Woden’s Day, 9/11: More Dirty Words
EQ#1: How does vulgarity differ from profanity?
EQ#2: How does English Usage function as a class signifier?
· Welcome! Gather Dirty Words FW, 1066 Lecture Notes, pen/cil, paper, wits!
· Politics and the English Language
o Vulgar vs. Profane
o Three Classes, Three Languages, Three Uses
· CLOZE: 1066
ELACC12RL-RI2: Analyze two or more themes or central ideas of text
ELACC12RI3: Analyze and explain how individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop
ELACC12RL5: Analyze an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text
ELACC12RL-RI9: Analyze for theme, purpose rhetoric, and how texts treat similar themes or topics
ELACC12RL10: Read and comprehend complex literature independently and proficiently.
Yesterday’s Freewrite (100 words):
Of all the “dirty” words – which is the WORST?
Don’t say it. Don’t write it. Just think it. And about it.
Now – WITHOUT writing the word itself, explain why THIS WORD is the WORST of the “dirty” words.
What makes it so BAD?
Today’s Freewrite (100 words):
When you cuss (if you do), or when people cuss (if you don’t) – WHY do you/they do it? And – WHOSE INTERESTS are you/they thinking of (self-interest, or the interests of others?)
Vulgar
Profane
Vulgarity
is about sociology.
The word “vulgar” means “common,” in the sense of “low.”
Saxon words’ meanings do not offend, but using Saxon at all seemed/seems low.
Profanity
is about ontology.
“Using the Lord’s ‘name’ in vain”
is offensive not because “God” is His “name,”
but because calling on His Might when someone cuts in front of you at Taco Bell trivializes The Divine.
Review: Politics and the English Language
In 1066, William of Normandy defeated Harold of Wessex at the Battle of Hastings, and became King of England. As of Christmas Day, 1066, here was the English situation:
o The Nobility (William’s buddies) spoke French, and held all positions of political and economic power. Not surprisingly, they enjoyed “romantic” stories of questing knights, fierce dragons, and fair damsels to be rescued (or seduced).
o Commoners (Harold’s surviving buddies) spoke Saxon, and had little power or wealth. Not surprisingly, they enjoyed “dirty” stories about clever peasants outsmarting rich folk and churchmen to steal their money, women and pride.
o The Church and scholars continued to use Latin for religious, scientific, and philosophical writing. Not surprisingly, their “stories” were mostly sermons, meditations on the Gospel truths and saints’ lives.
The classes stayed largely separate in language, customs and storytelling traditions except in a few power centers, like London, where some hybriding began to happen.
In 1343, Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London.
CLOZE: 1066
1. Why was King Edward “The Confessor” called “The Confessor”?
2. What did he not “do,” and why did this send England into turmoil at his death?
3. What Saxon noble was named King of England when Edward died?
4. Who invaded Britain in October 1066, and from what part of Europe did he come?
5. What was the name of the battle, and in what part of England did it take place?
6. What two big tactical advantages did the Normans have?
7. What two big tactical advantage did the Saxons have?
8. What language did the winners speak, and what position in society did they take?
9. What language did the losers speak, and what position in society did they take?
10. Explain how one of your “word pairs” illustrates this winner/loser dynamic:
11. What language did Church members and scholars continue to use?
12. From which language do “cuss words” come – and WHY?
BritLitComp: The Roots of Modern English
Comparison Matrix Graphic Organizer
Root Language: / Anglo-Saxon / Norman French / Latin or GreekThese words tend to
look and sound like: / Short: often 1 syllable
Simple consonants and
vowels; fricatives / Short to medium:
1- 3 syllables
More complex vowels
and consonants; fricatives / Short to very long:
often 3 or more syllables
Simple consonants
and vowels
Before 1066, these
words were used by: / People in Scandanavia,
Germany, England / People in what is now
Northern France / Scholars, priests, monks and
nuns throughout Europe
In Britain after 1066,
these were used by: / Peasants, servants, serfs:
“lower class” commoners / Knights, Kings, Lords:
“upper class” powerful / Scholars, priests, monks and
nuns throughout Europe
In modern usage, these
words tend to seem or
to be used for: / SAXON
“Basic” words
Hard-hitting language
Rude or “Dirty” speech
Things common folk use / FRENCH
“Luxury” words
“Romantic” language
“Polite” speech
Things fancy folk use / LATIN
Scientific, philosophical,
educated, legal language
“Intellectual” speech
Things scholarly folk use
Modern words
for food/animals
/ Animal known by serf:
Chicken
Sheep
Cow / Animal eaten by lord:
Poultry
Mutton
Beef / Animal classed by science:
Avian species
Ovine species
Bovine species
Common words
from these roots:
Add other examples
and check etymology / Food
Luck
Beer
Thing
Work
Guts
Hard / Cuisine
Fortune
Wine, Champagne
Object
Leisure
Stomach
Easy / Nutrition
Serendipity
Beverage
Instrument
Study
Internal Organs
Difficult
Facile
“Dirty” v. “acceptable”
You may add other examples and check their etymology / “Dirty” words (you
know what they are!)
______
______
______
______
______
______/ Polite equivalents:
_manure_____
__ pass gas __
______
______
______
______/ Scientific equivalents:
__excrement _
__flatulate __
______
______
______
______
TURN IN TODAY:
· Freewrite: Why We Cuss
· CLOZE: 1066