tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post2101028830635251336..comments2024-03-28T11:43:27.547+00:00Comments on A K Haart: Can I say that?A K Haarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-21293714293887352162011-12-19T19:29:18.219+00:002011-12-19T19:29:18.219+00:00Yes, I agree. Hence the attempts to use emoticons...Yes, I agree. Hence the attempts to use emoticons, etc., and the frequent episodes of flaming and abuse that we see. There is also linguistic historical context, however, which must be taken into account; diachronic as well as synchronic. I am merely talking about one type of context.Sam Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05978971199859845931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-13783328109213496722011-12-19T18:47:24.108+00:002011-12-19T18:47:24.108+00:00SV - I see it as mostly context. You can say almos...SV - I see it as mostly context. You can say almost anything to anyone in the right context. It's a weakness of blogging because context can be ambiguous.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-70877769950463415402011-12-19T16:55:50.557+00:002011-12-19T16:55:50.557+00:00I think the key here is indeed the term "bast...I think the key here is indeed the term "bastard", because it operates in this context as a signifier that there is the intention to offend through a reference to the qualities of the person referred to. It gains its power from the unspoken term "black bastard" lurking behind it. If you call a black man an <i>x bastard</i> his first thought will rightly be whether you are just using the term <i>x</i> as a substitute for black, and moreover trying to demonstrate that you have a bigger vocabulary.<br /><br />The same would apply to a woman who you called "A nice piece of <i> x</i>", or an effeminate gay man referred to as a "screaming <i> x</i>".<br /><br />Phrases, like words, have a history.Sam Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05978971199859845931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-20389874116562837482011-12-19T16:38:24.148+00:002011-12-19T16:38:24.148+00:00MW - but out of context.MW - but out of context.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-54898992810840478252011-12-19T13:49:43.299+00:002011-12-19T13:49:43.299+00:00You just did.You just did.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.com