Linguistic Reclamation: Rough Draft - Essay Example

Linguistic Reclamation: Rough Draft Introduction In this world, many words begin with one solid meaning. All it takes is for that word to be used wrong once, and it gains numerous meanings, with many of these meanings often being offensive or rude. This also occurs when the origin of the word is not obvious, so its meaning is tossed around until someone comes up with a meaning that makes sense or until little can be done to reclaim that word. The word “fuck” is no different. While it is difficult to trace the origin of the word, it is still obvious that it does not hold the meaning that it does now, which is to say many meanings. The word “fuck” is one of the few words in the English language that can be used as a verb, noun, pronoun, adverb, adjective, et cetera. This shows that, despite its original meaning, it does not have a solid one now. It is a word that is merely used to exaggerate how something is. Etymology The origin of the word “fuck” is hard to trace as there are so many stories and myths behind its derivation. The most common of these myths is that “fuck” was an acronym for “Fornication Under the Consent of the King” and “Forced Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.” As “fuck” predated the introduction of acronyms, it is assumed that it did not start as an acronym, but as a real word with a definite meaning. Though “fuck” has always been a taboo word, its Germanic origin has given it the definition of “prick,” “penetrate,” and “puncture.” During its jump from tongue to tongue, “fuck” finally reached Americans and first meant any variation of sexual intercourse – so it stayed true to its native tongue, though now it had a more detailed definition. Now, however, it has become taboo to us, a profane word with numerous meanings, though they are all rude or sarcastic. Oddly enough, “fuck” is still staying true to its original self, as it became more taboo with each tongue that it was passed to. Perspective: Pejoration Inseparable, Reclamation Opposed I feel that it would be difficult to try to reclaim a word that has never had a solid meaning. Furthermore, people have found many uses in such a small word. “Fuck” can be used in almost any way, to describe almost anything. It would be difficult, if not entirely impossible, to separate the word from its many meanings. As “fuck” can be viewed as the word to use when no other words can possibly describe the situation, it should remain what it is today. It is for that matter that I also feel that, while it cannot be reclaimed, it can at least not be viewed as so offensive, as in most situations it is not used offensively. Conclusion “Fuck” is a word that is hard to contemplate. It has so many meanings and there are numerous stories behind its birth. What it really comes down to is that people should stop taking offense in it unless that is the sole intention. It began as an inoffensive word, and while it has gathered many more meanings as it snowballed from one tongue to another, it can still be viewed as inoffensive. Any word has the ability to be offensive and inoffensive – it just depends on the context that it is used in, as well as a matter of semantics. In today’s world, words and meanings come and go like a fashion statement. Some of the words begin to mean different things, or they disappear altogether. Many of these words cannot help but change, as they are passed on through each dialect, going one tongue from another. The word starts to be pronounced in another way, the spelling changes, and it eventually takes on a whole new – and often incredibly different – meaning. In the case of the word “fuck,” aside from being passed from many countries and languages, it has been difficult to find the exact meaning of the word, so it has been taboo, each person using it in the way that they see fit. “Fuck” is one of the few words that I believe impossible to reclaim, as very few people are positive of its place of origin. Furthermore, it is a word that people have found a use for, a word that can be used when all others fail the situation. Etymology Fiction There are many myths and legends behind the origin of “fuck.” Two of the most common ones come from acronyms of “Fornication Under the Consent of the King” and “Forced Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (Cermak).” There are other acronyms that others claim brought along the word “fuck,” as many people often take an acronym and make it into a word – another way that a word can take on a new meaning, or that an entirely new word can be created. However, the word “fuck” predates the use of acronyms, which is something that started during the 20th century and no sooner. This would suggest that “fuck” was a legitimate word, having a legitimate meaning at some point in time. Fact The word “fuck” originates from the 15th century English tongue and meant “to thrust.” It was also found in the German language and meant to “prick,” “penetrate,” and “puncture.” Other variations of the word in languages such as Dutch and Norwegian take on the two similar definitions – to penetrate, whether sexually or not (“What the fuck”). The fact that people used it to mean sexual penetration is most likely where the modern offensive definition came from. “Fuck” has always been a taboo word, possibly dating back about 750 years ago. The first recording of this word in any dictionary was in 1503; in 1250, “John le Fucker” was found in Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto, which may suggest that any variation of “fuck” was being humorously tossed around even back then. Even now, hundreds of years later, the definition is still shaky and the word is still taboo, having both positive and negative meanings, which is why the word is not often used in civilized conversation. The pros of “fuck” “Fuck” is one of the few English words that has an array of meanings and can be used in almost any way, whether as a pronoun, noun, verb, adjective, adverb, et cetera. It can be considered the one word that can be used when no other word could possibly describe the situation. It can be used to exaggerate an event or to add exclamation. For example: “That was fucking fantastic!” It is often used as a sentence enhancer as it can describe almost anything; oftentimes, when it cannot describe something, the speaker will make it so that it does. That is the beauty of the word “fuck” – it can be any word, mean anything, as there was never a solid meaning to begin with. Although it can be used offensively, the majority of its usage is based around things that it gives a neutral meaning to. The cons of “fuck” Despite its many inoffensive meanings, “fuck” has still managed to earn its place on the list of offensive swear words, though it is not evident as to why this must be so. Even if it is used in its original context of penetration – sexual or otherwise – there is still nothing remotely offensive about it. Like many of the modern swear words, “fuck” just happened to be bounced around and changed so often that people became unaware of its meaning, or meanings, so they treat it as a dirty word. Like many things in life, people treat the unknown with fear and distaste; words are no different. Unfortunately, people take advantage of “fuck’s” negative meanings and use them as such. A word that could possibly mean excitement or disbelief can also be used as an insult, or to describe something in a negative way. For example: “That was totally fucked, man!” The word can also be used to describe an unfortunate event that happened to someone, such as, “You just got fucked.” The meaning of the word depends entirely on how the person speaking uses it and how the person who receives the word perceives it. An insult involving the word may be brushed off as humorous and inoffensive, while to others it may be accepted as the insult that it was intended to be. The out-group and in-group There are no real specific groups of people that use the word “fuck,” especially in the sense that it is being directed at a minority. It is a word that is used worldwide, though it is more commonly used amongst children, teenagers, and young adults, as well as in a few of the media professions, such as film and television. In the case of “fuck,” the out-group would be those that use it and the in-group would be those that receive it. As the word can be used offensively, it is done so to insult the receiving group. While the majority of society views “fuck” as a profane word, it is usually looked down upon and people are forbidden to speak it in many social settings (such as school, church, the workplace, and in a public setting). The perspective: Pejoration inseparable, reclamation opposed It was be nearly impossible to reclaim a word whose origin and original meaning is difficult to trace, as well as one that has become so useful to today’s society. It is not a matter of separating “fuck” from what it has become, but trying to make others realize that it is not an entirely offensive word – it is all in how it is intended in that specific sentence, as well as a matter of semantics. While the word began as an acceptable word (“What”), and while it may now have a few negative meanings, and can still be used in a positive or neutral way. Just because one meaning makes it offensive does not mean that they all do. In addition, many of the uses of the word “fuck” – such as those that show surprise, distaste, disappointment, and extreme elation – are not connected to its sexual meaning, which in itself is considered an inappropriate topic unless discussed in a classroom setting or at home (“History”). As “fuck” has so many possible meanings and uses in any given sentence, I feel that it would be ridiculous to try and reclaim it. It is the one word that can describe anything, and is quite successful in doing so. Furthermore, its more “offensive” meaning – sexual intercourse and penetration – is still being true to its original definition. There really does not seem much to reclaim from the word; it has merely expanded into more than what it used to be, but still staying true to its nature. Conclusion “Fuck” is a word that is hard to contemplate. It has so many meanings and there are numerous stories behind its birth. What it really comes down to is that people should stop taking offense in it unless that is the sole intention. It began as an inoffensive word, and while it has gathered many more meanings as it snowballed from one tongue to another, it can still be viewed as inoffensive. Any word has the ability to be offensive and inoffensive – it just depends on the context that it is used in, as well as a matter of semantics. It would be pointless to try and reclaim such a helpful word that, in a sense, is every descriptive word known to man. References Cermak, Don. F Word. New York: Authorhouse, 2007. “History of the Word Fuck.” Wikipedia. Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_word_'fuck'. July 26, 2008. “What the Fuck.” Snopes. July 8, 2008. Online. http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.asp. July 25, 2008. “What is the Origin of the F-Word?” Dictionary. Online. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/e52.html. July 25, 2008. Letter One of the biggest struggles that I had in writing this paper was finding the perfect word. I wanted to research a word that, while not losing its original meaning, was still greatly affected by all the dialects and people that it went through. I decided that “fuck” was the perfect word to show this, as it had gained numerous meanings over time while still staying true to what it originally meant. The research portion also proved difficult for me. Though “fuck” had a few general meanings, it was hard to trace the different places and meanings that it took on, and how those even came to be attached to the word. Separating fact from fiction in regards to its origin was an interesting task, though tedious and time-consuming. The word seems to have as many origins as it has meanings. My greatest success in this paper was discovering how any word can be turned into something different just by the merest mispronunciation. I learned that many words are not even considered before they are given a meaning and thrown back out into the world for people to use without their own consideration. It is amazing to me how many meanings a small four-letter word can carry, and how many people use it to their own needs. I think that it is weird that so many people find offense in words that simply do not have it. Read More