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Archive 1

People don't have

"upper" and "lower" hips... Just the one set of hips. Murphyryan1 (talk) 04:59, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 24 August 2013

The reference section doesn't provide a lot of useful information about the history of the art form. I found this article after I read the Wikipedia information and it has a lot of useful information about the history of the dance. It would make a good addition to the reference section. The author, Mark Graham, is a reputable music/pop culture journalist. http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-08-07/twerking-complete-history/ 74.68.114.227 (talk) 17:04, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

Done. I agree—the VH1 article is certainly useful. Eventually, perhaps this article could be expanded, using it as a source. In the meantime, I have added it to a new "External links" section instead of burying it amid the footnotes. Please re-open this request if that's not satisfactory. Rivertorch (talk) 08:01, 25 August 2013 (UTC)

Please Delete

This article is so unencyclopedic it hurts. Please delete. 16:03, 22 August 2013 2605:E000:BE80:D000:7CAC:BA31:7514:65F5 (talk) 02:05, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

If you truly feel that way, information on how the article may be deleted can be found at Wikipedia:Deletion policy. Cheers! DonIago (talk) 12:57, 27 August 2013 (UTC)
I have no real opinion on the question of possible Deletion - except to say that I did find this article "useful" (if that's anywhere near the right word..) regarding it's possible etymology.. I think Wikipedia is probably better than Urban Dictionary for that - because WP has an actual policy regarding citing sources - if they exist - or at least trying to find them. Jimw338 (talk) 16:31, 1 September 2013 (UTC)
Given the OP hasn't made any contributions since their initial post, I think it may have been somewhat less than genuine. But, as I said, if anyone really feels the article should be deleted, there are ways that can be formally broached. DonIago (talk) 16:59, 1 September 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 28 August 2013

"By last year, it had generated enough currency to be added to our new words watch list, and by this spring, we had enough evidence of usage frequency in a breadth of sources to consider adding it to our dictionaries of current English,"

"The dictionary said the word had been around for 20 years, but the evidence for it to be included in the dictionary had tipped the scale when U.S. pop star Miley Cyrus gave a controversial and headline producing twerking dance at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 26, 2013."


Can the above sentance be ammended. The referenced source doesn't mention Milly Cirus tipping the scales.

If you look at the bbc article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23861702) they had enough evidence of it being use by spring. Which is sooner than August 27 when Milly Cirus twerked.


It should read: "The dictionary said the word had been around for 20 years, but by spring 2013 it was on the considered words list, and late 2013 it was added."

Pingurick (talk) 18:26, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

Is the Miley Cyrus performance even relevant? Surely the twerking was not really a major part of the controversy, but the entire absurdity to the performance as a whole. She danced with Giant costumed teddybear furry-like costumed dancers, wore a teddybear face outfit, danced with dancers with giant teddybear backpack-like pieces, stuck her face in the buttocks of another twerking dancer, continuously and repeatedly stuck her tongue out, wacked Robin Thicke in the crotch with a big foam finger while he wore an usual black and white suit, wore an odd flesh-colored latex-like two-piece outfit, ground against his crotch while he sung, did a duet with him, and generally strutted around being strange while not giving the best performance. This was not like this is the first time she has twerked. Centerone (talk) 21:39, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
"This was not like this is the first time she has twerked." Precisely. As the VH1 article clearly states, she's done it many times before as well, tweeted about it, discussed it with Ryan Seacrest on his radio show etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 120.56.234.0 (talk) 23:44, 2 September 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 27 August 2013

Please add information about Miley Cyrus' performance w/Robin Thicke at VMA 2013 and her "Twerk"

P0peiffel (talk) 22:42, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Not done: please make your request in a "change X to Y" format. In other words, propose the exact wording you'd like to see. Be sure to include reliable sources both to support the wording and to indicate its noteworthiness. Rivertorch (talk) 23:12, 27 August 2013 (UTC)
Rivertorch, is that a helpful reply? Biosthmors (talk) 08:55, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
Given that the original editor filed an edit request, Rivertorch's response is in keeping with proper procedure. Edit requests should be detailed and specific. DonIago (talk) 16:10, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 3 September 2013


Okay "Twerking" has been in the south (Florida and Atlanta for sure since the late 80's). We didn't have a name for it. It was simply booty shaking. Check 2 Live Crew Videos like throw that P, and throw that D, "Shake what you mama gave ya" Poison Clan videos also. That's only a few but we"twerked" like that to these songs before 93. Ask anyone who's been to Freaknik in Atlanta. These where all before 1993.  !-- End request -->

Please provide the exact text that you would like to be added to the article. You will need to include a reliable source as well. Otherwise this would constitute original research. DonIago (talk) 14:22, 3 September 2013 (UTC)
Thanks for the comment. I've made the following edit. C'mon DonIago... do we really need to link this person to original research? Biosthmors (talk) 08:52, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
As the requesting editor didn't include a source, it seemed worth mentioning. Additionally I'm not clear on how your edit takes the original request into account...but in any case the original request doesn't meet the requirements for an edit request, as it isn't, at least IMO, detailed and specific. DonIago (talk) 16:13, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

I love twerking — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.174.85.95 (talk) 04:08, 7 September 2013 (UTC)

No mention of grinding

Now I know this is just original research, but where I come from (California), twerking is used almost interchangeably with grinding. The connotation being that grinding is exclusively a partner dance, while twerking is a broader term that can be used to describe the female's movements with or without the male. I find it odd that under origins of an American dance, the first thing we mention is a traditional African dance. I kind of get the feeling that the article mentions this because it is predominately present in the Black American community. But how much influence does a traditional African dance have on an American dance whose earliest traces of existence span only to 1993? I'm not saying that that one link we have is irrelevant, but it should maybe not be the first thing since grinding is the obvious predecessor. I'm not even sure predecessor describes it correctly since its another word for the same thing. TBWarrior720 (talk) 15:06, 7 September 2013 (UTC)

We have an article for grinding: Grinding (dance). I'll add a see-also to that article. -- The Anome (talk) 16:05, 7 September 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 11 September 2013

Twerking originated in eastern Hong Kong and was brought to light by international pop singer, PSY. This exciting sport, usually done by men, allows individuals to loosen their thigh and lower buttocks muscles by by moving up and down in a squat motion.Rumors have it that this activity will be added to the Summer Olympics 2016. The word 'twerk' comes from the Hindu religion meaning squat. Twerking has been a real hit in 2013 and is becoming very famous in the celebrity world. Daniellalalala (talk) 02:07, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made.. RudolfRed (talk) 03:11, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

Video

Hiya. If a video of twerking is being looked for, YouTube has a whole slew of them licensed CC-BY 2.0. Personally, I've got no metric to determine what makes a 'good' twerk, so I'll let someone else pick their favorite/the most exemplary one. Just be careful that the one that's chosen isn't an improperly tagged copyrighted repost from a YouTube-washing account. 143.229.249.153 (talk) 19:00, 13 September 2013 (UTC)

File:2013 Brazilian twerk.webm
A person twerking

Here's a video. Could someone add it? Retreadmcnair (talk) 21:48, 15 September 2013 (UTC)

Done, thanks Retreadmcnair! Biosthmors (talk) please add [[User:Biosthmors]] to your signed reply 21:57, 15 September 2013 (UTC)

Image Caption unfounded?

The caption under Cyrus' photo at the MTV Music Awards says "The performance was negatively received by the media." While I don't doubt that claim, it is exactly that, a claim. Without a citation for that claim, this sentence should probably be removed. Schlice (talk) 21:31, 27 September 2013 (UTC)

Please correct:: Justin Bieber is Canadian

Please correct the reference to Bieber as an American pop artist.PlainWordsJane (talk) 18:51, 3 October 2013 (UTC)


Edit request on 5 August 2013

Can you please add that Destiny's Child used "twerk it" in 2005's "Check on it". Thanks 108.220.25.52 (talk) 15:46, 5 August 2013 (UTC)

Can you provide a reliable source for your claim? DonIago (talk) 16:17, 5 August 2013 (UTC)

The word Twerk is a cross between Tweaker (A person twitching and body spasms due to excessive drug use) and hooker (Prostitute). Often used by pimps to describe EX employees to damaged (by drugs) to make money. Girls who want to twerk it... are girls who want to work the high-class corner but should not be there. The ladies working on the low end of the prostitution stroll are known and Twerkers. Tweaking hookers.

In retrospect wanting to twerk is the same as wanting to be a broken down tweaking out hooker on the low end of the prostitution corner. This information should be included in the history section. Be it's more modern use is widely used maybe around children who will find out it's real meaning and maybe think that is how females want to be treated.

--Lived on the streets as a youth years 9. --Worked youth street outreach 9 years.

This is not a matter of slander. It's a matter of the word being misused and plastered everywhere.... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.221.75.25 (talk) 14:43, 9 September 2013 (UTC)

-- Sorry but that is just emphasis on the specific connotation/observation that twerking is a bold and vulgar action or behavior. That highly specific usage does not define the word's meaning or its origin. The truth is that quite a few prostitutes who work high society are tweakers but who have the minimum style, manners, and discretion to sort of blend in. If you apply a little thought there are several other words that can be used to point out why a specific prostitute is not qualified for high society work (loud, brassy, disheveled, manic etc) -- all of which are just specific examples of a lack of manners and discretion. 2605:6000:1011:4083:D522:2E64:E9E8:794B (talk) 22:39, 31 October 2013 (UTC)

Etymology

It's a portmanteau of "TWAT" and "jerk". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.72.180.68 (talk) 16:03, 22 August 2013 (UTC)

Do you have a reliable source? DonIago (talk) 16:05, 22 August 2013 (UTC)

Agreed. But reliable source for street slang? LOL - of course Wikipedia means a celebrity source. Since that is usually the first source of published words that an academic can quote. Just amusing that on examination etmologists admit they see language as defined by the popular public written usage of celebrities (including literary celebrities) rather than the public at large. And of course Wikpedia needs to go one step more refined demanding a concensus analysis by authorities as informally appointed by number of published works or perceived popular opinion.

Oh wait you can't quote actual usage because that is merely data for orignal research. You can only use secondary academic sources -- the academic analysis of a previous academic research using quotes as data. Wikipedia still clinging to the idea that etmologies and academic work in general isn't worthwhile until it has 30 years or two generations of consideration befoer being placed before the easily deceived public. Well better than the newspaper scientists doing sciences by popular survey without any experimental design to avoid bias and test for its presence -- worse when its the biochemistry of medicine (which medicine is more effective the one that says organic and natural or this obviously man-made stuff exactly matching the extract from this latin named stuff."

LOL -- Sometimes Wikipedia formality is a bit absurd in a social world that is largely informal. But yes eventually 5 years or so down the line enough celebrities will use a word in a published context enough times that etmologists can formal certify that the word exists. Or course the more vulgar the word...the more common its use will already be before PC society can admit it to the necessary widely circulate public circles. And it may take an additional 5-30 years before there is enough consensus to agree on where the word came from. 2605:6000:1011:4083:D522:2E64:E9E8:794B (talk) 23:01, 31 October 2013 (UTC)

Etymology

Greetings - the Etymology section suggests that this word was created intentionally. As far as I understood it, it grew out of a simple weird pronunciation of a word. I believe there is a 90s dance tune with a repeated phrase "work, baby.." where it SOUNDS like the person is saying "twerk, baby.." but the official lyrics say work. People always used to comment on that unusual pronunciation; when I finally heard of "twerking" I assumed they just assigned a dance move to it. I do not believe there was any concious intent to coin this as an intentional phrase, but rather just chose to assign a dance move to an unusual pronunciation or mis-heard lyric. Centerone (talk) 16:06, 4 August 2013 (UTC) To me, it seems an obvious contraction of the phrase, "to work it."

It doesn't matter what we think or believe the etymology of the word is, as Wikipedia articles rely on information available in reliable sources. DonIago (talk) 15:28, 5 August 2013 (UTC)
I understand the point, the problem is that the reference used to provide this etymology is not terribly reliable, and the way that the etymology is portrayed in context of this article, despite that it says it is "of uncertain origin" provides undue weight to this pure speculation of intentional word creation and provides no alternative. Centerone (talk) 17:27, 5 August 2013 (UTC)
One reason I made this note is that it's something I feel needs being researched, and someone else might already have the knowledge of the song I'm referring to. (I personally have yet to find it, as I wasn't terribly familiar with the genre.) Centerone (talk) 17:28, 5 August 2013 (UTC)

Another theory: It is possible that it is a misspelling/slight mispronunciation of the word "torque," which means to force rotation on an axis, which is indeed what is done with the hips when twerking. See the Wikipedia definition of torque. Also notable is an instance at Comic Con 2013 where physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson made a quip about Ann Druyan's use of the phrase "torque the zeitgeist." Making a play on the similarity of the words "torque" and "twerk," deGrasse Tyson said, "She used 'torquing the zeitgeist,' which is the most awesome pair of words...If you're going to torque something, let it be the zeitgeist," to which the panel moderator responded, "You go, girl!" Dubhlinn2 (talk) 15:10, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

I think this is an unlikely theory. See Occam's razor. The reason I brought up what I brought up is because I actually heard the song I was talking about in the mid-90s and had friends I worked with who commented on the mispronunciation at that time. Also, based on the context it was certainly in a place where the word "work" made sense. It seems highly unlikely that someone might have been using the word torque and just mis-pronouncing it, although I can certainly see how easily torque can be pronounced to sound like twerk. Centerone (talk) 18:00, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
If you wish to apply Occam's razor, then my theory would be far more applicable as yours requires the leap from "work" to "twerk" with no proposed reason for the addition of a "t" sound. Further, Donlago is right -- More evidence is required.

Pretty simple origin. "Twerk" is a mashup of "to work". Add a southern drawl, Ebonics and maybe some Colt 45 malt liquor, and you get "twerk". As in --- "tell dat bitch twerk it..."

The word Twerk is a cross between Tweaker (A person twitching and body spasms due to excessive drug use) and hooker (Prostitute). Often used by pimps to describe EX employees to damaged (by drugs) to make money. Girls who want to twerk it... are girls who want to work the high-class corner but should not be there. The ladies working on the low end of the prostitution stroll are known and Twerkers. Tweaking hookers.

In retrospect wanting to twerk is the same as wanting to be a broken down tweaking out hooker on the low end of the prostitution corner. This information should be included in the history section. Be it's more modern use is widely used maybe around children who will find out it's real meaning and maybe think that is how females want to be treated.

--Lived on the streets as a youth years 9. --Worked youth street outreach 9 years.

This is not a matter of slander. It's a matter of the word being misused and plastered everywhere....

As we've discussed, we need a reliable source that states this information before we can include it. DonIago (talk) 14:49, 9 September 2013 (UTC)

Ok, another theory. The twerk dance step closely resembles the Time Warp dance step (Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1973). The song claims "... It's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane! Let's do the Time Warp again!" That pelvic thrusting was work, compared to the rest of the dance steps. Hence, twerk — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hendersonmc (talk • contribs) 22:22, 22 September 2013 (UTC)

Origin is a lot more earthy I am afraid. portmanteau of "Tw(at) (J)erking" directly referring to simulated doggy style sexual intercourse and particularly the final orgasmatic climax movements (assuming the dancer is athletic enough). 2605:6000:1011:4083:D522:2E64:E9E8:794B (talk) 22:28, 31 October 2013 (UTC) Twerking is when you shake your rear end — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.21.119.18 (talk) 22:15, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

Sexually provocative manner

I clearly disagree that this dancing style is in any way "sexually provocative". The straight opposite may be the case for many individuals as it exposes potential adipositas and a floppy bodyshape which can be disgusting and a real down-turner. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.192.46.39 (talk) 09:19, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

Well, that sounds like your opinion more than anything. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.31jetjet (talk) 23:04, 28 December 2013 (UTC) 31jetjet

Edit request. Please Add Guinness World Record

In September of 2013 Big Freedia, an American musician known for work in the New Orleans genre of hip hop called bounce music, and 358 participants set the Guinness world record by twerking for two minutes straight in New York City. Fuse Article Daily Mail ArticleTime ArticleHuffPost Article 31jetjet (talk) 01:05, 29 December 2013 (UTC) 31jetjet

Edit request on 25 January 2014

Please include information regarding black blues singer Jackie Neal using word Twurk on album "Money can't buy me Love" as found on YouTube.com [1] 

— Preceding unsigned comment added by F11BigBang (talk • contribs) 22:16, 25 January 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 January 2014

" Twerking can carry both gendered and racialized connotations." This line is out of place and doesn't make sense. 24.158.92.197 (talk) 04:06, 27 January 2014 (UTC)

Not done: please make your request in a "change X to Y" format. How would you rewrite it and where would you move it? Keep in mind that the sentence is sourced, and take a look at the topic of the book that's cited. Rivertorch (talk) 21:58, 1 February 2014 (UTC)


Edit request

Please add section :

Internet culture

In 2011 YouTwerk.com was launched where visitors submit and share twerking videos. A subreddit /r/twerk exists where Redditors share and vote on twerk-related content.[2]

LudaLakers (talk) 08:25, 18 April 2014 (UTC)

This would fall under the links to be avoided section of the guidelines.--☾Loriendrew☽ ☏(talk) 14:37, 22 April 2014 (UTC)
Not sure if you mean the actual ref# link or the sources/sites mentioned. Dont have to link directly to the sub reddit or YouTwerk. Though they are part of the genre/trend related to the subject. The External Links are dead. Maybe link them there. LudaLakers (talk) 03:15, 23 April 2014 (UTC)
IMO none of this really constitutes information that should be added to the article unless a reliable source has taken note of it. Websites are created (and taken down) all the time; it's not for us to assert that the creation of websites is notable in and of itself. DonIago (talk) 13:13, 23 April 2014 (UTC)
Know Your Meme (you can Wiki that) is a reliable source that documents and research internet trends and cultures. Reference to their article is provided that covers the edit request. Thats where I got it from. The External links listed have no references or reliable sources besides the fact they are dead links. Someone might want to do something about that. LudaLakers (talk) 22:37, 23 April 2014 (UTC)
I'm going to side with @Doniago: on this one. Know Your Meme doesn't quite fall under Wikipedia's definition of a reliable source, and just the fact that this website exists really isn't enough to merit its inclusion here. cymru.lass (talk • contribs) 07:05, 16 May 2014 (UTC)
Not done: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. Also, reliable sources are sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. I wouldn't consider Know Your Meme a reliable source. Mz7 (talk) 00:29, 17 May 2014 (UTC)
There is consensus here that Know Your Meme is not a reliable source. Thus, I have no Declined the COI edit request as well. Best, Mz7 (talk) 00:31, 17 May 2014 (UTC)

Title "Influences"

Not sure if the information under the "Influence" section is all relevant to the header. Maybe a new header such as "Controversies" should be used to talk about the students, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and possibly include more controversial information that has made media headlines, like Iggy Azaelia.Kayserroll (talk) 23:19, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

Hi Kayserroll. I agree that the Influence subsection needs to be reworked. We normally discourage controversies sections, preferring sections that are thematic or topical. What do you think about incorporating the Influence subsection into the timeline of the Entertainment industry section? There's probably also enough references out there to source a paragraph or subsection on cultural appropriation that discusses the Swift-Cyrus-Azalea incidents and their repercussions. gobonobo + c 06:36, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

Info

'Twerking' ,as it is called, was introduced to the United States around 2000 with the influx of popular West Indian (Caribbean) artiste including Sean Paul, Niki Minaj and others. It's popularity is also fueled by the Carnival Celebrations in Miami, Toronto and Brooklyn (areas populated by the West Indian Diaspora ). The dance of itself is really called a 'wine' made popular almost a century ago as one of the main dances of the Trinidad Carnival which is now accepted as the World's most widely spread Carnival. There a over 100 Trinidad type Carnivals in the World Today as far reaching as Africa, the Far East, Europe and North America. Twerking is just one variation of the 'wine' which is a sensual dance between two partners (Mainly male and female). Some versions include 'wining' fully prostrated on the ground while others are done lifted on another person's shoulder. Many singers have addressed this dance over the last seventy-five years. A search on youtube under 'soca' , 'carnival' , 'wining' should afford informative viewing ..... Public Informaton 186.45.72.90 (talk) 14:55, 22 September 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for the info. Maybe someone will be able to find sources for it and incorporate some of what you're saying into the article. Best regards. Biosthmors (talk) pls notify me (i.e. {{U}}) while signing a reply, thx 15:33, 22 September 2013 (UTC)

You can find twerking in American rap videos going back to 1989-90. I don't know where you get 2000 from. 66.233.214.191 (talk) 12:03, 28 March 2015 (UTC)

origin

There has been somone from OED on UK BBC radio, asserting the word is a portmanteau or twisting and jerking, and there are references back to 1810. This ofc wont stop wikipedia printing innaccurate bollox, however. 81.171.97.135 (talk) 11:06, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Relevance of Kordax information

The information on kordaks contains no references. Also, it's introduced like an excerpt from a source, but not formatted/punctuated as such.

Furthermore, I'm very doubtful of the impact on twerking by this 2500-year old dance from Greece. While there may be some connection, the more recent influences should be mentioned before dances from antiquity. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Scott5K (talk • contribs) 18:43, 31 May 2015 (UTC)

I concur. It's nonsense. Without any connection, or real academic research on the topic, it seems pointless.Centerone (talk) 14:41, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Entertainment industry

Does the section really need to contain so many separate instances of twerking? I mean it's becoming ridiculous. Crash Underride 12:47, 15 October 2015 (UTC)

I'm fairly impressed that they're all sourced, though the sources themselves may bear further scrutiny. Short of that, what criteria would you suggest to determine which instances do/do not belong in the article? DonIago (talk) 16:16, 15 October 2015 (UTC)
I couldn't tell you, but I think listing virtually, ever, single instance of twerking in pop culture is over kill. I say, maybe keep it just the most high profile ones and not "she appears to be twerking in her music video", etc type stuff. Crash Underride 21:41, 15 October 2015 (UTC)
Makes sense to me. DonIago (talk) 14:26, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Greek Origins

I have removed references to Greek origins of Twerking. There is absolutely no evidence of this assertion in the source listed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DanJazzy (talk • contribs) 20:27, 12 November 2015 (UTC)

Deleted banner

The banner was removed because the notion of excessive detail is subjective and this article clearly contains many reputable sources that show the cultural and critical academic interest in this subject. Hexatekin (talk) 18:47, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

As a digital media scholar who examines the intersectionality of race, gender, and age with regards to twerking videos, the banner could lead many readers to stigmatize the information as if being excessive were a problematic issue. The bias here is that both popular culture and expressive cultures associated marginalized youth should not be that complicated even when it is. satisfiedkyraocity (talk) 18:51, 17 December 2015 (UTC)
Personally, I disagree, see the above discussion. CrashUnderride 22:12, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

Twerky - Earlier Recording - BBC Radio 4, Earthsearch II, broadcast January 1982

DJ Jubilee 1980/1993 is misattributed

Twerking - "The earliest use of the word "twerk" on record was produced in a local New Orleans recording by DJ Jubilee."
DJ Jubilee 1993 recording - "DJ Jubilee began DJing at parties in the 1980s and achieved significant recognition for his 1993 cassette single Do The Jubilee All.[3]
This song contains the first recorded use of the word 'twerk'.[4]"

Complete and utter usanian churnalistic shite, based on a 2013 article.

Two articles conflict, twerking infers earliest was 1980's, but he didn't actually record it until 1993.

Earlier uses and recordings of Twerk and Twerky exist before DJ Jubilee's 1993 recording.

BBC radio recordings, broadcast January 1982, Earthsearch A New Adventure Serial in Time and Space is a BBC Radio 4 science fiction series written by James Follett.
Earthsearch II, Surrender, (i.e. series 2, episode 3), characters make 2 mentions of Twerky at 25:30, on the iPlayer recording. [1]

Dialog -
"We've been having some weirdness with some of the androids too, going twerky.",
"? Twerky ?",
"Yeah, ....."
— Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.145.107.27 (talk) 06:37, 4 August 2016 (UTC)

References

  1. ^ Earthsearch II, "Surrender" iPlayer recording, BBC Radio 4 , first broadcast January, 1982.

Reply to previous section: Twerky (adjective) ≠ Twerk (the dance)

To anonymous user who posted above: Thanks for attempting to contribute to the discussion here. To clarify, "twerky" and "twerking" are false cognates.

In linguistics or language use, there is a phenomenon called "False cognate". When two pairs of words appear to a reader or listener to have similar etymology or origin simply because the words share the same letters or sounds. Check the Oxford English Dictionary. The term used in this article is not an adjective ("twerky") as the reference mentioned above from a non-dance context. Twerk is a dance and entered the OED in 2013. There are earlier uses of a term but the symbolic use and meaning is different. — Preceding sheridanford (talk) 12:49, 4 August 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 January 2017

I would like to suggest that the word "twerk" is a portmanteau of the words "butt" and "werk (work)", much like the word "blog" is a portmanteau of "web" and "log" KennZAney1 (talk) 12:23, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

That's fine, but you haven't requested that an edit be made, so there's no need to use the edit request template. If you want something added to the article, you'll need to provide the exact wording you'd like to add, along with a reliable source to support it (we can't use original research). RivertorchFIREWATER 12:54, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

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Quality and NPOV issues (removed and then reverted two separate times)

User Urgaturten inserted phrase "low quality" to describe the "women" who participate in the activity (09:07, 28 August 2020). It was removed by various users and then reverted by the original user on two separate occasions.

This phrase is problematic for reasons too plain to be worthwhile to explain in detail. The repeated reversion in also inappropriate.

Epl (talk) 05:46, 7 October 2020 (UTC)

First mention by Gil Scott-Heron? request on 22 October 2020

Can you clarify that first mention was from Gil Scott-Heron - Moving Target, 1982? -Lyrics- Watch her do it she gon do it real good Left right left right real good Up down up down real good Damn girl shake it shake it real good B.K Got too many hoes Gotta make the switch Spend a million on some shoes hell yeah I'm rich TWERK some girl cuz im killin this shit — Preceding unsigned comment added by Depesha (talk • contribs) 12:04, 22 October 2020 (UTC)

Caribbean Òrigins - Dancehall, wuk up

Hi, I was wondering about a kind of "twerking" in the Caribbean. There is a kind of dance referred to as "work" or "wuk up" for slang and seems to be the exact same thing as twerking or close to it. It seems this work-up dancing was popular in the Caribbean waaay before it got popular in the U.S. Can anyone from the Caribbean confirm this? --Turn685 (talk) 08:00, 31 August 2013 (UTC)

"wuk up" was common when I was in the Caribbean in the 1980s. From Allsopp's Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage: "work up (wuk/wuck up); wukkin(g) up vb phr (Bdos. Guyn, USVI) [AF-Derog] To dance suggestively or erotically, with vigorous gyrations of the waist and hips." The earliest usage cited in Allsopp is from the Bridgetown, Barbados _The Nation_ in 1976: "There was a time when what is called 'working up' was considered to be a socially unacceptable way of expressing oneself in dance. This form of dancing which calls for mass gyrations of the hips in real Bajan is referred to as 'wucking up', is actually part of our black heritage and followed us all the way across the Atlantic. -NaT (76.06.27, p.7, Al's Grapevine)."

-- Gruepig (talk) 18:00, 15 September 2013 (UTC)

Thank you :) Turn685 (talk) 17:00, 28 January 2014 (UTC)

Anyone from the Caribbean would know that the birthplace of so called ``Twerk`` is Jamaican Dance Hall from the 1980`s. We were calling it when it it became mainstream in 2011. I have no clue how they found references for this to say in stated in the the U.S south.

On the article They started with the British / Caribbean origins of the term but then go on to say that its false, which its not. ---The Oxford English Dictionary defines an 18th-century use of the word as a blend of "twist" and "jerk", which was reported by the BBC in conjunction with the black cultural context, but this seems to be an erroneous connection or a false cognate.[10]

In Guyana its was also called jook (jerk). Then later Wukup (Bdos. Guyn, Trinidad). So called twerk (the lewder version of wukup) definitely originated from 1980`s Dance Hall. When Girls in Jamaica went to Dance hall events (away from family eyes), they were able to whatever they want, and in many places there were competitions, so the dancing become more and more audacious, as they tried to out due each other. Definitely Jamaican Dance Hall origins. I dont see how it cant be.Starbwoy (talk) 08:17, 1 December 2020 (UTC)Starbwoy (talk) 08:18, 1 December 2020 (UTC)

@Algomancer: Can you discuss your removal of the section "Linked to Africa and the African diaspora" here? The sources I checked, and the main articles that are wikilinked there, seem to support the section: it clearly, indirectly links the article subject to other dance forms that have existed in Africa for much longer. Idell (talk) 09:19, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

  • @Idell: The title of the section implies twerking has some sort of history or relationship with those dances. The section doesn't contain any scholarly sources that state this, and it relies on original research to imply some sort of relationship that likely doesn't exist. The section vaguely claims that it can been "linked" without stating how it can be linked or who thinks it can be linked.

Algomancer (talk) 10:19, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

I've rewritten the section, added more sources, removed unsourced controversial statements, giving due weight to other opinions as well. Feel free to expand on it, but do not rewrite or suppress history. Idell (talk) 11:40, 13 February 2021 (UTC)


Taylor Swift Aug 2014

I added info on the recent Taylor Swift video & controversy. Any help would be apreciated. Thanks. Brenne (talk) 22:52, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

2011. Taylor Swift, Sarah Silverman, Natalie Hershlag, ... => Karneval in Köln Traditionstanzen, Leute: macht das besser — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:4DD7:5DCC:0:392C:8C63:9DCB:95E3 (talk) 10:41, 22 February 2021 (UTC)

Traditional African origins of twerking

These sources discuss the traditional African origins of twerking it comes from the Mapouka dance

https://sites.psu.edu/mnshermanpassion/2017/03/17/twerking-a-brief-history/

https://progressivepupil.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/african-origins-of-twerking/

https://face2faceafrica.com/article/traditional-african-roots-twerking-videos

https://vocal.media/beat/the-history-of-twerking

Zaqki (talk) 07:01, 1 February 2022 (UTC)

Regardless, I still believe this violates WP:FRINGE, as online Internet media (rather than academia) is the ultimate source of this claim of twerking originating from the traditional cultures of Africa. There is also no evidence that the Mapouka dance is a historical tradition like what these Internet sources are implying. The oldest academic source that discusses the Mapouka dance was published in the year 2000, and it describes the dance within the context of contemporary pop culture rather than a centuries-old tradition. In conclusion, I don't believe there is enough historical and anthropological research on this topic to discuss it without violating WP:PROFRINGE. Algomancer (talk) 07:14, 1 February 2022 (UTC)
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