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a minor point
Oct. 28th, 2008 12:14 pmReading an article on linguistics and the deterioration of regional dialects, I discovered the apparent 'fact' that the word "cupboard" is:
a) a Northeastern (specifically Western New England) dialect word, and
b) dying out in favour of "cabinet," which is identified as a primarily Southern dialect word in origin.
"Pail" (Northeastern) and "bucket" (Southern) are mentioned as a further example of the same thing.
I use all four words, with a preference for "cupboard" (I always SAY "cupboard," but I know what you mean if you say "cabinet") and "bucket" (actually, it seems to me that "pail" is a sort of subset of "bucket," although I couldn't really clearly define the difference; the small metal ones children play with in sandboxes or at beaches are always pails, and other examples of the genre vary by what they're being used for at the time). I had no idea that "cupboard" was a regionalism at all.
Weigh in on this for me?
Note: If you are like me and are aware of both words, but usually tend to use one or the other in your speech, please choose the one you use most often; only use the "both" option if you actually have no preference between them at all.
[Poll #1286741]
a) a Northeastern (specifically Western New England) dialect word, and
b) dying out in favour of "cabinet," which is identified as a primarily Southern dialect word in origin.
"Pail" (Northeastern) and "bucket" (Southern) are mentioned as a further example of the same thing.
I use all four words, with a preference for "cupboard" (I always SAY "cupboard," but I know what you mean if you say "cabinet") and "bucket" (actually, it seems to me that "pail" is a sort of subset of "bucket," although I couldn't really clearly define the difference; the small metal ones children play with in sandboxes or at beaches are always pails, and other examples of the genre vary by what they're being used for at the time). I had no idea that "cupboard" was a regionalism at all.
Weigh in on this for me?
Note: If you are like me and are aware of both words, but usually tend to use one or the other in your speech, please choose the one you use most often; only use the "both" option if you actually have no preference between them at all.
[Poll #1286741]
