Words and pictures from the author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes as well as the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries . . .
Friday, January 7, 2011
Euphemistic Language
Reader Wil started it. Her comment yesterday about not saying 'shit' because it was vulgar has led me to this post. (For reasons that should be obvious, my photos have nothing to do with today's natterings. )
So anyway, I got to thinking about some of the euphemisms that are employed rather than offend anyone's ears with the fine old Anglo-Saxon 'shit.'
There's crap and poop and poo poo,
Doo dahs, squat, and shhiz,
Dookie and doodie and doo doo
And who doesn't know Number Two?
Whatever its name
Call it crud, caca, or poo,
Vulgar or not, it's all still the same When it sticks to the sole of your shoe.
Your photos are divine: clean and pure.Nothing to do with shit! I noticed that my children call a spade a spade and never use the euphemistic language my mother wanted us to use.Therefore I love your post! Thanks for visiting and commenting on the flood. In some parts of Australia they need water and in other parts they want dry weather badly.Strange....
That sounds like an adult version of a Shel Silverstein poem! From what I remember of my History of the English language our short succinct Anglo-Saxon words were just words until the Norman invasion. Then, as the upper classes spoke Norman French, the peasantry spoke Anglo-Saxon, and those words became "words not to be used."
Seems that people who deal with shit a lot . . . farmers, I mean . . . have no qualms about calling it by its proper name. I wonder when the word became vulgar. Probably during Queen Victoria's reign. A lot of things became vulgar then.
Thank you KarenB for an explanation. It seems unfair that our "vulgar" words relate to bodily functions that we as living creatures all experience. I prefer the company of earthy words.
That was a fun entry. I never thought about all the alternative words for shit. Lordy! I'm such an old prude that it felt funny even writing that word.
great poem, high literature!!!! love it! I am back online, the wires leading the bits and bytes (far from our property) were somehow corroded and after many, many calls the guy from the Irish telekom came to repair the damage. yeah, missed all of you! happy new year!
Back when I was a home care nurse we had an elderly man who kept removing his colostomy bag. When I stopped using euphemisms about the contents he looked at me in surprise and said, "You mean that's DOOKEY?" After that final understanding he stopped removing the bag.
Well, I'm glad I didn't offend anyone too badly with this silly post! And what great and punny comments! You guys crack me up.
But what's really funny is as I was sitting with my feet up earlier, reading your comments, I caught a familiar odor . . . I'd gone out this morning to empty the ash pan from the fire place, crunching through the new fallen snow (yes, it's snowing again-- all day)and evidently I'd stepped in dog poop (my euphemism of choice) -- how fitting!
26 comments:
Wonderful shit!
Ah great fun ...who would have thought that there are so many terms for faecal matter.
Love it!!!!!
Now that gave me a GOOD laugh first thing in the morning!
Your photos are divine: clean and pure.Nothing to do with shit!
I noticed that my children call a spade a spade and never use the euphemistic language my mother wanted us to use.Therefore I love your post!
Thanks for visiting and commenting on the flood. In some parts of Australia they need water and in other parts they want dry weather badly.Strange....
That sounds like an adult version of a Shel Silverstein poem! From what I remember of my History of the English language our short succinct Anglo-Saxon words were just words until the Norman invasion. Then, as the upper classes spoke Norman French, the peasantry spoke Anglo-Saxon, and those words became "words not to be used."
Since I'm in a French mode, it will have to be merde.
Winter Returned To My Corner Of England This Morning.The Snow Has Really Hit The Fan!
Seems that people who deal with shit a lot . . . farmers, I mean . . . have no qualms about calling it by its proper name. I wonder when the word became vulgar. Probably during Queen Victoria's reign. A lot of things became vulgar then.
Hahahaha. Great post!
What a hoot-I think I'll send it to my mother-n-law : )
Thank you KarenB for an explanation. It seems unfair that our "vulgar" words relate to bodily functions that we as living creatures all experience. I prefer the company of earthy words.
That was a fun entry. I never thought about all the alternative words for shit. Lordy! I'm such an old prude that it felt funny even writing that word.
LOL What a funny way to start my day! Love the telephoto of the birds on the top of the tree...
Oh, crap! I really missed a good day here yesterday on Vicki Lane Mysteries. Nevermind. Today is top of the(dung)heap! Love you all! :-))
Elora
Excreta...atingly funny!
Vicki, Good job! (pun) -- barbara
When my sister and I were growing up our parents had substitute expletives
that they used when we were around.
Dad--blasted sac-arac, dirty bric-a-brac
Mom-schizzle dizzle dit
First one not related to today's topic but the second one may be...or maybe not.
Lynne in GA
great poem, high literature!!!! love it! I am back online, the wires leading the bits and bytes (far from our property) were somehow corroded and after many, many calls the guy from the Irish telekom came to repair the damage. yeah, missed all of you! happy new year!
Back when I was a home care nurse we had an elderly man who kept removing his colostomy bag. When I stopped using euphemisms about the contents he looked at me in surprise and said, "You mean that's DOOKEY?" After that final understanding he stopped removing the bag.
Well, I'm glad I didn't offend anyone too badly with this silly post! And what great and punny comments! You guys crack me up.
But what's really funny is as I was sitting with my feet up earlier, reading your comments, I caught a familiar odor . . . I'd gone out this morning to empty the ash pan from the fire place, crunching through the new fallen snow (yes, it's snowing again-- all day)and evidently I'd stepped in dog poop (my euphemism of choice) -- how fitting!
Cute post! Some of those words I like better than others!
Gorgeous photos, and well this story is going somewhere,,, ???
joanny
Poopoo to you! You put a smile on my face with this one.
In the words of support for one of our Presidents: "Give 'em Hell Harry!"
Words, when appropriately used, are like forcing everyone to drink tea without sugar. If you want it sweet, look elsewhere.
Love your posts and so does WIL. It's just fun to poke fun, isn't it.
so true!
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