Why Do We Hate Certain Words?

[cali]

The George Saunders story “Escape From Spiderhead,” included in his much praised new book Tenth of December, is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. The sprawling, futuristic tale delves into several potentially unnerving topics: suicide, sex, psychotropic drugs. It includes graphic scenes of self-mutilation. It employs the phrases “butt-squirm,” “placental blood,” and “thrusting penis.” At one point, Saunders relates a conversation between two characters about the application of medicinal cream to raw, chafed genitals.

Early in the story, there is a brief passage in which the narrator, describing a moment of postcoital amorousness, says, “Everything seemed moist, permeable, sayable.” This sentence doesn’t really stand out from the rest—in fact, it’s one of the less conspicuous sentences in the story. But during a recent reading of “Escape From Spiderhead” in Austin, Texas, Saunders says he encountered something unexpected. “I’d texted a cousin of mine who was coming with her kids (one of whom is in high school) just to let her know there was some rough language,” he recalls. “Afterwards she said she didn’t mind fu*k, but hated—wait for it—moist. Said it made her a little physically ill. Then I went on to Jackson, read there, and my sister Jane was in the audience—and had the same reaction. To moist.”

Mr. Saunders, say hello to word aversion.

It’s about to get really moist in here. But first, some background is in order. The phenomenon of word aversion—seemingly pedestrian, inoffensive words driving some people up the wall—has garnered increasing attention over the past decade or so. In a recent post on Language Log, University of Pennsylvania linguistics professor Mark Liberman defined the concept as “a feeling of intense, irrational distaste for the sound or sight of a particular word or phrase, not because its use is regarded as etymologically or logically or grammatically wrong, nor because it’s felt to be over-used or redundant or trendy or non-standard, but simply because the word itself somehow feels unpleasant or even disgusting.”

<snip>

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_good_word/2013/04/word_aversion_hate_moist_slacks_crevice_why_do_people_hate_words.html

This makes me laugh. Just the other day I was thinking how much I dislike the work "moist" and avoid using it. I don't think I always felt that way.

[dipsydoodle]

1. The word you've chosen

I guess is just part of a scale which runs wet, moist, damp whatever - degree of wetness. The only words / expressions which annoy me , but only due to initial bafflement are such as co-worker here on DU. I always read that as cow worker.

You've reminded me of when I used the word soppy about 14 years ago to some laughter from a girlfriend and the question "where did you dig that up from" ? My grandmother used it when I was a child to convey silly / daft : its an abb. of sopping wet.

[cali]

3. I always heard the word soppy used to convey overly sentimental

[sop-ee] Show IPA
adjective, sop·pi·er, sop·pi·est.
1.
soaked, drenched, or very wet, as ground.
2.
rainy, as weather.
3.
British Slang. excessively sentimental; mawkish.

[dipsydoodle]

6. You've added additional context

of a situation which is fair enough. If I search here, this side , even I get "Adj. Feeble, sickly sentimental. {Informal}." and elsewhere here I also get "silly" too.

[ManiacJoe]

2. Interesting article.

The key word in the concept's definition would seem to be "irrational".

I have no problem with the word "moist".

[cali]

4. I think I associate it with an environment where bacteria

flourish.

yes, it's irrational.

[ManiacJoe]

5. Not an irrational association.

I tend to distinguish moist from damp by temperature. Moist being warmer, damp being cooler.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. much of what we consider reality is actually the semantic map our brain constructs to interpret it

so words, properly tuned, associated, and placed, can convey an awful lot of yuk.

[cali]

10. that's the second time in as many days that you've made

me burst into laughter.

thanks.

[Warren DeMontague]

41. ...given what a messed up week this has been, that makes me glad.

Serious (sort of) point in all this, though, is the kind of linguistic hojo that can be worked by clever writers; I have to believe, for instance, that Dan Savage (upon doing that thing with "Santorum&quot must have read the works of Robert Anton Wilson at some point or another.

Wilson, in one of his books, did this thing where throughout the whole book he substituted the names of various political figures- like, Supreme Court Justices at the time- for assorted bodily functions or parts. He used "Rehnquist", for dick, for instance. Like, "His turgid, throbbing Rehnquist".. the beauty of this tactic is that by the end of the book, it is well-nigh impossible to not see the word "Rehnquist" and think... "Dick".

To this day, I still associate the two.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. Curse words

Doesn't this apply to all curse words?

[Warren DeMontague]

9. No, for me they're like the ***** hot sauce on the ******* burrito.

I mean, it's possible to ***** overdo it, but honestly, some burritos just aren't nearly as ******* good without some ******** hot sauce.

[cali]

11. I love curse words- well a lot of them

[WinkyDink]

12. Words have power. This is not new. Hence, "the 'n' word" ban, for one example.

[cali]

13. this isn't so much about words having power and this is an interesting

little take on a sliver of the vast field that is language. It's certainly not about words that are freighted heavily with history such as the n word. doesn't seem like you read the article or perhaps you did and simply didn't grasp it.

[Nine]

14. Interesting. I've heard other people say how much they hate the word "moist." (nt)

[Ilsa]

15. I've never heard any one say they didn't

Like the word "moist." I haven't heard of emotional word aversions like that.

I have heard men use substitute words for "women" or "woman" which irritated me. It's as if they were afraid of the word, so they substituted it with "female". Example: "the females in the office would rather have happy hour at Bennigans, not Hooters."

Are they afraid they'll insult me by calling me a woman? It's not synonymous with "girl". I'm not a female. I'm a woman. "Female" is a adjective (female, then name species).

[LiberalLoner]

17. I always say females because that is what we are trained to say in the military and

Old habits die hard. In the Army, it is male and female, not man and woman.

[Ilsa]

33. I guess that's one way

to dehumanize people, including peers and self.

[Richardo]

16. On the other side of the coin, I've always found the word 'hat' to be funny, in and of itself.

I could not tell you why.

[cali]

18. Cat in the hat, hat trick, mad hatter

easy rhyme word. Just some associations that come to mind.

[a la izquierda]

19. My best friend hates the words...

Moist and panties. My sister hates the word bush.
I hate the sound of stirring Mac n Cheese.

[cali]

21. I don't like the sound of Mac n Cheese being stirred either. It's a moist sound

[a la izquierda]

22. It is a moist sound.

thanks for the early morning giggle.

[Thor_MN]

25. I hate the word Bush, but it has nothing to do with word aversion.

It's about those two dumbasses that were presidents.

Mac and Cheese stirring sounds a bit weird, one could say moist, but in a good way. OTOH, the Nylon on Nylon sound of a child walking in snow pants sets me on edge.

[canoeist52]

20. The image which with I associate the word "moist"...

I guess Duncan Hines would disagree.

[cali]

23. I think they should change it to "not dry deluxe"

[Thor_MN]

24. My brother has word aversion to "moist"

So I just had to forward him a link to the article. Personally, I can't think of a word that annoys me, but then I have never been grossed out by anything biological. Most of the word aversions I have heard about seem to be rooted in biology somewhere.

[The Wizard]

26. Words that end in the suffix ness

such a s courageousness take power away from the word courage. Courage the noun means bold and sounds bold. Adding ness to the adjective courageous gives it a passive sound, quite the opposite of the word's intent.
Sportscasters frequently use the word aggressiveness which is the passive form of aggression. Making aggressive words sound passive might be a sign that someone is trying to bullshit you, as if to say this is bad but let's water it down with weasel words.
If you want a weak form of the word outrage, try outrageousness, not really a word, but it gets used because some people are just full of shit and too wrapped up in their own verbiage to realize verbose language is a cover for a lack of knowledge.
Lately the most offensive language in the lexicon is "American exceptionalism." Any word check will tell you exceptionalism isn't a word, yet a certain element in the United States uses this terminology to mask their true belief, Americans as the master race.
Having read college freshman essays for seven years, some words are the red flag that says the bullshit is to follow.
I expect some will take exception to my critique of bullshit parlance, so go ahead and flame. I really don't care. And you bullshitters out there, you know who you are.

[cali]

27. I certainly won't flame you. I'm finding this thread fascinating

[ismnotwasm]

28. I love words

Some words have the effect of fingernail on a chalkboard, to some , But I think that's more the actual sound, clash of vowel against consonant's or certain sibilants.

And actual usage, In nursing, we use the word moist all the time, as in moist to dry dressing, or moistening dry mucus membranes. I don't think twice about it.


Now HOW words are used, well that's different. Words are powerful, and can harm or heal.


A friend of mine and I were discussing this very thing a few years back, and he said "if you love words, I dare you to watch "The Aristocrats"--a kind of documentary on an comedians in-sider joke that has no barriers, breaks every 'taboo', gets as 'filthy' as the teller can come up with. (predominantly having to do with things sexual as well as various body fluids )

So I did of course---and I didn't 'get it' until Whoopie Goldberg did the joke and smashed through what I saw as a little one sidedness on gendered words.

At the end you either get the joke and have a certain appreciation for the power the hearer really has over their response, or you're completely disgusted. It touched my sense of the ironic, and I got it.

Wasn't it in "Donnie Darko" it was said the most beautiful sounding words in the English language was "Cellar Door"? Never did find out if that was true.

[The Wizard]

31. The power of language

[ismnotwasm]

32. You're a brave person

[cali]

30. so you like the word moist then?

[Pachamama]

34. Me too!

Your spot on in your description of why its likely the word "moist" bothers people....

I agree with all you said, is an identical description I would apply to myself and my own experiences and I laughed a fun laugh when I read your reply because I feel the same way...

I like the word moist, like being moist, like eating things moist, being eaten moist and all things associated with being moist and the word moist..... (except maybe moisture & fungus, but thats still not enough to make me dislike the word or even associate it negatively).

I think its truly the discomfort that women (or men) feel when associating it with something that is not comfortable....and how sad for them that they have a negative association.....

Meanwhile, my favorite word is actually "fuck".... I think its the greatest word ever....its a power word....it represents wonderful sex, it is a great word to exclaim when something happens you dont like, its a great word to tell someone in multiple circumstances how you feel in multiple ways...."fuck me hard" or "fuck you" or " go fuck yourself" or "wow, that's fucked"....It's internationally understood!!! But perhaps my favorite reason for it is the reaction it generates, in particular from the very same women who think they are ladies and would likely be uncomfortable hearing the word "moist"....LOL....the same people who would look at you and say "oh my, well I never...."

[cali]

36. oh for fuck's sake

I think you're fucking faux faux analysis of why people dislike the word moist is fucking ridiculous.

[Pachamama]

38. WTF?

Hey Cali....

[ismnotwasm]

37. George Carlin:

Perhaps one of the most interesting words
in the English language today, is the word FUCK.
Out of all of the English words which begin with the letter F, FUCK is the only word referred to as the "F" word, it's the one magical word.
FUCK as most words in the english language,
is derived from German,
the word "fricken[?]", which means to strike.
In English, FUCK falls into many grammatical categories.

As a transitive verb, for instance.
John FUCK-ed Shirley.
As an intransitive verb, Shirley FUCKS.
It's meaning's not always sexual;
it can be used as an adjective, such as
John's doing all the FUCK-ing work.
As part of an adverb,
Shirley talks too FUCK-ing much.
As an adverb enhancing an adjective,
Shirley is FUCK-ing beautiful.
As a noun, I don't give a FUCK.
As part of a word abso-FUCKING-lutely,
or in-FUCKING-credible.
And, as almost every word in the sentence,
FUCK the FUCK-ing FUCK-ers.

As you must realize,
there aren't too many words
with the versatility of FUCK.
As in these examples describing situations
such as fraud,
I got FUCK-ed at the used car lot.
Dismay, Aw FUCK it.
Trouble, I guess I'm really FUCK-ed now.
Agression, Don't FUCK with me buddy.
Difficulty, I don't understand this FUCK-ing question.
Inquiry, Who the FUCK was that?
Dissatisfaction, I don't like what the FUCK is going on here.
Incompetence, He's a FUCK-off.
Dismissal, Why don't you go outside and play hide-and-go-FUCK yourself?

I'm sure you can think of many more examples.
With all these multi purpose applications,
how can anyone be offended when you use the word?
We say, use this unique, flexible word more often in your daily speech.
It will identify the quality of your character immediately.
Say it loudly, and proudly!
FUCK you!

[Pachamama]

35. Seriously Moderators & Jurors? We have so many church ladies & people uncomfortable w/ what was

....posted by The Flaming Red Head that as you eat your breakfast on a Sunday morning that you had to delete it?

I thought she was "G-spot on" in describing why she is comfortable with the word moist and what it means and why certain people are not....

Guess a lot of DUers had a bad Saturday night.....very sad....

[CTyankee]

46. I kinda wondered the same thing and I am an old lady...

I guess it was because there is an interdiction of "sex threads" in GD and it was deemed thusly.

The forbidden thread didn't bother me. As a matter of fact, I thought that the word "moist" was uncomfortable for some people because of sexual hangups, particularly those with women. It's funny, because when you think about it, the word "moist" is a rather dainty word, not gutteral or harsh in any way...kinda soft and tender...

[Nay]

39. That's funny -- when I was a child, I had an aversion to the word "truck." I have no idea why! nt

[Zorra]

40. I hate the word bush. It wasn't always this way; it all started in 2000... nt

[Blue_In_AK]

42. I used to have a male friend back in high school

who would get all bent out of shape over the word panties. Never failed to turn him bright red.

I think my own least favorite word is "grunt."

[Initech]

43. I find these words offensive:

[frogmarch]

44. Panties

I hate that word. Say "underpants" or "bloomers" or "smallies" or "drawers," or "knickers," or any of a number of other words commonly used for these undergarments, but if you say "panties," I will be grossed out.

[cali]

45. panties creeps me out too.

[Taverner]

47. I dunno, you seem to hate any words that question your intent or knowlege

But that's just you...

[cali]

48. lol. pouting are you? Jaysus.

that's just sad.