The Darker Side of Language
July 14th, 2006My professor explained the racist implications of a particular Spanish term during a discussion on Mexican politics. Later on he spoke of another word with still more vulgar connotations. To emphasize how strong this particular word was he explained that it is never used on tv.
I find bad language to be repulsive. I strive to avoid thinking it. I am shocked and upset when I hear a student using it. I imagine if I had to write a discipline report for a student and needed to quote bad language I would refer to it euphemistically. “As he threw his chair across the classroom, Johnny used the q word in reference to his Spanish teacher.”
The stigmas that are attached to English curse words do not exist for me in Spanish. As the lecture finished, I noticed that, while dutifully taking notes, I had written down the word, it’s meaning, and potential ways to use it.
So do you now feel more forgiving toward those exchange students or elsewise multilingual friends of our youth that we thought had succumbed too easily?
That is a very interesting question!
The individual I assume you are thinking of (I believe we referred to him as “Best Western Kid”) was inquiring as to the meaning of certain words. Once he learned them, I believe he then began to use them in context.
I think it would be easier to learn to curse in one’s second language. If I were to start cursing in Spanish it wouldn’t feel like cursing in English would feel. With that in mind I have to be less quick to condemn…more merciful.
However, the point of language is to communicate. If I am communicating in Spanish (meaning that someone who can understand and respond is involved), the words have a strength to my listener, even if they don’t have it for me. I am still letting vile talk come out of my mouth.
In other words, it is still wrong, even though I don’t feel like it is as wrong.
How about this: Aren’t you and I more upset by specific words than we are by cursing? To go back to my student example, if I go home and explain the incident to you, concluding with the statement that Johnny is the q word, you would be horrified. But if I said, “Johnny is a real pain,” would you be as horrified? Are we really legalistic about language?
Waxing philosophical from our geometric getaway, aren’t we?