An additional comment, specifically on why I like certain euphemisms.
Obviously, some language sounds better than other language. Language can sound different depending on the circumstance and the speaker.
Under certain circumstances, the well-placed expletive conveys a lot of meaning. But if used too liberally, these words not only lose their rhetorical punch, but they convey the idea that the speaker is not a very creative soul. Shades of meaning begin to evaporate in a black and white world of words where you always go for the nuclear option.
Euphemisms can, at times, appear wimpy. People avoid using certain words to spare the ears of children or others. It is an attempt to be polite or thoughtful, but it is a blunted version of your intention. This is one reason why it's better to strive use sharp, honest, precise, and creative non-vulgar language when possible. It takes more wit, but you can put the edge back on your language and avoid looking like a dolt.
On the other hand, I like to use certain euphemisms out of exasperation rather than anger. I can see a well placed "feck off" or "shove it in your ear" not as a compromise between your anger and your language, but rather conveying the feeling that the object of your frustration is not actually worth the vulgar language.
It's easier to pull that off if you're a creative communicator, but I think it's a valuable shade of meaning. Next time you want to curse someone or something out, consider denying them the full force of a vulgar expletive, thereby showing them they don't deserve your most heated anger.
Posted by James at July 2, 2008 4:22 PMI find it interesting that some people consider that saying a "bad word" in a foreign language is like using a euphemism. "Scheisse!", some will exclaim. Or "Merde!" Why does that make it more OK? Does it sound nicer? More erudite? If we all know what it means, does it soften anything?
There was an episode of Scrubs in which Dr Reid translates for Dr Dorian with a German patient (Sarah Chalke actually does speak fluent German). In one scene, they get into an argument, and Dr Reid spews something in German, the end of which is "Arschloch!", translated in the subtitles as "Jerk!" Of course, it's comedy, so one isn't really sure, but do they really think it's OK to say "Asshole!" in German, but not in English?
My favourite euphemism is "Ha-shem", which is actually a second-level euphemism. Hebrew blessings all contain the ineffable name of God, the "tetragrammaton" (written YHVH). That word is never spoken, so the euphemism "Adonai" (written YY) is substituted. Some Orthodox Jews consider that you shouldn't even say that when you're not seriously praying, so when they're just talking about God, reciting the prayer in class, or the like, they replace "Adonai" with "Ha-shem", which means "the name".
And in Quebec, the "bad words" are religious. They swear by saying "Chalice!" and "[Communion] Host!", and "Tabernacle!" Sort of like the Victorian English "Zounds!"
Posted by: Barry Leiba at July 2, 2008 9:33 PMYou are focusing on meaning, but I don't think you meant to reduce these words to their definitions.
That's part of what I'm concerned with here; mood is conveyed in the type of language you choose. At the most base level of interpretation, your words can be reduced to their definitions. Shades of meaning are another level, and sound is yet another level.
"Feck" is complicated because some contexts use it as "to leave hastily" -- and so "Feck off" could just be telling someone to hit the road.
Just the fact that this interpretation exists softens the phrase.
As far as using foreign phrases is concerned, they certainly sound different to my ears even when I know what they mean.
Posted by: James at July 2, 2008 11:19 PMIt's cultural, so not being raised as a native French or German speaker, merde and scheisse, although I learned the meanings when I studied the languages, do not have the same impact as the English equivalent. And someone could swear left and right under my nose in Portuguese (and people probably have, we hear Portuguese all the time here) and I'd never know it.
I've met people who are very, very offended by certain words, and I think it's partly who they are and partly how they were raised. My own daughters bleep me when I swear -- obviously I didn't teach them that.
M and I were talking today about "fugly," and she suggested "bugly." They're a lot more fun to say than "ugly," or the words they're contracted from. I just like the way fugly sounds.
Posted by: Maggie at July 3, 2008 12:08 AM