Need help to find out the true meaning of "folks"

<CountryName>folks.com

[codemeit]

Hello people,

I am thinking to develop a site about
people, cultures, images, trip guide,
local life style, articles,
blog entries and tips of living
in a specific country (Non-English)
The site is mainly for english audience to view
World Wide.

I simply register a domain name called:
<CountryName>folks.com

I am just wondering if it make some sense or whether
it is proper to use the word "folks" in my domain name.

Many thanks.

[stever]

Not really.

"RuritaniaFolks.tld" sounds like a site created by someone whose English is not particularly good and, if you are appealing to the English market for Ruritania travel, that is likely to be quite a competitive area from the point of view of quality as well as SERPs.

"RuritaniaFolk.tld" would be better, but it also has a certain implication and I would expect that to maybe concentrate more on local customs, daily lives, traditions, etc.

Try thinking about what it is that you want to convey to people and the kind of people you are looking to attract - it might give you ideas for a name.

For example, "I'm looking for people who ------- in Ruritania" or "I'm looking for people who are interested in Ruritania -------". If your chosen country is a large or popular one, you may have to be more creative as thousands of web owners may well have been there before you...

[codemeit]

"RuritaniaFolk.tld" would be better, but it also has a certain implication and I would expect that to maybe concentrate more on local customs, daily lives, traditions, etc.

That is right,
My main content will tell some thing,
For instance, life style, customes,images and people.
within the country.

It is for ppl who interested in this country to read before they
wanna travel there.

I thought "Folks" stand for everything for local stuff.
Am I right.

Best regards.

[abbeyvet]

It's a funny word because it does not have the same connotation everywhere in the world. In the US it seems to suggest friendliness and familiarity when you refer to people as folk, but to my ear it can sound a little insulting, especially when used to refer to the inhabitants of a country.

So, Ruritanian folk music or Ruritanian folk dance is fine, but referring to the people of Ruritania as folk somehow suggest to me that the person using the word considers them a quaint and backward people, good for taking photographs of maybe but not, well, like 'us'.

That may not be what is intended, but it is how it sounds to me and I doubt I am alone.

[codemeit]

Thanks abbeyvet,
Your answer is what I expected.

Thanks!

[wmuser]

A better idea is travelcountryname.com or countrynameguide.com

[digitalghost]

In American English, folks almost always carries the connotation of sociable or informal. Going all the way back to Proto-Germanic folkan, it can mean band of warriors or troops. In Old English, folc, means common people, tribe or multitude. People never want to be thought of as 'common'. ;) In the American South, being referred to as 'common' is considered much worse than a petty slight. After 1941 'folk' took on a new meaning in America as Nazi Germany, then communist Russia advocated their 'folk' movements.

However, where I live, being referred to as 'good folk' is a compliment. (he's good folk) City folk, however, is a slight, as we all know city folk should stay out of the country. ;)

Pinning down a true meaning is difficult. Language is dynamic and meaning changes with geography.

[jay5r]

Then there's George W.'s use of "folks" on 9/11 in reference to terrorists...

[digitalghost]

>>George W.'s use of "folks" on 9/11 in reference to terrorists.

That was simply a folksy expression, used, by him, to differentiate 'us folk' from 'them folk'. He uses 'folks' twelve times in that speech, and only three times in reference to terrorists.

There is nothing inherently bad or disparaging about the word 'folks', as with most words, it is all about context.

[codemeit]

Great guys. I love this place,
Good folks around. I will
Homepage our site in my Firefox.
Have a nice day.

[digitalghost]

Words about words... It is really difficult to assign a definitive meaning to any one word. It helps though, if you take a look at word origin(s). A few dictionaries of etymology will aid in that process. I keep three or four on my desk. I recommend starting with Barnhart Concise.

After all, it's not what you say, it's what you mean to say...