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Re: Profane?

From:John Cowan <cowan@...>
Date:Monday, June 18, 2001, 3:31
Danny Wier scripsit:

> The general process of how a word becomes "vulgar" (a taboo word is pretty much > the same thing): the "dirty word" was usually a "legitimate" word, and political > correctness demands a softer, gentler euphemism. Like how we went from Old > English _scitan_ to Modern English "go potty"...
"But that *never* works!" -- Rocket J. Squirrel Such terms inevitably become taboo in their turn. In Larry Niven's future, "Censor you!" is extremely insulting, and "futz" has taken on the conversational role of [banned in NZ]. -- John Cowan cowan@ccil.org One art/there is/no less/no more/All things/to do/with sparks/galore --Douglas Hofstadter