Unutterably Silly Roomba Kitteh

[slayda]

Originally Posted by RWood

My teachers never seemed to like the use of certain Anglo-Saxon words like (as Lenny Bruce would say in his coy moments), "the short word for loving."

There was a constant effort in English classes when I went to school (at least in the schools I attended) to stress the elimination of short Anglo-Saxon words when there was another (longer) French derived word. In addition to awkward speech and writing patterns it also produced a gulf between writing for English classes and writing for Physics or History classes. I later adopted the AP Style Guide and the Chicago Manual of Style and have purged most of the high school English class material.

Some years ago while trying to teach my daughter about "acceptable" language I said that should one say, "BS." in society, everyone would know what you meant and it would be reasonably acceptable. However saying, "Bull S--t." would be frounded at. On the other hand, saying, "Male bovine feces." would probably seem cute. The bottom line is it stinks the same when you step in it, whether literally or societally.

I began to think about words and the "hows" & "whens" of their proper usage when I was 30 visiting a in a city park. During a dog show there, they announced over the loud speakers, "The showing of the bitches will begin at two o'clock." I cringed because I had been train (Pavlovenly) that "bitch" was a dirty word. I realized that it was not a dirty word when properly used. Further thinking made me realize that there were no dirty or bad words, just times when one should not use some words in certain ways and that every word has an acceptable time and circumstance for its usage. While this has not made me socially exceptable, it has allowed me to have a larger working vocabulary.

Also in concert with several previous posts, the word "vulgar" originally just meant "common" so those "common" Saxons were, of course, vulgar.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by wayrad

I think Sir Walter Scott may have been the first one to point out the different English terms for animals and their meat. From Ivanhoe, 1819:

"Why, how call you those grunting brutes running about on their four
legs?" demanded Wamba.

"Swine, fool, swine," said the herd, "every fool knows that."

"And swine is good Saxon," said the Jester; "but how call you the sow
when she is flayed, and drawn, and quartered, and hung up by the heels,
like a traitor?"

"Pork," answered the swine-herd.

"I am very glad every fool knows that too," said Wamba, "and pork, I
think, is good Norman-French; and so when the brute lives, and is in
the charge of a Saxon slave, she goes by her Saxon name; but becomes a
Norman, and is called pork, when she is carried to the Castle-hall to
feast among the nobles; what dost thou think of this, friend Gurth, ha?"

Oh, that is positively brilliant!!! Thanks for pointing that quote out.

Originally Posted by slayda

Some years ago while trying to teach my daughter about "acceptable" language I said that should one say, "BS." in society, everyone would know what you meant and it would be reasonably acceptable. However saying, "Bull S--t." would be frounded at. On the other hand, saying, "Male bovine feces." would probably seem cute. The bottom line is it stinks the same when you step in it, whether literally or societally.

I began to think about words and the "hows" & "whens" of their proper usage when I was 30 visiting a in a city park. During a dog show there, they announced over the loud speakers, "The showing of the bitches will begin at two o'clock." I cringed because I had been train (Pavlovenly) that "bitch" was a dirty word. I realized that it was not a dirty word when properly used. Further thinking made me realize that there were no dirty or bad words, just times when one should not use some words in certain ways and that every word has an acceptable time and circumstance for its usage. While this has not made me socially exceptable, it has allowed me to have a larger working vocabulary.

Also in concert with several previous posts, the word "vulgar" originally just meant "common" so those "common" Saxons were, of course, vulgar.

I had a long talk with my mother about that when I was young. My position is, a word is just a word. It has no power unless it is given power. Call a human being a "bitch" with the intent to hurt them, and that is no more right than stabbing them with a knife. Call a female dog a bitch .... well, that's just using the same knife to put a little butter on your bread and there is nothing wrong with that.

When I whack myself with a hammer while putting in a nail, all sorts of Anglo Saxon words are likely to come out of my mouth .... however, my point to my mother was that since they are not directed at anyone ... maybe at the hammer, but that's not an anyone .... then the word has no power. It is merely stress relief.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Linguistically ... two cultures made up the biggest part of the language, but then, if you start considering that French was Latin based, and that some portions of "Norman French" are actually Danish based ... then throw in the Celtic and Gaelic input to the language .... and POOF .... English. Oh, and before I forget ... there's the Greeks to consider as well.

Don't forget the Atlanteans and aliens. I'd mention trilobytes, but their language was rather primitive and became rapidly calciferous.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Oh, that is positively brilliant!!! Thanks for pointing that quote out.



I had a long talk with my mother about that when I was young. My position is, a word is just a word. It has no power unless it is given power. Call a human being a "bitch" with the intent to hurt them, and that is no more right than stabbing them with a knife. Call a female dog a bitch .... well, that's just using the same knife to put a little butter on your bread and there is nothing wrong with that.

When I whack myself with a hammer while putting in a nail, all sorts of Anglo Saxon words are likely to come out of my mouth .... however, my point to my mother was that since they are not directed at anyone ... maybe at the hammer, but that's not an anyone .... then the word has no power. It is merely stress relief.

My problem with those short Anglo-Saxon words (upon hitting my thumb/finger with a hammer) is that they are so short I have to repeat them several times. My usual is the longer spelled out form of SOB. One time through is normally sufficient to relieve my stress.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by slayda

My problem with those short Anglo-Saxon words (upon hitting my thumb/finger with a hammer) is that they are so short I have to repeat them several times. My usual is the longer spelled out form of SOB. One time through is normally sufficient to relieve my stress.

i agree longer is better for relieving stress. i usually prefer some french words to anglo-saxon ones, but the principle is the same.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i agree longer is better for relieving stress. i usually prefer some french words to anglo-saxon ones, but the principle is the same.

So, what you're saying is that you're a snob, then?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

So, what you're saying is that you're a snob, then?

to that i can only reply this.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by slayda

My problem with those short Anglo-Saxon words (upon hitting my thumb/finger with a hammer) is that they are so short I have to repeat them several times. My usual is the longer spelled out form of SOB. One time through is normally sufficient to relieve my stress.

Oh, but that's the part I love. Screaming F**K over and over and over again at the top of my lungs ... sometimes as fast as I can. When I cut my thumb off in the gym (1994 or so) I think I did about two minutes of the one word.

And, yes they put it back ..... because you know your curious. See, there it is .....

[wayrad]

Thinking back to the original topic, has anyone seen Slinky Kitteh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75s2RBQhSM

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by wayrad

Thinking back to the original topic, has anyone seen Slinky Kitteh? (darn, link didn't appear, trying to get it now...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75s2RBQhSM

oh, that was HILARIOUS !!! cats are such freaks...

[zelda_pinwheel]

strange but true : that cat is not the only slinky !!!



insane.

[wayrad]

The best part is that audible "klunk" on the last step!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by wayrad

The best part is that audible "klunk" on the last step!

heh. that, and the way the cat does not appear to have any bones at all.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Oh, but that's the part I love. Screaming F**K over and over and over again at the top of my lungs ... sometimes as fast as I can. When I cut my thumb off in the gym (1994 or so) I think I did about two minutes of the one word.

And, yes they put it back ..... because you know your curious. See, there it is .....

Ricky, there must be better (less painful) ways to exercise and loose weight!

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by slayda

My problem with those short Anglo-Saxon words (upon hitting my thumb/finger with a hammer) is that they are so short I have to repeat them several times. My usual is the longer spelled out form of SOB. One time through is normally sufficient to relieve my stress.

Originally Posted by slayda

Ricky, there must be better (less painful) ways to exercise and loose weight!

NOW you tell me!!!