New Yorker). But some of them were downright disappointing. Take Massachusetts. A person from Massachusetts is called a . . . "Bay Stater". Bay Stater? That's just pathetic. Same with "Hoosier" being the only demonym given for Indiana. Is that really the only form available? We can't say "Indianan"? Or "Indianian"? Must it be "Hoosier"--a word completely unrelated to the word "Indiana"?
The list is incomplete, to boot. Only thirty-five states are listed. Are there no words for an inhabitant of Colorado? Or Delaware? Or Kentucky? Or Missouri? Or any state whose name begins with "North" or "South"?
Also, I'm pretty sure people in Hawaii only use "Hawaiian" to refer to an ethnic Hawaiian. Other people there aren't called Hawaiians. I have no idea what they are called.
Anyway, my point, if I remember correctly, is that the demonyms for many American states are disappointing. They really should have come up with something better. I know "Massachusetts" doesn't lend itself well to an easy demonym, but the people of that state should have all federal funds cut off until they come up with something better than "Bay Stater". Same with Indiana.
And while we're at it, I hereby decree that from this day forward, New York City will be known simply as "New York", and New York State will be known as "New Yorkshire". That way we can stop saying "State" every time we want to refer to that state without the chuckleheads we're addressing automatically assuming we mean the city.
Posts: 1814 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Some states are easier than others. Texans for example. But now that I think of it, what are people Maine called? Mainers?
I never know if Michiganian or Michigander is right for my own state, though I tend to lean towards Michigander. I think it's interchangeable.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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And after spending several months on Long Island it started to sound as though they were referring to themselves as "Long Guy-landers."
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Southerners are not called "Unionists." That wiki is obviously riddled with damyankees and furriners.
Posts: 327 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Actually, people from Maine are called Mainers. Or more accurately, Main-uhs, ayup.
And as a Bay Stater, I find it perfectly acceptable. The state was founded from the descendants of the Massachusets Bay Colony. It's downright sophisticated, when compared to all the states that "lazily" add an "n" or "er" to the state name.
On a related note, I've been a 'Porter (my home town), a Baltimorian, and a Bostonian. What the heck do you call a person who is living in Poughkeepsie??? (Besides bored).
posted
Nah, that's a recent description, Elizabeth. Plus, I've found other areas to be much more of the sentiment implied by that demonym. We're really mostly smarmy.
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