NOW HEAR THIS

[substitute]

The following is a fatwa or blogular bull about the word "tribal."

The word may still be used. However, the following rules apply:

• It may not be used as a noun ("Justin has a tribal on his left thigh.")
  
  
• When used as an adjective, the word must refer to specific tribes or groups of tribes, as in: "Each of the chiefs heads his own tribal council" or "It is a tribal custom here to leave a little grain outside thet door for the spirits." Useage of the form "I guess they're really tribal there" or "I saw a show about some tribal people who ate yams" is forbidden. The word does not refer to brown-skinned people with insufficient pants who live in rural areas.
  
  
• There is no style of art or music that can or should be called "tribal." Each tribe within each culture has particular styles in the arts and they are all different from each other. The word does not refer to vaguely African or Native American patterns in art or rhythmic music. The music of the Israelite tribes, for example, is notably different from that of the Zulu. Useage such as "These tribal beat loops are gonna be great in my epic techno song" or "They're having a sale at Target on those tribal pattern shower curtains" is forbidden.

Those who break these rules will be forced to pronounce the word as "tribble" for one year and live on fufu.

Comments

[sakkaranoush.livejournal.com]

Uh oh. How does Tribal style belly dance escape the rules? It's an absurd title, I know. Belly dance is such a mishmash of movements from different origins that Tribal style means what?

The trouble with tribals

[brianenigma.livejournal.com]

What she said. The term "tribal style bellydance" has been used to describe a form of bellydance that is a conglomeration of styles from a large array of regions--as opposed to "cabaret" bellydance, which is the other main style. If my understanding is correct the term "tribal style bellydance" goes back at least 20-30 years, predating crazy modern use of "tribal" as a noun or standalone-adjective for tattoos, music, and other pop-culture.

So aside from the bellydance exception, I totally agree with you 100%. Every time I hear "a tribal," my skin crawls. Those people should be made to say "tribble" instead.

Re: The trouble with tribals

[sakkaranoush.livejournal.com]

it's official. you have been sucked into belly dance land.

Re: The trouble with tribals

[substitute.livejournal.com]

He's been outed as an outie?