An Unspeakable Word Is the Word That Has to Be Spoken

Diski comments on the unspeakable word that has to be spoken if language is to be honored and belong colloquially to the anatomy that has been so appropriated by misogyny and prudery to be horrified and distressed when it is used. Among other things, the word that is less unspeakable in the UK than...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New York times magazine 2011-05, p.46
Main Author: Diski, Jenny
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
American culture
Beckett, Samuel (1906-1989)
Definitions
English language
Etymology
Joyce, James (1882-1941)
Language
Lawrence, D H (1885-1930)
Obscene words
Semantics
Simplification
Words, Obscene
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Diski comments on the unspeakable word that has to be spoken if language is to be honored and belong colloquially to the anatomy that has been so appropriated by misogyny and prudery to be horrified and distressed when it is used. Among other things, the word that is less unspeakable in the UK than in the US can be used privately in a chummy way between people as well as being aggressively used and deliberately vile.
ISSN:0028-7822