Slang words
I wanted your opinion on something… YouTube allows all forms of language except for hate-speak. Should I censor myself in my videos when it comes to slang words (curse words, to be more specific), or speak them outright as they are just as important a part of the language as regular words. Please take the poll below and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks,
Marina
Should I use slang words in my lessons?
- Yes… and don’t bleep them, as you are allowed to use them in your profession. (69%, 551 Votes)
- No… please remain pure! (25%, 202 Votes)
- Yes… but bleep them out! (6%, 46 Votes)
Total Voters: 799
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Hey Marina,
You’re the hottest teacher on the planet. Where did the word “nookie” come from? Did I say that you were HOT? Keep it up.
I would say *never* censor *any* of Your media unless it happens to be *aimed* at a childrens or church type of audience. There’s no kids looking over My shoulder so I say,,fuckin don’t worry about it,swear as much as You fuckin please to swear,,Goddamnitallanyway! Might as well add to free speech instead of stifling it like the politically correct crap-ass groups wanna do! LOL! Have at it Babe!
unless you become truly foaming-at-the-mouth irate (i.e., a mad russian…worse, a mad russian woman), i doubt any utterances from your sweet lips would be construed as anything other than…
necessary…
Should a Doctor be censored for using the word “penis” as it may offend a patient? As long as you do not use the lords name vainly, then I see nothing wrong in using a word in discussion of origin if it is important to the lesson. If you want to remain pure, then live pure, but that alone won’t get you into heaven. Remember that.
There is no such thing as a dirty word. Nor is there a word so powerful, that it’s going to send the listener to the lake of fire upon hearing it.
– Frank Zappa
Hello, teacher!
Do as you wish about them, because you should talk as natural as possible, and as you like.
Anyway, I suggest you don’t abuse of slang words, because you can use the richness of the language by using a variety of words (
Classes must have a serious part (more professional), and a more funny part, don’t think so, Marina? 
synonymous, etc) After all, you are phylologyst. But I think that using curse words sometimes in your cuts or after the class are OK. It’s very human
See you!
The use of profanity has become so standard now days that there are many who will not even notice.
That being said. The use of profanity is generally the sign of a lack of intelligence, people curse because they do not know a more effective way to express themselves or they do so purely for shock value.
With that observation comedians who rely too heavily on cursing usually aren’t that funny, they only get the laughs from the shock value. This is also playing to the lowest element in society.
Just remember what is todays “proper” speech was yesterdays slang [;
It all depends on how it’s used.
I am new here and I am infatuated like I am sure allot of you are.. Do not change a thing… Keep it simple, And you are doing way to well you can not help but to grow. Congrats on your success..
Marina,
The only reason I voted for “bleeping” them out is that I like some younger visitors would gain a lot of information.
In fact I have told some friends of mine, that have children, they should make their kids watch this “show”
In fact you could do another one (just what you need more work) one aimed and kids, K-12 .
Just my 2 cents.
Yours,
Robert
Self-censorship is just plain wrong. The artist should never change they’re message to placate the masses. Leave it to the individual to hide they’re own head in the sand. It is they’re responsibility. To do otherwise is to allow the most closed minds to control what is considered appropriate
Once upon a time the world was considered flat.
I don’t get what you mean self-censorship is wrong, I censor what I say, what I write & even what I do but I DON’T WANT OTHERS TO CENSOR ME. caps lock oops. I didn’t self censor. I’m fairly aware of the world around me & I try to make a possitive difference in my little spere of influence. My driveway’s considerably flat.. If everybody did they’re own self censoring & showed a little understanding toward other individuals (Forgetting the masses) a different world it would be. We, as a society depend far to much on media & big influence to direct our way of thinking, but I consider who I’m talking to Individually, and then II will comunicate. If I’m speaking to a latge audience I will tailor it to the spere of imfluence that gives my communication context. ie I wouldn’t go to a slum & tell the people there they have to conserve energy & cut back on carbon emmisions it would be just stupid of me not to censor myself. But i would try to encouragge & give hope & inspiration to those in need along with tangable help where neccesary.
Did you really mean self- censorship is wrong , if so enlighten me.
First, the question was on the use of slang terms and whether she should censor herself by using them or not.
All words are equal in that they are part of the language. People swear everyday. Why pretend otherwise? Why pretend slang terms don’t exist. Why use them but bleep them. It only gives them more percieved power than they deserve.
If the word fits and has context to the message then use it. I’m not so simple minded I can’t see the difference between the ignorance one who’s every third word is fuck and one who uses it with true meaning.
Secound , she uses a mass media outlet. That means anyone can look or not. It’s they’re responsibility to turn the channel. It’s they’re responsibility to protect they’re kids. Not the artists. Not the media outlets unless they’re advertising to them. She’s already made her content adult oriented by flashing her big tits and hot body all over the place. To use sex to sell.
Why is that okay but not the use of slang terms or the discussion of they’re meanings? Why are you here and not talking to some dowdy librian.
By censoring yourself your changing the message to suit me. Your saying I’m too stupid to decide for myself. Allowing me to remain ignorant rather than give me the chance to see.
My driveway is considerably flat also. But you know what? Water runs off it. There is a curve there. No denying it.
Thznks for the quick repy, so you somewhat agree self sensorship is right and thats what HFW does. As far as I know censorship started making tits more interesting by covering them up, breasts are origionally for children anyways. If Marina were completely exposed in her videos, it wouldn’t be sexy, to me anyways.
I enjoy the sirrus radio shows & the way Marina handles all the word origins & she is carefull & remains very classy as well as sexy. I.m still out on which side of the bleepin thing though. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6lcmNaXmjvs ,can add humour.
I am a shop owner & when I have to tell my customer what’s fucking wrong with his piece of shit car as explained by the tech. I tailor my explaination to their sensitivitys’.
I was not attracted to the HFW phenom by her looks anyways, but because , as my brother says, she is captivating. the first HFW video I saw was http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=JHWFaikkIPY
My driveway is to damn flat, if the drain plugs up I got a big mess on my hands. Thanks again
Don’t put words in my mouth. I’ll stand by my original statement. Your example simply doesn’t qualify. You (not an artist) speaking with a customer (not a mass of viewers) isn’t on the same level.
Everyone self-censors when he or she chooses what he or she wants to say and what he or she doesn’t want to say. I choose not to curse around young children, for example. That’s not wrong.
No intention to put words in your mouth meant. Thanls for the conversation, its no fun to argue if everybody agrees.
Well you polled everyone, got the answer listened to the overwhelming majority and delivered profanity with a warning for the kids.
Very professional behaviour I must say Marina.
Although your bloopers are deliberately left in thus reducing the professionalism they are very entertaining and do give you a very endearing honest quality.
Sounds a bit condescending sorry but keep up the good work. We are all proud of you and hearing about you.
And of course being far 2hotforwords you have got the Wired magazine in the bag (the one that let the cat out !)
I see that you shared my idea of making the alter ego sister take the blame for anything naughty by uttering the profanity.
We need to start a new adjective that means Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, + pulchritudinous x 100
Maybe with your popularity you can go into the etymological history books for being the source of the words marinaistic, marinaism, LOL
Why not use slang? It’s part of our everyday vocabulary. As long as you aren’t profane or obscene, go for it!. Two hundred years ago George Washington said “Profanity is ignorance made audible.” Still applies today and from what I see you are anything but an ignorant woman. While we’re at it, what is the etymology of the word “slang”? Where did “slang” come from?
What is the origin of the word “salsa” referring to the dance, not the food condiment.
What is the origin of the word coquette?
inteligent thought-out discussions with adults shouldn’t be censored. That said; You tube is a public forum that children access. Making or using slang words or profanity in your videos could get you in trouble with the parents or others that find it offensive. I didn’t vote in your survey because its your choice on how to deal with the content of your videos. The responcibility lies only with you.
I don’t see any reason to censor yourself. Just the opposite, you are a teacher, teach what you feel is appropriate.
However, I don’t think that automatically means you have to focus undue attention on slang or as you say curse words. If you honestly feel it adds something to the discussion, use it.
People, as I said before the proclivity to pepper one’s prose with profanity, prevents the perception of proffesionalism thus prohibiting the participants, in the practice, from proceeding up the provebial pegs on the ladder of praise from all precincts. Got to go p now.
If you get desensitized to whatever you call it I just wrote, too many p words, it can’t be good, can it?
If you need to be desensitized to the f-bomb so called.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2ZgaQ_H-Y
“Do you have to use so many cuss words” Not so many as so often.
Profanity is a different subject, tends to polarize people, actualy people have a propensity to polarize themselves.
I’m a Christian, and that sets up a perception amongst folks that ranges from fear, to anger to false praise towards me. The broad term “christian” is so different in the way its perceved that I wouldn’t think of lighting that fire here, So I will just say that for me (in a lot of areas I admit to being a hypocrite) The same tongue I use to Praise God, is the same one that I should not curse men with. Its a struggle that I have. Cheers, sorry i’ve got to abreviate my comments ,
Some slang words that should be researched:
Butt Fuck Egypt (or England) or Bum Fuck Egypt/England
aviation blonde
balloon knot
ain’t no thing but a chicken wing
beat around the bush
coyote ugly
jump the shark
mondo bizarro
negatory
open a can of whoop-ass
pissing for shits and giggles
poon tang
cock block
schlong
MILF
I don’t think it’s a freedom of speech factor, you were referencing the origin of a word. Censoring the definition would have stripped the validity of it’s background.
It’s not like you were calling someone a shit eater
If you can express the words with a video demonstration it is O.K.,
What is written in OED and what is common sense in popular rap music you can use. gobstopper fizzy lifter and typical party words belong in that context and if that is not understood it can easily
be demonstratet.
If you believe that a public person would use the word on
Speakers’ Corner you can use it.
What you cannot do or say or express in front of a policeman
or policewoman is not in my interest to learn.
Shakespeare was known for using all kinds of language.
And all words.
Winston Churchill was also known for very good speeches,
and excellent writing.
Anything which comes to the media and is in public discussion
for an interested listener esp BBC will always be part of public opinion.
What could be a problem is if you take a toy teddy bear and names it Mohammed. please don’t.
you should definately use curse words if need be. our languages are ever changing and adapting to the life and times of the peoples! for example the word shit. from what ive found long ago in the days of early colinization they shipped manure over from europe in large crates on ships in crates for fertilization of fields and such. well with all the water coming into the ship from the rain the crates would get wet and when dried manure gets wet it releases methane gas. on these ships at night you had to go below deck to smoke because of the light of embers pirates could see you. well when they went into the cargo hold of these ships to smoke that trapped methane gas would ignite and the whole ship would burn. so they started transporting these crates on the deck of the ship and wrote Ship High In Transport on these crates, or s.h.i.t. for short.
Здравствуйте Марина
You have enough devoted students that you do not need You-tube. If you had your own stand alone website you do not need anyone’s permission. I’d follow you anywhere, okay I am not going to LA. I’d be to nervous to bend over and pick up my dropped notebook.
Искренне ваш Ралф Мари
Marina, I voted that you should use the words as freely as you like without bleeping them. But the real answer is that you should do what you are comfortable doing. If you don’t like using a word, don’t use it. Use the language you are comfortable using, and be true to yourself as well as your science.
~ Rod
As was told to me by a professor of English, if you understood what he meant, it doesn’t matter if he used the correct form of language. Getting the point or meaning across is what is important. So, with that being said, slang should be accepted as long as everyone understands or agrees to it’s meaning.
Marina, what is “just a skoche” as relates to a measurement or distance?
I disagree with your professor. Using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation is important, as is correct word usage. These rules assist in conveying meaning, because they are common rules.
Breaking them is fine, but as many great writers have said, you should know the rules in order to properly break them.
…although to be clear - using curse words is not necessarily a violation of any rule.
Understood.
At the time, someone with little education was giving a speech. I can’t remember what the topic was but I casually asked if it bothered him that a particular word was being used incorrectly. He stated that after all of his years of teaching, correcting everyone would be constant and would use all of his time. Some writing has more “meaning” if it is written in the native tongue of the writer.
We could spend too much time correcting everyone and not enough listening to them. Great writers or not, isn’t the idea to communicate? This could be argued for a long time, but I still think that “slang” can be used appropriately if it gets the meaning across.
I agree with his professor.
rules are arbitrary. without breaking the rules, there can be no language change. which would be odd now, wouldn’t it?
linguists assocciate with “grammar” something else than non-linguists. when a linguist talks about grammar, he refers to the grammar in your head. now, we’re talking language systems. a system consists of two things. one, its elements. two, the relations(hips?) between those elements.
you have words in your head. this is your mental dictionary (those are the elements). by the age of three, humans usually have acquired a great deal of their mother tongue’s grammar (how to build sentences, phrases, questions, and so fort), that is, they know the syntactic rules (those are the relations). by the age of six, their linguistic development is complete.
you’re talking about spelling and punctuation. this applies to written language. written language is rather unimportant to linguists. try to see it as some sort of side effect.
can you talk to a six-year-old? will you be able to understand him? yes, you will. will he be able to understand you? yes, he will.
again, language is not based on rules that you find in a book.
when acquiring a language, children automatically look for rules and apply them. think of the “incorrect” usage of plural forms, like, “childs” instead of “children”. -s seems to be their default for forming plural forms (you can argue that the default suffix for plural forms in english is a null suffix, but that is another story).
Leave the profanity out. There is enough of it in the world and you have a lifetime of other interesting words to choose from. Save that stuff for Maxim. After all, you are worth more than just shock value.
Medfordguy
Hello Marina, it is also possible to use German words to explain, of course in Englisch language ? Thank you for a short Info !
i say “fuck” the P.M.R.C. just like megadeth’s hook in mouth explains. please say what you want to say.
Marina,
I for one have a problem with all the censorship. People just don’t get it. Words are just the an arrangement letters of an alphabet. For some reason we have taken it upon ourselves to protect people who perceive that someone is insulting them or hurting them because of what they think the intended meaning of the word is. This is like trying to protect stupid people from being labeled as stupid. As for vulgar or profane that’s a matter of religion which I happen to subscribe to the Zeitgeistmove.com theory. Unless having a clear understanding by person who receives them, I think words are meaningless. Does a miss spleled wrod hvae a different meaning?
http://www.platonia.com/papers.html
well not that i care or that you would read it , but using foul language is not very nice , i use it all the time but thats because im most of the time pissed off. any way you are very pretty princess. ti ochen krasivaya.
Anyone using sland/curse words generally come across as slow minded and lowbrow even in youtube world, why do that to a successful forum?
Correction *slang* for the spelling police
Dear teacher,
Are there slang words in other languages than English? If so, what are some examples?
I noticed when in Holland last week tabacco is called Shag. Anyone know how this got mixed up as a slang word for sex?
See Austin Powers’ references to “Shagging”. Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s “shag” style carpeting was a very popular decorative choice for one’s home. It had a very deep, loose type of pile which was well suited to f–king on the floor, from which I believe the term “shagging” originated. Hence, shag = sex!
oh Behave!
nice theory tho, makes good sence. Have to go now and find my mojo!!!
Do not find slang intelectually stimulating by any means,and you could debate the subject “until the cows come home!”.Many good points both pro & con,however in the context that you are using them I personally find no offense.
Love your show,
I think there is a danger in moving too much to the level of your audience. The reason why I stopped to watch your video all the way is that you appear to be a reserved and cultured person, and because you are sincere as a teacher and offer interesting content. If I had heard indiscriminant profanity, I would not have finished it.
Also, do you really want to attract all the “jagoffs” in the world to your site? It already borders on porn-lite. Porn, as opposed to art, is marked by combining sex and excrement, violence, faux or real torture or pain, the degradation of women, etc. That is to say, it is anti-intellectual, emotional feed for the bored and boring.
If anything, I should think you would want to be a bit more feminist, to inspire young girls to have self-respect and not just do what the boys all want. You should want to have a positive “self-resepcting” model of “sexy.”
(You should also avoid touching your breasts while dancing in the videos.)
Of course, if you ask this kind of survey question, involving freedom of speech, you will always get the kind of result that you do. The web tends to be libertarian in this regard.
As a general marketing rule, once you find a formula that works, stick with it, however….
….one of my customers runs a corn-porn portal site and has come up in the world to the point of being chummy with Howard Stern, who I detest. I am not going to mention the website name because it is already way too popular, with an internet ranking < 4000. (BTW: an original word origin for your readers: they call their clients “beaters.”) You do not need to be be so popular…but if you do want that, you would do better to shoot for Oprah rather than the dirty man show.
If you called it something different like scat or, bleep it your still talking about the same thing. There will always be someone offended by what is said to a group of people.
Use those words and don’t bllep em.
In the first place, the bleep is useless as you still can figure out what word is about to come an second, in my eyes this bleeping-thing is typically american. Like “Hoooo those words are so evil!” but in the News, you see shot or blown up people every day. What is more evil…?
Besides
Everyone uses the words, everyone knows them but in TV, they bleep it out. AFTER the 1st letter, like f-bleep- or sh-bleep-….who the hell won’t know what word was said?
Of course, just be yourself Marina. Explain the words, educate us all & entertain us all at the same time! Vulgar or not - who cares …
Marina,
Are you trying to create controversy for the sake of calling attention to yourself? You do not need this. You may be spending too much time on talk radio. This tactic is beneath you. It appeals to the wrong demographic.
You are an educator. What is it that you wish to teach people?
You are a cultural icon. Is this the behaviour that you want to instill in others? Is this the culture that you want to promote?
What it comes down to is a simple question. What do you value? Be true to you and your viewership will
The other question is, what do you want to be admired for? Whose regard to you value? Before you decide you should read the autobiography of Marilyn Munro.
“Whew”… Affirmed.
Thank you teacher, Miss Marina. Howard Stern has his schtick, and it seems that not everything that a man does, works well with women. Awhile ago ( 1987?), Mr. Michael really really bad Jackson seemed to be preoccupied with random crotch grabbing in his videos. It sort of worked for him, but when Madona tried to push the envelope to do the same thing, she did not get positive results. On behalf of only myself, this dear student is happy that Hotforwords/ Marina distinguishes herself between profanity and slang. Thank you!
what is more pure than truth - these are words we experience, not to know about them helps ignorance.
Marina,
You are so beautiful. Don’t use the ugly words, the are not becoming. If there is an educational reason, then by all means, use them -sparingly-.
You have a great thing going here, and the more professional you remain the farther you can take this.
I know most of your students would like you to go the other direction, use the foul language and start posting on YouPorn where you don’t have to keep your bikini on. As much as I’d enjoy that, I don’t think that is the carreer path you want to follow. ;o)~
Keep up the good work. I’m learning lots and lovin’ every minute of it.
type with a jamaican accent? There is difference between type with a cultural accent and type like a retarded monkey…..
it just seeming strange to me to seeing someone type like it and say its jamaican, when I have brothers inlaw who is jamaican and his words don’t looking like that. I pasted copy your message to him on yahuy, he will find its humorous how people think to spell jamaican words lol
His communication is a personal expression, he can do with it what he wants. I understood what he said, thats what matters. Successful communication.
hey marina. mi ah wan u keep usin d words like a normal person wuld do it. it dont mattah as dem words is part of d english language so use dem….no point inna bleep dem out.
i talk jamaican online and off. deal wid it for those ppl who think i mutilate the english language. it aint no gangsta bull. its just how mi ah speak inna realf life an mi ah fi do it online 2.
peter tosh will rock steady forever.
after reading of all this, maybe your next word should being ‘epeen’
You should discuss slang but avoid vulgarities if possible.
I don’t mind your using slang words, It’s your job to say those words and explain them, but I don’t want you go overboard, I like to take your lessons and pass them on to other people. I don’t want to only be talking about slang words.
Marina:
I do not think you should use them on a regular basis it would make you look cheap and less intelligent, but once and a while would be fine if used in the proper circumstance. you are pure and refreshing keep it that way
Words are part of the language. Whether written or spoken. Proper or slang. Censorship is a failure and will continue to be so because every word that is banned can easily be replaced. New slang words develop all the time. It’s better that people just realise that words are just words and not to get bent out of shape about it.
Honestly what would be more offensive. Calling some a swear word…or calling them a Child Molester? Getting right to the point being called a child molester is alot more rude and offensive then any swear/curse words could ever be.
I say that you can definitely say slang uncensored because of your profession. Not only that, I think you should. Slang is the result of an ever evolving language and there is not reason to censor it or try not to use them at all. Whether you want to use slang in your everyday speech is up to you. I’m sure you won’t use too much vulgar language or you’ll have a mob of cyber geeks running after you with soap trying to clean your mouth out. So buy that one brand of gum to clean your mouth just in case.
btw - YOU ROCK!
I say “remain pure” but it could go either way.
if i were in this position, i would definitely keep them, but without going completely belligerent. there’s a difference between saying “boterschijte is dutch for ‘butter shit,’” while talking about word origins, and saying “hello my dear students, your teacher, hotforwords, is back with another lesson, motherfuckers!”
I can’t stop laughing, after readig all the comments so far, & it’s a fascinating discussion, your post is quite refreshing. I can’t think now, Good night.
In the case of “boterschijte”, it’s even more defensible to translate it as “butter shit” than “butter excrement”, since “shit” and “schijt” are cognates.
A little bit of research suggests that “schijt” is considered coarse language today. Was it at the time?
Still laughing three days later, and I don’t know why but these discussions are roling over in my head @ work @ home etc. Some words, although heard worldwide every day, mean or carry different wieght or pack a different punch.& depending on how delivered or who delivers. Simply put, for me hearing a Pretty Woman pepper her prose with profanity, how do I say it, disheartens me. It’s probably, as described on the radio show, like knowing that supermodels “Take a crap” I’m not interested in knowing that, so please don’t publish it text or pictures in any of the publications I subscribe to. But I’m not opinionated at all. Cheers!
You’re a classy dame Marina, kids like you and so do daddies.
Kent
Hello Marina, beautiful greetings from Germany sends you guenstig-leben-bauen.de
This one is somewhat difficult. I eventually decided on “no” but I think I may have to change my mind on that one. While I don’t like slang and don’t think it should be used in normal conversation, I’m sure we all use slang at some point or other without even realizing it. I would request that if you use any slang, it should only be so that you can disparage said slang, show how it is used incorrectly, or perhaps come up with a better word for the same thing. But don’t use it as normal conversation if you can help it.
Aplose.aplose.Well said.I agree.
OK, let’s get into some specifics here. “Slang words” is a very broad area, and Marina, as I understand it, is referring to a certain subset of slang. I think what we’re referring to is some or all of the following:
1. An insult is any phrase directed at a person, intended to offend or disrespect that person. Example: Marina’s evil twin sister calling her a “bitch”. (The word “bitch” is a perfectly useful word when referring to canine biology, and it’s the insulting intent that makes the language vulgar.)
2. Profanity (or blasphemy) is denigrating or disrespecting something that some person holds as sacred. Using a deity’s name “in vain” would be an example of this.
3. Cursing is uttering a phrase that wishes evil or harm on someone. (Example: “damn you”)
4. Taboo refers to using words which invoke ideas which are considered inappropriate in the context. (Example: Mentioning excreta in a formal setting.)
5. Dysphemism (or cacophemism) is using intentionally harsh words when a more polite word exists. (Example: When referring to excrement or feces in a factual context, using the word “shit” instead would be unhelpful.)
I suggest the following guidelines:
1. It’s never wrong for a philologist to utter a word or phrase if it’s appropriate to the academic topic under discussion. If that’s the word being discussed, or it’s part of the history of the word being discussed, then it’s entirely appropriate to use it. However…
2. If in doubt, you can always put in a disclaimer at the start of the video, and/or put the video behind a birth date check. (IMO, birth date checks aren’t used enough on YouTube.)
3. Insulting or cursing anyone other than yourself (or, I suppose, your not-so-evil twin sister) has no place in HotForWords-land.
4. Profanity is wrong, except for guideline #1.
5. Given the scholarly nature of HotForWords’ videos, I’m not personally worried about taboo. If a topic legitimately came up that was seriously marginal, like incest or infanticide (which are real scholarly topics that real anthropologists study), then we might have a problem. At the very least, guideline #2 would apply there.
6. Dysphemism is usually wrong, given the tone of the videos, though once again, see guideline #1.
Now, having said that…
English has the concept that some words are just “bad words”. Very few other languages have this concept, as far as I can see.
Pretty much all languages have insulting phrases, but most construct them from ordinary everyday words, much like Marina’s evil twin sister’s use of the word “bitch”. I can think of a few exceptions, such as the French word “merde”, but I can’t think of many other examples. (How about Russian, Marina?)
The origins of some of these words are fascinating, and seem to be related to the peculiar history of English. The two largest influences on English are the Germanic Saxon language and the French of the Norman invaders. The new Norman aristocracy considered Saxon dialect to be “low” or “uncouth”[1], and that changed into the modern concept of a word that’s just bad on its own.
There’s an argument that suggests that by labelling words as “bad” just on their own, we’re perpetuating the cultural genocide of Saxons perpetrated by the Norman invaders. I’ll leave that for others to argue.
I think I’ve written enough now.
Footnotes:
[1] Suggested HotForWords video topic: Where does the word “uncouth” come from, and why is nothing described as “couth”?
Pseudonym is suggestive.
I like “buzzword”, too. Good nick.
Marina,
Don’t lower yourself. Stay clean and be the lovely lady that you are. Using those words will eventually hurt you.
Peace,
There’s no such thing as a dirty word….only dirty minds.
—Quote invented on the spot by Eric Prospero.
sorry, but this quote was “invented” by someone else long time ago.
–> link.
Damn - I must have heard that somewhere before…. darn it.
Fuck you! Fuck you all!
It’s funny that YouTube allows whatever slang words you want to use.. yet.. if I show a picture of myself in a bikini a few eyebrows are raised.. interesting…
That is sad, Marina. You are wearing perfectly reasonable clothes in that video (in all your videos). The complaints against you are part of a phenomenon that I’ve noticed over and over again. I call it the “Hooters Phenomenon.”
The Hooters Phenomenon is typified by protests by silly people against Hooters restaurants popping up in their area. Hooters “seems” vulgar and racy to them; however, when you look at it, all it is are young, attractive women in shorts and t-shirts, and long thick leggings that are roughly flesh colored. There is hardly any skin showing and they do nothing other than smile and talk to the patrons. There are other restaurants that have waitresses even more scantily clad right down the road from every Hooters (some even with string bikini waitresses), but they get no protests.
The same goes for you. You are getting protests, even though there is far racier stuff just a click away, and even though your videos are not in the least pornographic, vulgar, or profane.
Why?
The reason is simple. You, like the Hooters girls, are too good looking. It’s a deep-seated misogyny against attractive women that’s at the heart of these protesters and objectors. If the Hooters girls were just average, slightly overweight, women, with plain-Jane personalities, then nobody would object at all. The whole reason Hooters is objectionable is because of the attractiveness of the staff. Similarly, if you were just a plain-Jane wearing the same exact outfit, nobody would object.
Am I right? I think so.
Hooters came and went in Las Vegas. Why would anyone go to Hooters when the cocktail waitresses wore outfits ten times more conservative than most other casinos on the Strip? A lot of cocktail waitresses expose their buttocks, which can be a good thing or a bad thing visually speaking, depending on the body. My favorite outfits are worn by the waitresses at the Paris Las Vegas. They are reminiscent of French gendarme outfits. They expose quite a bit and are very sexy, but also quite classy. As for Marina, I think she shows restraint. I think she could go a bit further for her fans, but not too much.
Lividemerald - exactly my point. Hooters, more conservative, garners protests almost wherever it goes. It’s because of perception, I guess, and too many good looking women in one place (deep seated misogyny).
For the f-word video I think you should fly me or aLx out to Cali to interview. By the way my airfare would be cheaper.
fuckin’ a, man.
yeah, well …
Total for all passengers (1):
$830.75 (USD)
mhm.
you know how all the airports have an iata code? like, for miami it’s “mia”, atlanta international is “atl”.
los angeles international airport’s code is LAX.
ha! so much for anagrams.
And who can forget George Carlin’s dissertation on the 7 words you can’t say on radio or television: http://www.georgecarlin.com/dirty/dirty.html
s$#@
pi##
c#%t
f#%k
c0%ks$@ker
mo$$erf$#ker
t@ts.
And then the 3 additional addendum word: f#rt, t#rd and tw%t.
Ha!
Breasts aren’t even sexual organs. I’ve gotten into arguments with people about this.
Buzzword - I think you are right, literally speaking. A breast is not a “sex organ” as a sex organ is “an organ involved in sexual reproduction.” Breasts are not involved in sexual reproduction, and therefore are not sex organs.
However, breasts are to many people “sexually arousing” and stimulating. Very much so, in some cases…. ahem… errr… ahh… where was I.. oh, yeah..
“sex” itself is primarily defined as “sexual intercourse” which is primarily defined as “coitus - using penis and vagina.”
Other “acts” are often referred to as “sex acts” even though “sex act” is defined in the dictionary as “sexual intercourse” (and the definition of sexual intercourse does not include “other” acts - trying to be delicate here…).
This is an interesting topic, linguistically and otherwise, but I hesitate to go to deep into it (pun obviously intended) here. Perhaps Marina will take the ball and run with it on her Radio Show on Sirius…. what is “sex,” “sexual relations,” “sexual intercourse,” etc.? What are other so-called “sex acts” if they are not included in those preceding terms? Where do the terms originate?
Philologically, philomathically and philogynously speaking this would be very interesting to give this subject a long hard look.
The video was really quite amusing. Perhaps Marina can just refer inquirers to this video (as an aside in one of her other videos)? If Marina does do an F-word video, then she could do so without actually fully pronouncing the word. She could also use bleeping. Bleeping it would be funny, actually. There was an episode of the X-Files in which all of the profanity was bleeped, and it was hilarious. I’m sure Marina will do the right thing. As for myself, I would not be offended if she just said the word outright. I think as long as Marina balances words of this nature with other words like butterfly and nuclear, she will be fine.
X-Files cool, their doing another movie. I disagree with the bleeping though.
Yes, but what made the X-Files episode so funny was that the characters themselves were actually saying “bleeping.” As in, “It’s a bleeping crime that your bleeping cousin shot that bleeping alien in the back.” Anyway, I’m looking forward to the new X-Files movie. I was a big fan when the TV show aired, and I have the first film on DVD.
I was just thinking that Marina could do a video with an actual F-bomb whose fuse is lit and shortening by the second. Marina keeps cleverly alluding to, but not actually stating, the word, then finally says, “Okay, you all know what the word is. So I might as well say it. The word is f–” and the bomb explodes before she can finish saying it. When she reappears, her face is a bit blackened and she shakes her head with resignation. She’s not going to say the word after all. . . . Then her evil twin breaks into the video, and we are sure she is going to say the word triumphantly. Instead, she just shakes her head and laughs with glee at Maina’s misfortune. Then she turns to the viewers, winks, and says in that eerie ways of hers . . . “I love you!”
Hey Marina,
A person is known for the language they keep. Certain words are just nasty to some and ok for others. Some say the F words and S words and The C words and the A words What the @$@#$, hold on does any one know what it means when we talk like that? Now there, are some really cool words to really research. What does Phuck with an f really mean and where did it come from? I think I know. Research that one Marina. that is what you need to do in response to all this.So if you use any words then you should be proud of what you say. If you are not then you need check yourself.
Remember the language is up to the word smith making the words not the listeners. Thats part of your flavor. I am a firm believer in the use of mis spelled werds for feeling.
Peace Love and Surf naked if you can.
Tommy Lomus (the Original Musicasters)
A lot of comments.
I voted no. But, I have to ask have you felt constrained in your vid lessons? Doesn’t the satellite radio station provide the outlet for the slang words about which so many ask?
Your lessons have consistently been a source of surpise and entertainment and I am truly appreciative of the work it entails. Regardless of your decision I wouldn’t expect that to change.
While no word is intinsically good or bad, I believe they do have a value respective to the company in which they are used. Your audience is very large and not only includes millions of guys, but also kids like Maria from Ukraine. So, my no vote is a request to not serve the lowest common denominator.
Thanks, Tom
The F- Word??? There are a few videos on that word that you can find on the web. I will Link them to you if I can find them again but concerning your using slang on your videos I voted for you to stay pure but in all honesty? Do whatever you think will be best and makes you happy, I trust your judgement LOL!! as if that really matters, I guess what I am trying to say is that you are a incredibly intelligent woman and I think you know what will work the best for you and your show. Thankk you for allowing me my two cents.,…
BUDDY_nlsmafia2008
This help?
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=FvPbxZmZxZ8&feature= related
Do stay true to the way you talk in ordinary life!!! IF you chose not to use certain word, PLEASE just leave them out do not “beep them out”. There is nothing more stupid than listen to american TV shows with a lot of “beep - beep” all the time! If you can show people beeing shot, why can´t you speak out a word that may affend someone?!?! never could figure that out…
I think all words should qualify regardless. Use an ‘Explicit’ warning if some people are offended. Might be worthwhile having two themes running parallel, a kinda HFW after hours class. I am certain you have a wide aged audience and would appeal greatly to younger ones as well. My God Sibs are glued and eager to learn new words from Marina. I sensor with discretion, which is futile at times!
- With education around the world so in need of more fun ways to learn, HFW rocks. Every school should be on line, tuned in for a lesson each and every day to watch and learn from Marina. Should be mandatory. UTUBE and alike should welcome the same ‘Explicit warning’ thus warning all prior to viewing. Freedom of choice.Then it’s all good.
HFW needn’t always be explicit or rude, fun as that may be, more so to the midnight tent pole dudes out there!!
Less explicit words are also delivered in an equaly enjoyable and entertaining manor. No worries!
So keep Slang Words in HFW’s and your loss UTubes!
I’m bleeping matt damon. :/
Better not let his girlfriend find out
Linky at Variety
thanks, interesting.
do a google search — people are desperately trying to find an uncensored version.
as a european, I’m not used to that bleeping stuff. this is just annoying. distracting. if they’d at least mute that one second, but oh, no, it has to be a fucking bleep-sound. bleeping bleepers.
anyway, yeah, the internet is not just for porn anymore. so I guess it’s a good idea to monitor big platforms like youtube in order to try to figure out what people like, where it’s headed.
I have changed my mind (I watched Kimmel’s video’s - thanks aLx!). Give your students lessons about slang, no bleeps.
Marina, look what you went and done! Scores of comments and replies! And you didn’t even give a lesson! People love to weigh in on old cultural taboos. You have the perfect platform to address slang, profanity, obsenity, dirty words, whatever. If you are as clever as I think you are, your lessons on slang will be a philological coup de t’at. You should go ahead and teach us about the origins of words and phrases that are part of our culture. You’re vids are fun to watch, and I learn something, too. You have it dead-on, education is sexy, and controversy is entertaining.
Even without the actual words you can get your point across, unless you go over someones head. “i don’t think the kids should watch this”, though means they will probably want to check it out anyway.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=De6hTL4IZas
You dip shit. You don’t look anything like matt damon.
not yet.
Hi Marina,
Whatever words you say or profile will be public domain - forever.
Ask yourself three questions about any profane slang word.
1) If a guy you just met took you out to an elegant restaurant, and used the word in conversation with you over dinner, would you be put off?
2) Could you use the word in conversation with your parents or grandparents without disrespecting them?
3) If you have children, would you be upset if your young daughter or son used that word in the presence of guests at your dinner table, and then announced that he or she learned its origin from one of your old HotForWords lessons on YouTube?
Your hard work is paying off in spades - you are actually making an appearance on O’Reilly’s show? Great! The decisions you make now about the image you want to project to a wider audience will determine the breadth of your fan base and on what levels you will be taken seriously. Good luck!
If any of the people you listed used any profane slang word as a linguist does, no I would not have a problem. Because the intention is not vulgar.
There are online slang dictionaries where anybody can find the meaning and origin of every dirty word in the language. Finding them out is not why most of us subscribed, even those who didn’t bother voting. Gutter language is a subcategory of philology that, for some reason, almost all other philologists ignore–I wonder why?–and if you sink to that level, the only two things the news media are going to report about you are your beautiful body and your ugly language, which they will quote, so that it’s the only thing most people know about you. If you’re going to use salacious language, why not strip while you’re at it? One expects the two to go together! And you’ll make a lot more money that way. But somehow I don’t think that was your purpose in setting up HotForWords.com.
Yes, el professor. Once a week I take all the trash in the house and put it in the bin, by the street for pick up. I cannot feel clean by talking dirty, neither do I elevate myself by calling another person a name. Can a person say offensive words and benefit from it? How? Thrity-five years ago when I was in the Army, stationed in Germany, the German phrase for “est maches nichts,” was, “mox nix.” Meaning, “it matters not.” That’s ok slang for me. But I won’t go to England and start calling people “bloody fools.” If Marina were to use five slang words in every sentence of her video, for five minutes, where do you think her viewer rating are going to go. Yep. Please remain pure, Marina. That guy on TV who has made more than 100 episodes of, Dirty Jobs, has a way to express himself quite well. He makes plenty of money. And as for his slang, maybe I can only remember, cow pies. He knows the boundaries for slang. What is the particular connotation infered in a slang word? To be cool/express strong emotions/just be like everyone else/just like to talk dirty because it gives power to the user? No thanks.
damnit. edit.
to a philologist / linguist, all words are equal. there is no difference. why won’t people understand that? it’s simple. it’s trivial. there are no subcategories like “gutter language”, “professor language”, or whatever. this is crucial. if you don’t understand this, you don’t know what philology is about.
I got an example. “geil” in german meant, and in certain situations still means, “horny”. this has changed. now it means “great”, “good” etc. how did this happen? this is a rhetorical question, of course. and, btw, this is an example that academics use. at least over here.
yes, and then she’ll probably buy a gun and kill people, huh?
dude … this is fucked up.
and why the hell would I limit my vocabulary just because someone thinks it’s “dirty”. whatever that means.
What academic backwater do you represent? Linguists do not place a value on languages or words. Limiting a linguist is like telling a doctor not to examine an asshole. But doctors do examine assholes, have you been to the doctor lately? As an anthropologist there isn’t a cultural question I wouldn’t explore. The purpose is to contribute to human understanding not censor it.
Dear HotForWords Teacher,
Refraining from using the same words as others shows individuality and breeding of a higher DNA culture. Your particular profession requires you to utilize words that others may not choose to use in their everyday vocabulary.
It is normal to learn the “dirty” words when learning a new language. I try to avoid using the language I seemed to have picked up over the years in my earlier career, but still drop the occasional fleeting expletive.
Here’s an old adage that may work for you in your decision “Out of order comes chaos and out of chaos comes order”.
When I learn a foreign language I intentionally don’t learn the profanity. It’s very refreshing and relaxing to be in a foreign country and not know when people are cursing and hateful.
So as not to be misconstrued, I usually learn my foreign languages from friends or co-workers in that particular country. And it always seemed to me that they relished the idea of teaching me the curse words 1st off. I only recall a few of same from one particular country off the border of China. Probably because this one character in the office would use same everyday while conversing with the locals that worked in the same office.
While in Europe I’m not sure if I ever even heard any foul language being used other than that of my native tongue. I drove a truck and anyone who has been around a trucker may testify that we are well known for our verbiage.
“…and breeding of a higher DNA culture.” Thats really arrogant and implies some fucked up meme eugenics shit. There aren’t any superior cultures.
Marina, you could articulate any ’slang’ while educating and at the same time putting even a smile on the face of the very individual whom might be offended. Censorship is wrong, it violates one’s natural right amongst many other innate freedoms.
Well, putting this in perspective, it’s really not about “censorship” which is being legally prohibited from saying something. Marina can do what she likes; however, others may have negative opinions of her if what she says is vulgar or profane. So, it’s important for her to take it into consideration. However, she also doesn’t want to alienate people who would frequent this website by watering it down to the point of a G rating. There’s a happy medium in there somewhere.
I think as society changes your vocabulary should expand to conform to the suttle changes the have taken place ove the past few decades and that will continue long after we stop.