Fresh off the boat

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Fresh off the boat (often abbreviated as F.O.B., FOB,F.O.T.B.,FOTB,fobbish, or fobbie) is a derogatory slang phrase applied to people of foreign nationality, who have arrived in a host nation as tourists, immigrants, students, or most commonly, as work permit applicants. The term is commonly applied to Eastern & Southern Pacific Asians as well as Middle Easterners in the United States, Canada and Australia, as well as to Pacific Islanders in Australia and New Zealand. It was originally applied to European immigrants to America who had just stepped off of a ship.^{[citation needed]}

The term is commonly used when immigrants from a foreign nation have not yet assimilated the host nation's culture, language, and behavior. Note that assimilation to the host nation's culture is not a certainty, there are historical examples of a foreign nation assimilating a host nation (ex. Sinicization or Romanization). FOBs tend to be identified by their fashion, social preferences, behavior towards others, and — perhaps most commonly and distinctively — their accents.

In the sociology of ethnicity, this term can be seen as an indicator of a nature of diasporic communities, or communities that have left their country of origin and have migrated, usually permanently, to another country. A split can occur in such communities between those who have assimilated or acclimated in their host countries and those who still cling to their native culture. The usage of "FOBs" is often used by the former group, to differentiate themselves from the latter. Often, this difference is a result of a generation gap, where the sons and daughters of immigrants born and immersed in the culture of their host country develop an identity distinct from their parents or recent immigrants.

The term also has been adapted by immigrants themselves or others in their community who instead see the differentiation as a source of pride, where they have retained their culture and have not lost it to assimilation. In some instances, people who have assimilated or acclimated into their host country still identify themselves as a "FOB" to show they have not assimilated completely.

Ayotunde Bodunrin (born April 18, 1983) is a British Hiphop and grime Artist commonly known by his stage name F.O.B. Ayo adapted the nickname "F.O.B" as a metaphor for "Pride". The name was originally derived from the derogatory phrase commonly used to humilliate foreigners. " I took the name FOB because it was the name people used to diss me with back in the days 'cos of my native ascent... And by the way, I'm proud to be fresh off the boat so why not?".

He's currently working on his mixtape "Off the Boat Vol 1"

1 Pronunciation
2 Offensive use
3 Non-offensive use
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Pronunciation

There are currently two widely accepted (and sometimes disputed) pronunciations of the word FOB. The emphasis is on the "O" sound:

FOB(fŏb) can be pronounced with the same "O" sound as in the word "lob" (Ellie lobbed the ball at me).

FOB(fōb) can also be pronounced with the "O" sound as in the word "cove" (Ellie found a nice cove along the shore).

The general claim is that "only FOBs(fōb) say FOB(fŏb)" and vice versa.

F.O.B. can also be pronounced letter-for-letter as in the word S.O.B.

[edit] Offensive use

The term "FOB" has been used with offensive intent, often to those with a foreign accent or ethnic style of dressing. Depending on the person's attitude to the culture in question, he or she may or may not take offense at these statements. The term may also be used by people who themselves were immigrants years ago, in a way turning the insult once hurled at them onto the new arrivals, and in so doing emphasizing their own progress in assimilation or improved language skills.

[edit] Non-offensive use

The term "FOB" is also used in a less offensive way of describing Asian American youths, as well as those in Australia and other countries, that display contemporary East Asian youth cultures. This behavior is part of a new trend of Asian American teens displaying their modern cultural roots (like listening to Asian music and watching Asian movies) rather than conform with mainstream Western culture. Thus the term "Fob" is used in a social context to describe a particular clique or subculture of teens. A few modern day "Fobs" may actually be American-, Australian-, etc, born Asians.

"Fob" is also used as slang term for these youths to refer to each other, such as American Blacks using the "N" word. The same can be applied to Iranian American youths, who use the term in the same non-offensive way as Asian American youths.

Furthermore in the United Kingdom, when the term "fresh off the boat" is used by expatriate Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans it is commonly intended as a neutral description of their newly-arrived countrymen and women.

A modern stereotype of "FOB" people is that of Pacific Islanders living in Australia and New Zealand. Cook Islanders, Tongans, Samoans, Fijians, Papua New Guineans and Tuvalu are encompassed in the cultural FOB stereotype.

"FOB" is acceptably used by people of any nationality in Australia. However, if used by a non Pacific Islander in New Zealand, it is considered highly offensive.

[edit] References

Ludvig, Sämi. Cultural Identity as Spouse From Fusion of Cultures?, edited by Peter O. Stummer and Christopher Balme. Reprinted by Google Books. Retrieved July 27, 2006. ISBN 90-420-0044-9.