Wop: Difference between revisions
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It was brought to the U.S. by early Italian immigrants from the region of Campania, who named those suspected to belonging to the Guapparia "Guappi", in a similar fashion Sicilian people used the term "Mafiosi". Widely used in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] where most immigrants from Campania settled{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, it was confused by non-Italian people to indicate Italians in general, like the word "[[Paisan (disambiguation)|Paesano]]". |
It was brought to the U.S. by early Italian immigrants from the region of Campania, who named those suspected to belonging to the Guapparia "Guappi", in a similar fashion Sicilian people used the term "Mafiosi". Widely used in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] where most immigrants from Campania settled{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, it was confused by non-Italian people to indicate Italians in general, like the word "[[Paisan (disambiguation)|Paesano]]". |
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New immigrants to America were required to show documentation of citizenship when they arrived in America. Many immigrants from Italy lacked the proper documentation, so there is a theory that the term WOP means with out papers. |
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Contrary to popular belief,{{By whom|date=November 2010}} the word 'wop' most likely{{vague|date=October 2010}} didn't originate as an acronym for "[[Illegal immigrant|With Out Papers]]" or "Without Passport", one of the most famous examples of [[folk etymology]] or [[backronym]]. The term "wop" was already in popular use as early as 1910, a period in which no immigrant needed papers to enter the [[United States]] (passports and [[Visa (document)|visas]] were not required of immigrants entering the country until 1921).{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} |
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This slur was recently used by [[Welsh Assembly]] Member [[Alun Cairns]] on a live broadcast from [[Radio Cymru]] on Friday 13<sup>th</sup>, June 2008, when he referred to the Italian Euro 2008 football team as "Greasy Wops". As a consequence, he resigned from office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7454545.stm|title=Tory quits posts over Italy slur | work=BBC News | date=2008-06-14 | accessdate=2009-12-31}}</ref> |
This slur was recently used by [[Welsh Assembly]] Member [[Alun Cairns]] on a live broadcast from [[Radio Cymru]] on Friday 13<sup>th</sup>, June 2008, when he referred to the Italian Euro 2008 football team as "Greasy Wops". As a consequence, he resigned from office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7454545.stm|title=Tory quits posts over Italy slur | work=BBC News | date=2008-06-14 | accessdate=2009-12-31}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 21:50, 18 December 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2009) |
Wop is a U.S. pejorative slur for people from Italy. Some[who?] say it is derived from the Neapolitan word "guappo" (often pronounced simply as "guap'" in the regional dialect), meaning a person who flaunts an overbearingly cocky and swaggering attitude.
In the past, it also could[vague] refer to a follower of guapparia, literally meaning bravery,[1] i.e., the ancient honour code of the Camorra, a criminal organization based in Naples and the Campania region, similar to the better-known Sicilian Mafia.
In Southern Italy, the term "guappo" is still used, often sarcastically, to describe those young Italian men who try hard to act brave, play cool, court every pretty girl, and those that are arrogant to the point of inciting a fight.[citation needed]
It was brought to the U.S. by early Italian immigrants from the region of Campania, who named those suspected to belonging to the Guapparia "Guappi", in a similar fashion Sicilian people used the term "Mafiosi". Widely used in Chicago where most immigrants from Campania settled[citation needed], it was confused by non-Italian people to indicate Italians in general, like the word "Paesano".
New immigrants to America were required to show documentation of citizenship when they arrived in America. Many immigrants from Italy lacked the proper documentation, so there is a theory that the term WOP means with out papers.
This slur was recently used by Welsh Assembly Member Alun Cairns on a live broadcast from Radio Cymru on Friday 13th, June 2008, when he referred to the Italian Euro 2008 football team as "Greasy Wops". As a consequence, he resigned from office.[2]
See also
Reference
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Tory quits posts over Italy slur". BBC News. 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2009-12-31.