- For other uses, see Black Sheep (disambiguation).
Black sheep is an English language idiom which describes an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within one's family. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States An idiom is a Phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal Definition, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only The term has been looked upon either positively or negatively depending on the era and culture in which the term was used.
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Idiomatic usage
Black sheep is an English language idiom—usually derogatory—which describes an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within one's family. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States An idiom is a Phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal Definition, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt [1]
The term originated from the occasional black sheep which are born into a herd of white sheep due to a genetic process of recessive traits. Genetics (from Ancient Greek grc-Latn genetikos, “genitive” and that from grc-Latn genesis, “origin” a discipline of Biology, is Black sheep were considered commercially undesirable because their wool cannot be dyed as white wool can. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species [1] In 18th and 19th century England, the black color of the sheep was seen as the mark of the devil. [2]
In modern usage, the expression has lost some of its negative connotations, and the term is usual given to the member of a group who has certain characteristics deemed inappropriate by that group. [3]
Biological origin
In sheep, whiteness is not albinism but a dominant gene that actively switches color production off. Albinism (from Latin albus, "white" see extended etymology) is a form of hypopigmentary Congenital disorder, As a result, sheep blackness is recessive, and if a white ram and a white ewe are parents of a black lamb, both must be heterozygous for black, and then there is a 25% chance that the lamb will be black. Zygosity refers to the genetic condition of a Zygote. In genetics zygosity describes the similarity or dissimilarity of DNA between Homologous A recent study done by the Agricultural University of Norway, and The Vollum Institute of the Oregon Health Sciences University believe the black color is created by an allele E D at the extension locus. An allele (ˈæliːl (UK /əˈliːl/ (US (from the Greek αλληλος allelos, meaning each other) is one member of a pair or series of different forms [4]
Other uses
In psychology, the "black sheep effect" refers to the tendency of an in-group to treat or evaluate a member of its own more harshly than a similarly negative behavior or deed of an out-group member. Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and [5]
See also
References
- ^ a b American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. The Ugly Duckling (Danish Den grimme Ælling) is a Fairy tale by Danish Poet and Author Hans Christian Andersen scapegoat was a Goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in Judaism during the times Albino Blacksheep is a website based in Toronto Ontario that posts humorous and artistic member-submitted digital media Retrieved on 2007-11-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St
- ^ Sykes, Christopher Simon (1983). Black Sheep. New York: Viking Press, 11. Viking Press is an American Publishing company currently owned by Penguin Books. ISBN 0670172766.
- ^ "black sheep. " The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. Answers. com 01 Apr. 2008. http://www.answers.com/topic/black-sheep|accessdate=2008-3-24
- ^ "Molecular and pharmacological characterization of dominant black coat color in sheep" (January, 1999). Mammalian Genome 10 (1): 39–43. Springer New York. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. ISSN (Print) 1432-1777 (Online) 0938-8990 (Print) 1432-1777 (Online). An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication.
- ^ Black sheep effect Psychology Lexicon. Retrieved on January 4, 2008
External links
- [1]A home on the Internet for Black Sheep and their families
- "The black sheep effect: Judgmental extremity towards ingroup members in inter-and intra-group situations" . Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common European Journal of Social Psychology 18 (3): 287–292. Science Direct. doi:. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.
Dictionary
black sheep
-noun
- a sheep that is black
- (idiomatic) a nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person
- (idiomatic) a disliked person; one who is disfavored
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