Posted by Dave W on January 19, 1999 at 23:37:26:
In Reply to: Re: AR's bad language (NB: some offensive language) posted by Anne LeVeque on January 19, 1999 at 21:43:12:
I don't think there's any easy answer.
I am wondering what the reaction was to S&A when first published, regarding the relatively very mild bad language that Titty overheard in the conversation between the two burglars who were carrying their loot onto Cormorant Island:
"We can't carry that thing on a motor bicycle. Have to bring a car for it."
"Blast it. Why didn't you bring a chisel to smash it open?"
Later we learn that the nice, middle-class, Walker children know about bad language:
"Fishermen, probably," said John.
"No, they weren't," said Titty. "They nearly smashed their boat and they swore."
Another change from that relatively innocent time is that for many people in the UK today, the conversational use of Titty's name, or the name of the Motor-Boat Bonka (Coots in the North) will give rise to at least a smirk, if not a chuckle.