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DIR Return to: Questions about the Use of Language
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#Post#: 13414--------------------------------------------------
Kin
By: Truman Overby Date: March 18, 2019, 7:21 am
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How many here use the word 'kin?' For those who've not
encountered it, it means one's relatives. It has an interesting
usage in American English. The police will not identify a
deceased victim of a crime until "next of kin is notified."
However, it's not in common usage in speech or in writing. I've
heard it mostly in the southern US states. My wife always tells
me not to use it if I throw it out. Which I do, of course, to
see if she'll reprimand me for using it. To her it sounds
uneducated. I agree with her but some part of me would kind of
like to see it in common usage.
I think the reason that it sounds uneducated is the fact that
some US dialects say kin for can. That's the best that I kin
figure.
What about it? Is kin common in British English or if you're a
learner, did you learn to say kin or relatives?
#Post#: 13419--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kin
By: Irena Date: March 18, 2019, 8:32 am
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Well, I know it from the phrase "next of kin," as you mentioned.
I don't recall seeing it in other contexts, though, nor do I use
it myself. (I just say "relatives.") And then, of course,
there's the word "kinship." An important word in cultural
anthropology.
#Post#: 13420--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kin
By: SuKi Date: March 18, 2019, 8:55 am
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'Kin' is outdated word. In terms of everyday usage, you could
probably call it archaic.
But words rarely curl up and die completely : even if we stop
using them on a day-to-day basis, they still carry on in
isolated pockets. Here we have a few examples of those pockets :
fixed phrases and jargon ( as in the fossilised 'kith and kin'
and the legal term 'next of kin') as well derivatives such as
'akin to' 'kindred' ( e.g. 'a kindred spirit), academia (as in
Irena's example), and regional dialect (often vilified - which
is why Madame S. Pierre disapproves).
As you know, much of my knowledge of US culture comes from a
misspent youth watching old episodes of the Beverly Hillbillies.
When I think of 'kin' in an American context, this is what
springs to mind:
Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire
The kinfolk said "Jed move away from there"
The choice of word is deliberate - it sounds old-fashioned and
folksy. I even seem to remember Grandma talking about family as
'kin'.
In British English, we have all the examples above, including
the fairly common fixed phrase 'next of kin'. 'Kin' meaning
'relatives' may still exist in some regional dialects, but I've
never heard it.
#Post#: 13465--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kin
By: NealC Date: March 20, 2019, 1:17 am
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There is something to be said about being able to use the theme
song for the Beverley Hillbillies in a scholarly presentation.
Well done SuKi! :-)
It is definitely only used in southern U.S., probably only
mountain dialects. It is one of the words that cemented the
characters in that show as "Hillbillies".
#Post#: 13497--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kin
By: SHL Date: March 20, 2019, 4:09 pm
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[quote author=NealC link=topic=914.msg13465#msg13465
date=1553062637]
There is something to be said about being able to use the theme
song for the Beverley Hillbillies in a scholarly presentation.
Well done SuKi! :-)
It is definitely only used in southern U.S., probably only
mountain dialects. It is one of the words that cemented the
characters in that show as "Hillbillies".
[/quote]
Wow, suki is here.
Kin is Southern (Appalachian most likely). Itīs only used in the
legal world now as it next-of-kin as people have mentioned in
criminal cases, and in probate law. So, unless you are in the
legal field, forget it.
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