Well in Southern Indiana we actually do call the human preferred soft corn, "sweetcorn" some of the old folks even call it "roast'n ears." Among the farming world "corn" refers to the harder varieties that are ground for products like corn chips and animal feeds. And trust me there is a huge taste difference between the two. Boiled "corn," even younger softer ears, doesn't taste anything like boiled "sweetcorn." LOL

Interesting comment, thanks! I feel like I've heard "sweetcorn" used in the same way, maybe by older relatives (north central Hoosier).

You've also given a good example of how terms can have more specific meanings when used in a technical sense, or by experts in a particular domain.

I didn't even get halfway through your first paragraph without that amusement park song going though my head! Growing up in Chicago, I had two overall impressions of Indiana (which I never drove through until I moved to Pennsylvania): that annoying commercial and Indiana Dunes, the weirdest sand occurance by far. Lake Michigan doesn't equate with traditional beachgoing. I did always want to go to Indiana Beach, though.

Of course, when I finally did encounter vast amounts of Indiana via the turnpike in 1992, they had just released a new license plate. At 70 mph, Mom and I couldn't decipher the four work phrase on said plate, and we had a long debate about what it might be until we finally settled on "State Made of Corn." Imagine my disappointment when we finally stopped for lunch and saw "Amber Waves of Grain." Really, ours was more appropriate.

Two comments on corn and the like:

1) We have learned through our instruction in proper agriculture terms through my employer that frequently when reading period farm journals (particularly early/immigrant journals) that "corn" refers to any number of grains that may have been planted (supporting your comments on European usage).

2) Purchasing popcorn to use to throw at a neighbor's house does NOT count as corning, not really. It makes a little delicate click click against the windows and walls, and then, of course, the disposal of the packaging isn't as rustic as tossing out the corn cobs and husks

But, shouldn't you be *proud* to be a Hoosier? They even made a movie about you guys.

Aw nuts. A perfectly good reply destroyed...

Here in Ohio, there's a Sweetcorn Festival (in Millersport, by Buckeye Lake) where they serve some good sweet corn. Not "field corn" as its tough cousin is called.

You didn't even bring up the usage of "Indian corn" for the multi-colored version that's always trundled out (as decorations) in the fall. Is there any other use for it? I remember from elementary school being given the distinct impression that the multi-colored stuff was what the Indians grew (and stupidly called "maize" until the white man told them it was "corn").

Yes, I got the same impression about "Indian corn": it's not edible but only useful for craft projects.

It does seem like the term "maize" comes from the Taino language (spoken in the west Indies by the native populations who were lucky enough to meet Columbus in 1492). It was adopted into Spanish, French, Italian and German by 1520, coming to English from Spanish .

Then let me also throw in the "Watermelon-Sweet Corn Festival" in lovely scenic Mt. Vernon, Illinois, which I was honored to cover during my not-so-long stint as a journalist in that part of the world. This fantastic event served both items -- FREE -- on the town square. A strange pairing, to say the least...