Pom
Dec 7th 2006, 3:20 am
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Gold Coast Queensland
Posts: 221
Re: Pom
Originally Posted by dollydaydream2
Just imagine if you got a pound for every time you answered this question 
or any questions involving expensive fruit, or whether or not the australians will like us when we get there. Seems to be a lot of people worried about these things.
Dolly
or any questions involving expensive fruit, or whether or not the australians will like us when we get there. Seems to be a lot of people worried about these things.
Dolly
Dec 7th 2006, 4:13 am
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 545
Re: Pom
Originally Posted by paulainspain
But will they???
In a country of 20 million or so, I'm sure I'll manage to find a few people that like me
Dec 7th 2006, 5:06 am
#33
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,376
Re: Pom
Originally Posted by GreenTea
I am very sorry i created such a storm in a tea cup.
Dec 7th 2006, 5:08 am
#34
A rather curious boy
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 5,917
Re: Pom
Originally Posted by dollydaydream2
In a country of 20 million or so, I'm sure I'll manage to find a few people that like me
(large evil guffaw)!
Dec 7th 2006, 5:28 am
#35
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Pom
Originally Posted by GreenTea
I am very sorry i created such a storm in a tea cup.
Others did.
Dec 7th 2006, 6:50 am
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: AU
Posts: 585
Re: Pom
Pommy
The term Pommy for a British person is commonly used in Australian English, New Zealand English and South African English and Afrikaans Speakers, and is often shortened to Pom. The origin of this term is not confirmed and there are several persistent false etymologies.
One theory is that, as the majority of early immigrants to Australia were British, it is rhyming slang for "immigrant" from a contraction of the word "pomegranate", or possibly more directly related to the appearance of the fruit, as it bears a more than passing resemblance to the typical pale complexioned Briton's skin after his or her first few days living under the hot Australian sun.
Another theory is that POM is a shortened acronym of Prisoner of His/Her Majesty (POHM). As many of Australia's first settlers were convicts, sentenced to transportation, this theory holds that upon arrival in the country they would be given a uniform with POHM emblazoned on the back, and that convicts with an extended stay on Australian soil would no longer have to wear the shirt and would often refer to newer entrants into the country as "Pohmmys". Other suggestions hold that POM is a different acronym, such as "Prisoner of Mother England" or "Port of Melbourne". These etymologies are believed to be false, as the term "pommy" was coined long before acronyms were used in common parlance. Moreover, there is no record of prisoners in Australia ever wearing such uniforms.
The use of the word 'Pom' is contentious. Some British people living in Australasia find the term offensive and demeaning, others find it harmless and amusing. Attitudes to the use of the word have varied over the years, from the 1960s when slogans such as 'bash a pom a day' were heard on New Zealand radio, to today, when the word has become so entrenched that few Australians and New Zealanders see any reason to avoid using the word, some even justifying the use of the word as being 'endearing'. On September 27, 2006, the Australian cricketing authority Cricket Australia ruled that it was OK for cricket fans to refer to the English as 'Poms' after a wide-ranging review on potentially racist terms. [1]
The term Pommy for a British person is commonly used in Australian English, New Zealand English and South African English and Afrikaans Speakers, and is often shortened to Pom. The origin of this term is not confirmed and there are several persistent false etymologies.
One theory is that, as the majority of early immigrants to Australia were British, it is rhyming slang for "immigrant" from a contraction of the word "pomegranate", or possibly more directly related to the appearance of the fruit, as it bears a more than passing resemblance to the typical pale complexioned Briton's skin after his or her first few days living under the hot Australian sun.
Another theory is that POM is a shortened acronym of Prisoner of His/Her Majesty (POHM). As many of Australia's first settlers were convicts, sentenced to transportation, this theory holds that upon arrival in the country they would be given a uniform with POHM emblazoned on the back, and that convicts with an extended stay on Australian soil would no longer have to wear the shirt and would often refer to newer entrants into the country as "Pohmmys". Other suggestions hold that POM is a different acronym, such as "Prisoner of Mother England" or "Port of Melbourne". These etymologies are believed to be false, as the term "pommy" was coined long before acronyms were used in common parlance. Moreover, there is no record of prisoners in Australia ever wearing such uniforms.
The use of the word 'Pom' is contentious. Some British people living in Australasia find the term offensive and demeaning, others find it harmless and amusing. Attitudes to the use of the word have varied over the years, from the 1960s when slogans such as 'bash a pom a day' were heard on New Zealand radio, to today, when the word has become so entrenched that few Australians and New Zealanders see any reason to avoid using the word, some even justifying the use of the word as being 'endearing'. On September 27, 2006, the Australian cricketing authority Cricket Australia ruled that it was OK for cricket fans to refer to the English as 'Poms' after a wide-ranging review on potentially racist terms. [1]
