Re: Slang, media images

Posted by ESC on March 27, 2003

In Reply to: I think it's a Brooklyn thing posted by Word Camel on March 27, 2003

: : : writing a sociology paper for movie "Donnie Brascoe"
: : : When did this phrase become common slang? Did it originate in New York?

: : Usually spelled phonetically "fuggeddaboutit". It's associated with New York-area Mafia types and wannabes. I never heard it until the late 1990's, which is when Donnie Brasco was released.

:
: It think it's simply how 'forget about it' sounds when said with a Brooklyn accent. People in other parts of the country say "forget about it" to indicate that no thanks is required too, but not perhaps so colourfully. It's more exaggerated in films for dramatic effect. Another one is "how ya doin'?"

Some Web sites about Italian American slang & media images:

http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa022801a.htm

A complaint to the National Public Radio ombudsman" ".Instead of listening to my complaints as a long time member of an NPR affiliate public radio station, you do another lame promotional piece on 'The Sopranos' by talking in this insulting fictional Italian-American slang 'How ya doing." Do you do stories on African Americans by imitating black slang?" http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman/021205.html

Italian American images in the media (including the Olive Garden commercial) -- http://www.usaweekend.com/02_issues/020915/020915italians.html

The Sopranos - Mobspeak: http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/wernick/mafiainsider/mobspeak.shtml