SINK ESTATES

[pipsar6]

I heard the term "sink estates" for the first time last night and I get the general gist of it's meaning. What I am interested in is, Where did this term originate or who first coined it?

And then I wonder...where did that term come from ie. to "coin" a phrase...?

[David H]

I'm not sure about sink estates either, but does sound the sort of thing I heard in sociology, and they're probably the source of it. I assumed it was because they sunk to the lowest level though, but could be way out.

But to coin a phrase is probably from minting coins, and coining a phrase is to provide one as the machine produces a coin.

[pipsar6]

Hi David...I did a google on it last night and came up with a lot of references from articles, but just couldn't pin down a source...thanks anyways :)

[Quizmonster]

The term 'sink estate' is first recorded in an article in 'New Society' magazine in an issue of 1976. There had been earlier references in the British press to 'sink areas' and 'sink schools'. It would seem, therefore, to be a journalistic term rather than a sociologist's one.

'Sink' is not a reference to the kitchen sink but to the much older idea that a 'sink' is a pit dug for waste water/sewage to flow into...a cesspit, in other words. So, 'sink' places represent the lowest of the low.

[pipsar6]

Thank you Quizmonster. I understood the meaning but thank you for telling me from whence it came - cheers. have a good weekend :)

[Reader]

"Sink estates are no accident"  - Iain Brimswall, The Zoo Keeper. For full quote, visit http://urbanrim.org.uk > The essential Zoo Keeper > Sink estates.

[Reader]

 

"Sink estates are no accident." - Iain Brimswall, The Zoo Keeper. Full quote at http://urbanrim.org.uk > The essential Zoo Keeper > Sink estates.