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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Anonimasu (talk | contribs) at 07:02, 27 May 2013. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Etymology

Does anyone know anything about the etymology of the word. Is it of Gaelic origin?

I added some info about real place with "Bogan" in their name. Not necessarily helpful with etymology but at least it provides clues to the origin of the term. Andrew Kay 00:32, 2 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I believe the word bogan was originally a term of disdain for a particular stereotype in the UK at one time, although I can't remember where I saw the reference. To me it is highly likely that the term possibly migrated here, and was used here in connection with people who displayed similar characteristics.
Petrus4 11:22, 9 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Seems like a stretch i know, but is it possible it has something to do with the south american english term for a beanie (see Tuque), a boggan?

I just heard a great program on ABC Radio National about the appropriation of indigenous Aboriginal words in Australian English. One of the examples used was Bogan, which derives from North Western NSW Aboriginal languages. See the ABC RN Lingua Franca program site for info: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/linguafranca/stories/2008/2325921.htm 121.219.74.89 (talk) 06:13, 9 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]


I just finished reading Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas. In the book, author David Pollock mentions that the term, Bogan, was used by George Lucas in his second draft of the original Star Wars screenplay, to depict the 'dark side' of the Force. I have found links for the second screenplay, and the term is indeed referenced heavily throughout: "As you know, "THE FORCE OF OTHERS" has two halves: Ashla, the good, and Bogan, the paraforce - the dark or evil side. Fortunately, Skywalker came to know the good half and was able to resist the paraforce; but he realized that if he taught others the way of the Ashla, some, with less strength, might come to know Bogan, the dark side, and bring unthinkable suffering to the Universe." -Adventures of the Starkiller, Episode One of the Star Wars I think this is a noteworthy contribution toward properly appreciating the etymology of the term, and its galactic implications --MikeAa (talk) 06:14, 7 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

That the word appeared in an unpublished script has nothing to do with the term's usage as Australian slang; it didn't inspire the slang, and (I assume) Lucas wasn't inspired by it, he was just making up funny words. It's just a meaningless coincidence. --McGeddon (talk) 09:51, 7 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time. Folk etymology is the sound, spelling and meaning of a word which is changed by the influences of cultures. While I appreciate that there is no evidence that the screenplay reference directly inspired the subsequent incarnation in the Australian lexicon, I contend that there is nonetheless cultural currency in its inclusion in this article.
If it is a case of coincidental coinage at different times, then the reference in the 1975 Star Wars draft is relevant temporally, as it seems to predate the contemporary Australian use (i.e. 'how their form and meaning have changed over time'). If it was a case of coincidental coinage across cultures, then it is relevant on the grounds of comparative Folk etymology (i.e. 'meaning of a word which is changed by the influence of cultures'). There is no doubt that George Lucas' Star Wars has been influential in popular culture, and since his use of the term 'Bogan' was also in a pejorative sense (being the draft name he attributed to the 'dark side', a defining theme of the eventual movie franchise), I contend that the consistencies of meaning between the two usages are more substantive than merely coincidental.--MikeAa (talk) 11:04, 7 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, it definitely feels like the "bog-" prefix has a pejorative aura to it (with connections to bogle and boggart), and it's likely that Lucas was drawing on this, but it's not up to Wikipedia editors to put forward their own etymological theories - Wikipedia has very strong policies against original research. If you can find a source that's already written about how the Star Wars script edit relates to the Australian slang (maybe Lucas dropped it because of the Australian connotations), then that's great and we should quote it, but without a source we only have your personal contention that it's more than a coincidence, which isn't enough for an encyclopaedia. --McGeddon (talk) 11:30, 7 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I wonder if Bogan could be relative to the pejorative "Bog" as in "Bog Irish" via the surname "Bogan" [1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.222.204.18 (talk) 05:52, 28 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Julia Gillard

Is it worth mentioning that the Lodge has been referred to as 'Boganville'? It was a petty political insult, and I doubt it's a widely held view, but the idea that the Prime Minister is a bogan is certainly interesting and noteworthy if it has any real substance. Nazlfrag (talk) 07:06, 19 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The prime minister of this country being a bogan? Of course it is significant! All the more reason to understand the concept. 27.32.143.151 (talk) 23:46, 5 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"Cashed up bogan" = "nouveau riche"

The expression "cashed up bogan" is used in much the same sense as the older "nouveau riche", or "new money". Like these other terms, it can be used neutrally, but often carries intentionally disparaging connotations.

The relationship between the terms seems obvious, so I'm tempted to add a link to the nouveau riche article. I wouldn't, however, be so presumptuous to make such a change without a good supporting reference... which I haven't been able to find.

Could anyone skilled at finding good references lend a hand? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.79.32.130 (talk) 01:40, 19 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

You can be nouveau riche without being a cashed up bogan. A cashed up bogan is a subset of the nouveau riche. But also a cashed up bogan may just be someone with an above average income who wouldn't otherwise qualify as "rich". 121.73.7.84 (talk) 10:53, 24 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

New Zealand's 38th prime minister John Key would be an example of a cashed-up bogan, esp. because of the way he speaks. 121.73.7.84 (talk) 10:58, 24 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Merge article "Things Bogans Like" into this article

The article Things bogans like is about a blog regarding bogans and does not contain other substance. By itself it also lacks notablitliy and could become a deletion candidate.AlexGWU (talk) 04:12, 6 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The Things bogans like article should be deleted. It is not really even of use as a reference for bogan article, being a blog. Format (talk) 05:48, 6 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

"Things Bogans Like" is too subjective and not sufficiently descriptive or analytical. It is also a meeting point for a hate group -- anti bogans. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ulysses elias (talk • contribs) 22:38, 23 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I will remove the 'merge suggestion' templates from the two articles since it doesn't look like we want to merge them. The possible deletions of the "Things Bogans Like" article can be dealt with separately. Barrylb (talk) 07:49, 24 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

For Japanese, the approximate is actually ヤンキー "Yankee" and not "Inakamono." No one uses "inakamono" (country people) in Japanese 71.75.228.208 (talk) 21:09, 3 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Bogan in a Regional Victorian Context

Perhaps even this article is outdated by the morphing of the term. In regional Victoria, where I study, "bogan" refers to a summary of the country Australian accent, rural culture and a certain code of dress as opposed to the Melbournian definition which includes a negative stereotype usually involving cigarettes or drugs, denigrating activity and unemployment. Many Melbournians are amazed at the positive use of the term in other areas of Victoria. Here, at least, "bogan" seems to have replaced the word "ocka", and spoken with a positive spin. There is also a tendency to describe others on a spectrum between "Bogan" and "Posh", which describes British-leaning culture and "high cultural" thought. While residents of the "Big Five" cities tend to marginalise non-metropolitan residents as "bogan", the "bogans" themselves take on the term in a positive light while describing Big Fivers as ignorant, imperialistic, snobbish, arrogant and centralist.

In summary, where I study boganness is thought of as the epitome of rurality rather than the description of the undesirable suburbanite. This change can likely be traced back to the early years of this century when activists began to celebrate the term through public display. If the position described in this article is current, it almost exclusively adheres to the Big Five point of view and needs to be updated to include a section on rurality and positive identity which includes the point of view of regional Australians.

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