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#132922 09/15/04 06:16 PM
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Thanks WW. That was the perfect recap for Jackie. It is rather sad what happens to Boo.


#132923 09/15/04 06:41 PM
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Interesting word, pariah. One of a handful of Tamil origin: < paRaiyan 'untouchable' < paRai 'a kind of drum'.


#132924 09/15/04 09:52 PM
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Yes, jheem! I had read numerous comments in the archives here about pariahs and drums--and I wondered whether the player of the drum in some locations in India (once upon a time) had been the untouchables. If so, that would be supremely ironic: an untouchable who is partly defined by what he touches. But I don't have enough information. Do you?


#132925 09/15/04 09:57 PM
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But I don't have enough information. Do you?

I checked with a Tamil-speaking friend after having looked up the etymology. I asked him what paRai meant. At first he said it was like a royal herald, but then when I asked about drums, he mentioned that, yes, the guy had a drum. That's all I know for now. I'll be checking in my Dravidian etymological dictionary latter. Let you know if I discover anything ...


#132926 09/15/04 10:51 PM
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Thanks, jheem.


#132927 09/16/04 02:12 AM
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say, you're not going to attempt to show a nexus with a Maori drummer, are you?!


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:)


#132929 09/16/04 01:06 PM
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say, you're not going to attempt to show a nexus with a Maori drummer, are you?!

The thought had literally not crossed my mind.


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An interesting coincidence of timing:
http://snipurl.com/94bz-mq42


#132931 09/18/04 03:40 AM
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Back to the original question--
These are not refined enough to be 'archetypal labels' but
y'all are done forgettin' 'nobody, scum, and trash'.


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