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Cleita

(75,480 posts)

33. It's something an English teacher pointed out to us when we had to read

Sun Jul 19, 2015, 11:32 PM

Jul 2015

"Canterbury Tales." There were a few words in the Middle English that we considered dirty words like shit and fuck. He said, among all the 'teehees' in the class, that when the the Normans conquered England and the Anglo-Saxons, their French/Latin language became the language of the aristocracy and the language of the conquered became the vulgar language or the language of the conquered people.

So we have a distinction in acceptable and vulgar. Pork is OK. Pig not so much. There are so many words in French for those who sell themselves out besides whore, but they sound so much nicer.

I could go on about how this works in Spanish. The Spanish word is the elegant one but the Indian word of the conquered becomes the vulgar.

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Highlight:

What's a good substitute for "whore"? [View all] Prism Jul 2015 OP

Sell out? Texasgal Jul 2015 #1

Feels weak Prism Jul 2015 #5

how about mercuryblues Jul 2015 #178

^ perfect cyberswede Jul 2015 #191

A politician who does favors for people who pay him/her? That would be a awake Jul 2015 #2

Not a given Prism Jul 2015 #6

True True awake Jul 2015 #14

I provided a list in the other thread, prism. here: Scootaloo Jul 2015 #3

All good Prism Jul 2015 #17

It CAN be applied to people of either gender Scootaloo Jul 2015 #22

"connotation is that he's the bottom in this transaction" Prism Jul 2015 #31

I think it's disingenuous of you to say that "we've decided it's a bad term" CreekDog Jul 2015 #105

Where's the inconsistency? Prism Jul 2015 #157

Thank you. n/t seaglass Jul 2015 #195

Yeah, you did. merrily Jul 2015 #111

Who thinks of it as a gender slur? ladyVet Jul 2015 #148

Shill is also a good one. Aerows Jul 2015 #164

Sellout, corrupt, crony, mercenary, on the take, compromised, captured, geek tragedy Jul 2015 #4

Two potenials Prism Jul 2015 #9

How is "mercenary" less appropriate than "whore?" geek tragedy Jul 2015 #35

Connotation Prism Jul 2015 #40

That implies that the very reason why one geek tragedy Jul 2015 #44

But that's precisely why it's a good word Prism Jul 2015 #47

It's one of the words most frequently used by geek tragedy Jul 2015 #55

+1000 whathehell Jul 2015 #112

if someone really wants to use the latter basically CreekDog Jul 2015 #107

Republican DURHAM D Jul 2015 #7

Trite n/t Prism Jul 2015 #10

K Street walker? nt HFRN Jul 2015 #8

Damn, that is good!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2015 #34

Person of negotiable virtue. hobbit709 Jul 2015 #120

tool, puppet, owned ------ juxtaposed Jul 2015 #11

Thank you...Those work very well. whathehell Jul 2015 #113

Anglo Saxon derived words seems to be insulting in the English language. Cleita Jul 2015 #12

I do Prism Jul 2015 #20

It's something an English teacher pointed out to us when we had to read Cleita Jul 2015 #33

I follow you Prism Jul 2015 #38

There are so many words that maybe aren't offensive but there is a line Cleita Jul 2015 #45

You're awesome Prism Jul 2015 #50

Can you make any link suggestions to read more about this? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2015 #188

I think there are online references to this, but it was an English lit Cleita Jul 2015 #189

Exactly. Like the time where I worked when the assistant manager said he didn't want to hear me hobbit709 Jul 2015 #119

That's funny. That's worth it. However, if I were you I wouldn't push it. Cleita Jul 2015 #122

I'm not one of those that believes words have magical powers over you. hobbit709 Jul 2015 #124

You are right. I think that is sort of my point. eom Cleita Jul 2015 #125

Which is why I think that is the real reason some are so upset by the word. hobbit709 Jul 2015 #127

+1 notadmblnd Jul 2015 #181

+ brazillion nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #28

I don't agree. Adrahil Jul 2015 #36

Not acceptable to you but pretty acceptable everywhere when people Cleita Jul 2015 #39

Just use mercenary... Adrahil Jul 2015 #42

Very French and elegant but it relates to soldiering and really doesn't Cleita Jul 2015 #46

Are you looking for a sexually loaded word? nt Adrahil Jul 2015 #56

Adrahil, I'm suspecting you have some issues that should probably Cleita Jul 2015 #64

So am I. Referencing prostituion has a specific effect... Adrahil Jul 2015 #67

Are you implying that only women can sell sex? TransitJohn Jul 2015 #72

It's not a complicated point.... Adrahil Jul 2015 #131

Because only women prostitute their bodies regularly nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #84

It isn't complicated Adrahil Jul 2015 #133

Unless you use the phrase "corporate whore"... PassingFair Jul 2015 #163

You do know that there are also male prostitutes, don't you? Tipperary Jul 2015 #100

Are you seriously arguing.... Adrahil Jul 2015 #135

I have heard the term "man whore" used for years. Tipperary Jul 2015 #143

The fact the modifier "man" must be used tells you everything you need to know. nt Adrahil Jul 2015 #144

K. You will not change my mind, and I will not change yours. Tipperary Jul 2015 #145

There are far fewer men in the trade, and those servicing women, at least, are called gigolos whathehell Jul 2015 #152

Yes it does. Language is extremely important. whathehell Jul 2015 #115

Misogynist to you is not misogynistic to Exilednight Jul 2015 #136

Ah yes... And the Confederate flag is about Heritage. nt Adrahil Jul 2015 #137

There's no doubt what the confederate flag Exilednight Jul 2015 #138

It certainly seems so. whathehell Jul 2015 #114

Nor do I whathehell Jul 2015 #116

While an interesting observation, you're coming at it from the wrong end. Scootaloo Jul 2015 #41

I just made an observation. Make of it what you will. Eom Cleita Jul 2015 #49

NP. i just find language fascinating Scootaloo Jul 2015 #58

Not sure but I'll use that word when appropriate.... truebrit71 Jul 2015 #13

Republican? Autumn Jul 2015 #15

Joe Lieberman? Prism Jul 2015 #25

Some Republicans pretend to be Demarcates awake Jul 2015 #26

Anyone is allowed to call themselves a Democrat. Lieberman is a great example of one with rhett o rick Jul 2015 #194

Exactly awake Jul 2015 #197

Harlot has a certain panache pscot Jul 2015 #16

Exactly right. Calling a politician a whore is FuzzyRabbit Jul 2015 #71

It really is. So many don't realize that until they think about it. eom Cleita Jul 2015 #109

Freelance Politician cherokeeprogressive Jul 2015 #18

But Freelance Police are the best police. Scootaloo Jul 2015 #43

... cherokeeprogressive Jul 2015 #57

Maybe we should ditch all words and just use random letters to communicate The Straight Story Jul 2015 #19

Quit being so insensitive to the dyslexic and otherwise learning disabled TransitJohn Jul 2015 #74

rent-person? HFRN Jul 2015 #21

Judas. Lap dog. Hustler. Lobbyist. nt SunSeeker Jul 2015 #23

Betrayer would work in some cases. Lancero Jul 2015 #24

Sleazy backstabber. NuclearDem Jul 2015 #27

Bought and paid for. nt msanthrope Jul 2015 #29

This message was self-deleted by its author m-lekktor Jul 2015 #30

Sellout ananda Jul 2015 #32

"MediaSelloutsOnline?" Warpy Jul 2015 #37

Yes! Cleita Jul 2015 #51

Trying to have your language reflect your progressive values is not being "prissy." SunSeeker Jul 2015 #52

Sure it is, especially when you try to correct/bully your elders. Warpy Jul 2015 #59

Nothing "duplicates" the n word either. What difference does your age make? SunSeeker Jul 2015 #66

Anyone who can't express their opinions about Hillary Clinton or Elizabeth Warren geek tragedy Jul 2015 #70

Some think they are solving problems by censoring language. Language isn't the problem. rhett o rick Jul 2015 #149

These censorship fans just refuse to see that censorship isn't liberal Warpy Jul 2015 #175

You had it correct when you said it's an excuse to bully. Self-righteous bullies are the worst. nm rhett o rick Jul 2015 #190

I'm just wondering how many alerts I've generated on this thread Warpy Jul 2015 #193

Just take a moment to bask in that. NuclearDem Jul 2015 #192

Thank you. whathehell Jul 2015 #117

Glibertarian horseshit. People who refer to women in public life geek tragedy Jul 2015 #61

+1 n/t JTFrog Jul 2015 #65

Great post. SunSeeker Jul 2015 #68

um.. snooper2 Jul 2015 #147

I think he might be looking for a "politically liberal" message board that rhett o rick Jul 2015 #198

I thought "used car salesman" was the go to insult? joshcryer Jul 2015 #48

That is pretty visceral Prism Jul 2015 #53

Ah, OK, so we're looking for nicer insults. joshcryer Jul 2015 #62

'betraying principles' isn't really the meaning that 'whore' has muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #139

Weein' hoor has a little gaelic charm to it, don't you think? Kurovski Jul 2015 #54

Lackey? Toady? Stooge? Servant? morningfog Jul 2015 #60

I have a problem with lackey and servant. Many people don't have a choice. eom Cleita Jul 2015 #106

Bore? Aerows Jul 2015 #63

No one in particular Prism Jul 2015 #158

What is a good substitue for a word whose purpose is to demean all women? Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #69

Lackey Doc_Technical Jul 2015 #73

I think lackey is perfect. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #77

Lackey is very racist. Look it up. eom Cleita Jul 2015 #92

Huh? Oxford English Dictionary definition: muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #141

I had no idea. I have only ever heard it used in a business context. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #156

Have you managed to find out why some consider it racist yet? muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #162

Yes, Google it. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #165

I did, and found nothing in the first 3 pages of results muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #169

The first definition I saw included a word with "boy" in it. That's why. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #170

No, that does not make it 'racist'. muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #171

Whatever. I'm done with this conversation. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #173

Google lackey + Uncle Toms Cabin. Cleita Jul 2015 #174

The word well pre-dates the ante-bellum South. nt PassingFair Jul 2015 #187

I don't see a need for a substitution. nt valerief Jul 2015 #75

How about not calling Democratic politicians names? (nt) Recursion Jul 2015 #76

"Whore" is fine according to the DU jury system. eom MohRokTah Jul 2015 #78

Why not? It's a word that says we sell ourselves out. That's all. Cleita Jul 2015 #79

No, that word is "employee" geek tragedy Jul 2015 #80

Oh yeah. I'm sorry. I forgot you know everything. Cleita Jul 2015 #82

I know that "employee" and "whore" mean different things. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #88

Huh? This got weird. Cleita Jul 2015 #89

My wife represents victims of domestic violence. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #90

I commend your wife for being a wonderful person. Cleita Jul 2015 #91

No one is kept ignorant by forbidding hate speech at a progressive site. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #93

Really? Who is going to define hate speech? Cleita Jul 2015 #94

There are much better words for Trump--"racist buffoonish carnival barker" etc geek tragedy Jul 2015 #97

I actually knew some carnival barkers down on the pier in Santa Monica. Cleita Jul 2015 #98

"Buffoon" is not a profession. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #132

there's no censorship, you are free to open up a very large web portal CreekDog Jul 2015 #108

I agree Skittles Jul 2015 #95

Yes, it's a word. Cleita Jul 2015 #99

This is sort of interesting and dates back to our Indo-European proto-language. Cleita Jul 2015 #81

Linguistics is fascinating but not something I fear nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #83

Thanks. It's time we took back our humanity and that is our language and languages. Cleita Jul 2015 #85

Yup nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #87

Mak'dar beam me up scottie Jul 2015 #86

Suck-up. Enabler. Servant. n/t eridani Jul 2015 #96

Personally, I think "venal" pretty much sums up someone who will do anything for money. Tipperary Jul 2015 #101

It does describe the 1%. Cleita Jul 2015 #102

Lol, I do not know what a sand hog is I'm afraid, but that does seem unfair to golf caddies. Tipperary Jul 2015 #103

Capitulater? TexasTowelie Jul 2015 #104

A slut Pharaoh Jul 2015 #110

As ugly and misogynistic as "whore", whathehell Jul 2015 #118

So what would you prefer? How about courtesan or haetara or maybe call girl? Cleita Jul 2015 #126

Like an increasing number of people, I prefer the term 'sex worker" whathehell Jul 2015 #146

being gay and being used to guys calling each other whores m-lekktor Jul 2015 #121

Anything that isn't a slur - and whore is a misogynist slur gollygee Jul 2015 #123

I thought the thesaurus might help you gollygee Jul 2015 #128

What do you call the ones that Shankapotomus Jul 2015 #129

I have sent letters to politicians saying, LuvLoogie Jul 2015 #130

"Politician" rock Jul 2015 #134

Do you go up to women on streetcorners who are Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #140

No, I respect sex workers too much. Prism Jul 2015 #160

Lol! beam me up scottie Jul 2015 #176

Republican? Neocon? Conservative? Donald Trump? Hepburn Jul 2015 #142

It seems okay to refer to a man like this hughee99 Jul 2015 #150

Yeah right, this is rocket science isn't it. Using that term when describing a female candidate still_one Jul 2015 #151

A trick can only be found by those not wanting an answer in honest. NCTraveler Jul 2015 #153

No point, actually Prism Jul 2015 #161

"Rightwing corporatist" is what I think people mean. nt Romulox Jul 2015 #154

"crook". nt bemildred Jul 2015 #155

Traitor meow2u3 Jul 2015 #159

uh... criminal? corrupt? flunky? shill? bought-and-paid-for? crook? 0rganism Jul 2015 #166

What would be a word libodem Jul 2015 #167

Too late nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #168

Flunky. n/t brentspeak Jul 2015 #172

Talk about Nanny Police - You Have Just Official Banned Every Female Title Hestia Jul 2015 #177

I actually went there nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #185

Handmaiden? whatchamacallit Jul 2015 #179

I call both male and female politicians shamelessly selling out the country "whores" but add... polichick Jul 2015 #180

Call a random DUer any substitute word you can think of; if it gets hidden, maybe it's a word to avo LanternWaste Jul 2015 #182

I guess I like the word "whore" when appropriate. Vinca Jul 2015 #183

worst, we won't even try nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #186

I think I've got it... Kurovski Jul 2015 #184

Weakling. Lackey. Orsino Jul 2015 #196

Horse JHB Jul 2015 #199