Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
Bit of both. It's a dialect spelling, and use of that pronunciation showed either low-class/rural origins/poor education on the part of the speaker (or an attempt to emulate one of those), or a deliberate slur implying something like "those people aren't worth the effort of accurate speech" or "there are no decent, polite words to describe them."
Today, it's an insult, on par with "Paki;" the preferred terms include Native Americans, Native Peoples, or First Nations. (First Nations is common in Canada, less so in the US.)
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I think you are trying to impose 21st century thinking, ideas, and mind set onto 19th century reality. Doesn't wash, in my opinion.