boogie man

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/11124

boo n first syllable is pronounced either with the short vowel [o], or the long vowel [u:] or diphthong [uu]. My own fieldwork, supported by taperecordings, demonstrates conclusively that these are the three pronunciations typically used in the Province. Although the form _bogey man_ [ ] is occasionally found, it is apparently confined to "educated" urban usage.112 The form _boogie man_/_boogeyman_ is apparently the norm elsewhere in Canada113 and in the northern United States.114 _Webster_ lists _bogeyman_ as a variant of the more usual _boogeyman_. _Boogeyman_ itself, with its variants _boogieman_ and _boogerman_ is defined in _Webster_ as: "an evil spirit: GOBLIN; esp: one described in threatening children be good or the ~ will get you". Yes (Cont'd (B) Used I and Sup Not used 4 Not used This is the reverse of B_4904. It is the first in a four-card series, from B_4904 to B_4907. Phonetic transcriptions appear throughout quote, but are not always transcribed here because database cannot reproduce all symbols.