Bronx cheer

Blowing a raspberry or strawberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise signifying derision (and/or silliness), made by sticking out the tongue between the lips and blowing to make a sound reminiscent of flatulence. In the terminology of phonetics, this sound can be described as an unvoiced linguolabial trill [r̼̊]. It is never used in human language phonemically (i.e., to be used as a building block of words), but it is widely used across human cultures.

Nomenclature varies: in the US, Bronx cheer is sometimes used; otherwise, in the US and in other English-speaking countries, it is known as a raspberry, rasp or razz—the origin of which is an instance of rhyming slang, in which the non-rhyming part of a rhyming phrase is used as a synonym. In this case, "raspberry tart" rhymes with "fart".^[1] It is first recorded in 1890.^[2]

The term "Bronx Cheer" is used ironically because it is not a cheer, it is used to show disapproval. The term originated as a reference to the sound used by some spectators in Yankee Stadium, located in the Bronx, New York City.^[3]

In colloquial Persian, zereshk is used as a term for showing dissent or disagreement, similar to the usage of "blowing a raspberry" in English. Although not a vulgar term in that context, it is not used in polite speech.^{[citation needed]} 'Zereshk' (زرشک) is the Persian name for the dried fruit of Berberis vulgaris, which are widely cultivated in Iran.

Usage

One of the most famous uses of the Bronx cheer is in the song "Der Fuehrer's Face" (from the Disney animated film of the same name), as recorded by musical comedian Spike Jones in 1942, which shows disdain for Adolf Hitler with the repeated refrain "We Heil! (Bronx cheer) Heil! (Bronx cheer) Right in Der Fuehrer's Face!"

The term "flipping the bird", better known nowadays as "giving the finger", an obscene gesture, was also once used in reference to the Bronx cheer.^{[citation needed]} For example, the "razz" sound made by the Spike Jones orchestra for "Der Fuehrer's Face" and other songs was produced by a device called the "birdaphone".

The Golden Raspberry Awards, actually a parody of the Oscars, are designed to dishonor the worst films, actors, directors, etc.

See also

• Bilabial trill
• Joe Btfsplk
• Golden Raspberry Awards
• Linguistic universal
• The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town

References

1. ^ Bryson, Bill (1990). The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way (Trade printing, September 1991 ed.). Avon Books. p. 238. ISBN 0-380-71543-0. 
2. ^ "raspberry". The Mavens' Word of the Day. Random House. 1998-04-13. http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=1998-04-13. Retrieved on September 19 2005. 
3. ^ David Hinkley, "Scorn and disdain: Spike Jones giffs Hitler der old birdaphone, 1942." New York Daily News,"March 3, 2004.http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2004/03/03/2004-03-03_scorn_and_disdain_spike_jone.html; http://books.google.com/books?id=4YfsEgHLjboC&pg=PA270&lpg=PA270&dq=%2522bronx+cheer%2522+etymology&source=web&ots=7IPKN4oW2g&sig=0PEu-TSsn94XJjLOdtwO_Fm_ynQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result%23PPA269

External links

• Video of raspberry blowing at 500 frames per second, taken with a high speed camera