mat (02/08/83)
The term --posslq-- has been seen on the network. It seems to mean spouse or sweetheart ... and I'm sure I've seen it defined or derived (is it an acronym?) in a poem somewhere. would anyone care to shed some life on this one ? -mat
ark (02/09/83)
I think the term was coined by Infernal Revenue. It is an acronym: persons of opposite sex sharing living quarters
smb (02/09/83)
"Posslq" was apparently used first by the Census Bureau, who had to have
*some* term to stick on their reports. It was publicized by Charles Osgood
in one of his "poems" on CBS Radio; it can be found in one of his recent
books. Ann Landers has also reprinted it.
--Steve Bellovin
{mhb5b, rabbit}!smbgh (02/11/83)
I once read an article in a Canadian newspaper color supplement in which the
author proposed the invented word "Chaquette" (pronounced as if it were French)
for what the Census Bureau now calls "POSSLQ". The advantages of this were
said to be that it sounded respectable, and yet (being pseudo-French) just a
little avant-garde. It also gave an interesting fictitious etymology for the
expression "shacked up".
Graeme Hirst, Brown CS
...!{decvax, vax135, yale-comix}!brunix!gh
gh.brown@udel-relaymcewan (02/11/83)
#R:cires:-198600:uiucdcs:19000009:000:35 uiucdcs!mcewan Feb 11 12:10:00 1983 But how do you pronounce "posslq"?
berry (02/12/83)
#R:hou5e:-18900:zinfandel:9300004:000:307 zinfandel!berry Feb 10 14:46:00 1983 POSSLQ derives from the 1980 census, where it was used to mean "Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters". Some now use it in preference to "main squeeze", "significant other", "boyfriend/girlfriend/whatever". Berry Kercheval Zehntel Inc. (decvax!sytek!zehntel!zinfandel!berry) (415)932-6900
gh (02/12/83)
Generally, "posslq" rhymes with "fossil stew". (Go to it, net.poets!)
zrm (02/16/83)
Sother, to me, sounds like a law partner: "Sother, Shyster & Co.", or something like a south wind. But that's just my impression. The mother/sister connection doesn't do anything for me, being an only child and quite devoid of oedipal fantasies -- I'll take the snuggly rodent any day.
jwb (02/17/83)
Sother, or its root significant other was what my (now) wife's cutsey-poo fellow graduate students in public health used to say. I'll stick with posslq.
berry (02/17/83)
#R:cires:-198600:zinfandel:9300008:000:363 zinfandel!berry Feb 17 10:06:00 1983 The trouble with 'chaquette' is that, being pseudo-french, it clearly implies that the person under discussion is female. (-ette is a feminine ending in French). 'Posslq' on the other hand can apply to persons of either sex. I mean, like, y'know, it takes two, like, right? Berry Kercheval Zehntel Inc. (decvax!sytek!zehntel!zinfandel!berry) (415)932-6900
wisen (03/03/83)
#N:inmet:7300003:000:331
inmet!wisen Mar 1 10:17:00 1983
Why does "posslq" imply an amorous relationship? That's something
too abstract for the Census Bureau to handle, and none of their business
anyway. My sister is one of my roommates. We are therefore persons
of opposite sex sharing living quarters, but are we "posslq"s? What is
the plural of "posslq", anyway?
---Bruce W.rick (03/07/83)
POSSLQ Rich as it is, the English language does not have a word for everything. For example, for years now it's been evident that there is not a good word to describe, much less introduce - at a party, say - the person with whom one is living. One's roommate, as it were, of the opposite sex with whom one has not exchanged maritial vows. How does a young woman introduce 0eorge? My lover, George? No that's out. My boyfriend? Definitely dated. My friend? My Fiance? No friend is ambiguous, and fiance suggests an engagement, which may or may be applicable. We haven't had a good word for a partner in such a relationship - until now. Someone found it, looking at some forms put out by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. There, as an acronoym for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters" was the word P-O-S-S-L-Q Posslq, the very word we've been looking for. Precise, to the point, and so much more business-like than, say, honey bunch or sweet potato pie. You can say, without so much as a blush. "This is Dede, my posslq". Or, "Say hello to Franklin. We're posslqs." Language, like nature, abhors a vacumm; and since there has been no good word to cover this situation that used to be known as "living in sin," the folks over at the Census Bureau are making what is sure to be an invaluable contribution to our vocabulary - Posslq: person of opposite sex sharing living quarters. So simple. So non-judgemental. And in its own way, sort of poetic too. Come live with me and be my love, And we will some now pleasures prove Of golden sands and crystal brooks With silken lines and silver hooks. There's nothing that I wouldn't do If you would be my posslq. You live with me, and I with you, And you will be my posslq. I'll be your friend and so much more; That's what a posslq is for. And everything we will confess; Yes, even to the IRS. Some day on what we both may earn, Perhaps we'll file a joint return. You'll share my pad, my taxes, joint; You'll share my life - up to a point! And that you'll be so glad to do, Because you'll be my posslq. Come live with me and be my love, And share the pain and pleasure of The blessed continuity, Official posslqity; And I will whisper in your ear That word you love so much to hear. And love will stay forever new, If you will be my posslq.
sanders (03/08/83)
I don't believe the Census intended posslq to cover only people "living in sin". I, for example, living in decadent California, have shared many homes and apartments with women without having romantic attachments to them. I usually describe them as housemates.
avie (03/08/83)
How is posslq supposed to be pronounced? It seems to lack some vowels. Does Webster know about this knew word? Avadis Tevanian, Jr. rochester!avie
bernie (03/10/83)
>From the verses at the end of the original message, I infer that posslq
is pronounced "poss-ell-cue".G:fantods (03/12/83)
I think the Census people did intend it to only include those people "living in sin". I think the only reason they put it in the form was to include couples who are married-without-being-married. A roomate is a roomate is a roomate, the word connotates no sexual or "whole life" sharing. A posslq is a whole lot more. The Census Bureau meant it to be used as a term to refer to couples living in sin, since that's gotten so popular, and the posslq solution sounded a little less extreme than "cohabiting, fornicating, unmarried but committed" or whatever. There are plenty of words for "roomate". Keep posslq a loaded term. We need it.
hal (03/13/83)
To give credit where it is due, the poem about posslq was written by Charles Kuralt (sp?) of CBS, whose 5 minute radio spot at the middle of the day often includes a delightful poem about a current issue of the day. That one has been reprinted several times, including in Ann Lander's column, which is probably where most people have seen it.
hamilton (03/14/83)
#R:rlgvax:-114900:uicsovax:16800011:000:36 uicsovax!hamilton Mar 13 05:14:00 1983 uh, close; isn't it charles OSGOOD?
jwb (03/14/83)
The posslq poem was written by Charles Osgood, not his collegue Charles Kuralt. Charles Osgood, who before switching to CBS, was the mainstay of ABC radio news, is, in my opinion one of the best on radio. Unfortunately, his excellence to me does not seem to come across as well on TV, where he has been seen a fair amount lately.
9212tjl (03/24/83)
Since it seems that alternatives to POSSLQ keep popping up, I thought
I might as well through one in. It is not one that I would expect to
be well accepted (too many negative connotations), but it is there,
nevertheless.
CONCUBINE: 1) a woman living in a socially recognized state
of concubinage
CONCUBINAGE: 1) cohabitation of persons not legally married
I feel that some sort of non-judgemental, easily understood word needs
to be adopted (and none of those I have seen quite fit the bill,
including those above), but POSSLQ, especially with its lack of vowels,
is less than totally acceptable.
Thanks for your time,
Tom Losh
Bell Labs
Holmdel, NJdebray (03/25/83)
The only reason I'd vote for "posslq" rather than "concubine" is that the latter is harder to spell. (-: More seriously : is this just in *MY* mind, or is there really some kind of pejorative connotation to "concubine" and "concubinage" that's missing in "posslq" (and "posslqage"?)? saumya k debray suny at stony brook allegra!sbcs!debray
swatt (03/25/83)
I haven't read all the POSSLQ items recently -- this has been going on for well over a month now. Apparantly many people these days are vexed by what to call non-marriage marriages. Strangely, not one article I've seen has mentioned what I feel is an especially appropriate response in the American tradition: NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS! This can be abbreviated "NOYDB" on forms with inadequate space to spell it all out. Another alternative is "MYOB" (Mind Your Own Business). Frankly, all this searching for the right word to keep bureaucrats happy puzzles me. We would all be much better off if more people put "NOYDB" or "MYOB" on forms more often. - Alan S. Watt
smb (03/26/83)
The problem with most dictionary definitions is that they say nothing about usage. As Tom pointed out, the word "concubine" carries a great deal of connotational baggage, most of which is not wanted when one wants to speak of a "posslq".
faiman (04/08/83)
#R:houxa:-16900:uiucdcs:19000015:000:246 uiucdcs!faiman Apr 7 14:06:00 1983 I agree with Tom Losh that posslq is miserable. How about that good old English word "consort"? Accent first syllable for noun, second for verb. Mike Faiman - Dig Comp Lab, Univ of Ill, 1304 W Springfield, Urbana IL 61801 pur-ee!uiucdcs!faiman
billw (04/20/83)
#R:houxa:-16900:sri-unix:3500009:000:248 sri-unix!billw Apr 16 15:57:00 1983 in "Stand on Zanzibar", John Brunner uses "Shiggy". Anyone know where that was derived from? (Shiggy seems to donate as shallower relationship though... Space is scarce, and moving in with someone is a good way to have someplace to stay). BillW