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From: barmar@mit-eddie.UUCP (Barry Margolin)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Taboo words
Message-ID: <464@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 16-Nov-85 16:10:53 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.464
Posted: Sat Nov 16 16:10:53 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Nov-85 06:48:35 EST
References: <578@unc.unc.UUCP>
Reply-To: barmar@mit-eddie.UUCP (Barry Margolin)
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 17


Many of the taboo words refer to topics which are generally not
discussed in polite conversation, so the restrictions on their use
doesn't generally cause problems.  For instance, discussion of
fornication is taboo, so the use of the word "fuck" is frowned upon.
The same goes for certain body parts and common bodily functions.

Also, when these topics MUST be discussed, words like "fornicate" and
"defecate" sound much more proper and technical than the vulgar bathroom
language.  Also, euphemisms are generally preferred, as people fool
themselves into thinking that the real meaning is disguised; this is
sometimes even the case, because some euphemisms are ambiguous (e.g.
"making love" used to mean "necking", but now means "fornicating").
-- 
    Barry Margolin
    ARPA: barmar@MIT-Multics
    UUCP: ..!genrad!mit-eddie!barmar