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Cdaniels
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 663
Location: Dunwich, Massachusetts
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 Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject: Speak of the devil! |
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| Source: The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition (www.dictionary.com) |
See what I mean!  |
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Roger
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:34 am Post subject: |
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PC language certainly is rigorously selective in who or what is to be couched in more poetic/polite words and phrases. American novels are replete with ethnically derogatory monikers while the newsmedia have to exercise some restraint (some, but not too much) in describing foreign nationalities: you can read "dago" and "frog" or "fritz" some of them but you won't see "*beep*" nor "Chinaman" any more (I personally laud the effort of suppressing the word "*beep*").
The problem is, however, that you cannot control the minds of people; if you want to disparage an ethnic group you will always find a new way of expressing your contempt. Thus the ban on politically-incorrect language is counterproductive.
We can also see that in how society deals with swear words: "oh my God", "Jesus Christ" are now tolerated (though in years past they would attract the attention of the clerical thought police); a son of a bitch is now a printable expression as are words such as "motherf.uckers" (in some media you have to circumvent electronic detection by inserting a space or another character...!).
Finally, PC is not so modern as some think; the English language is infamous for its plethora of euphemisms for the word 'toilet'. Clearly, this word and its various synonyms causes not a few people a lot of discomfort and embarrassment. |
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KES
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 722
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:40 am Post subject: |
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| Roger: American novels are replete with ethnically derogatory monikers while the newsmedia have to exercise some restraint (some, but not too much) in describing foreign nationalities: you can read "dago" and "frog" or "fritz" some of them |
Roger, please name these sources. Can you provide a single example of a single respectable newpaper, magazine or news outlet that uses the term "frog", "dago", or "fritz" to describe foreign nationalities.?
Just one will do. |
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XXX
Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 174
Location: Where ever people wish to learn English
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Who spreads PC? That's easy. A bunch of neo Maoist that lurk in some of our Universities. Where did the term originate? During the Cultural Revolution in Red China. Need I say more? |
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Henry_Cowell
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| XXX wrote: |
| Where did the term originate? During the Cultural Revolution in Red China. Need I say more? |
No, you don't need to tell us any more. You made two mistakes in your two assertions. There's no need for additional errors of that magnitude.  |
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merlin
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 582
Location: Somewhere between Camelot and NeverNeverLand
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:33 am Post subject: |
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Hey, let's go back in history and see if we can find the pre-20th century usage of PC terms.
So - "Manifest Destiny" = Might is Right
"Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness" = Just don't want to pay taxes
"Pursuit of Happiness" = Owning Slaves (Originally was supposed to be "property" based on Locke but was revised)
"Bucaneer" = pirate |
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