Just Don ’ t Do It !
by Kim Jones , UMPI Employer U Director , Professor of Business Administration
I ’ ve come to the conclusion , albeit unscientific , that Aroostook County people have an intriguing language all their own . Years of personal observation , combined with insight gained while earning a degree in communication , have lead me to determine that , at its core , “ County-speak ” has a simple , four-letter word . It ’ s not a swear word . It ’ s not even a bad word , per se . But it ’ s undeniably powerful in the context commonly used by Maine ’ s most northern residents . What ’ s this weighty word to which I ’ m referring ?
Just .
That ’ s it . Just . Not as in the adjective “ to be fair or correct ”, but as in the adverb meaning “ only , merely , or simply ”.
Americans often use this four-letter word to justify a potentially poor decision . “ I ’ m just going to have the small banana split .” “ I ’ m just fifteen minutes late .” “ I ’ m just going to spend a bit more to get the Gizmo 5000 .”
But here in Northern Maine , we take the meaning of “ just ” to a whole other level – frequently using it in an apologetic way , as if we ’ re offering an admission of guilt upon uttering the word .
“ Where do you work ?” Response : “ I ’ m just working on the family farm .”
“ Where do you live ?” Response : “ I ’ m just living in Easton [ Van Buren , Limestone , Patten , etc .].”
“ Where do you go to school ?” Response : “ I ’ m just going to the local college / university .”
I don ’ t know if this is a regional phenomenon or prevalent in any specific culture , but , as a County native , I know that we are often our own worst enemy . This self-deprecating language is as natural to us as the smell of harvest in October . Many of us don ’ t think twice about singing the praises of some vacation destination a thousand miles away and then disparaging our own community in the next breath . And if you say that ’ s because there ’ s just nothing to brag about in Aroostook County , I say this - You . Are . Wrong .
Case in point , the University of Maine at Presque Isle ( UMPI ) recently earned three top rankings on U . S . News and World Reports ’ 2018 Best Colleges list . In fact , I would stack UMPI and its programs up against any school in the nation in terms of quality , affordability , and accessibility . If you call Aroostook County home , this alone is something you can be very proud of . But Northern Maine is full of similarly impressive examples – organizations leading the way in their industry and brilliant people inventing new products , solving complex problems , and using their talents to help others … not to mention we ’ re surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape nature has to offer . We have every reason to shout from the rooftops that the Crown of Maine is a true gem .
But instead of hearing this ... “ I live in Fort Fairfield .”
I often hear this … “ I just live in Fort Fairfield .”
See ( or rather hear ) the difference ? Statements like the latter roll off our tongues easily , yet send powerful messages that smack of pessimism and discontent , even if unintentionally .
FALL 2017 9