Posted by John Wilson on April 05, 2002 at -1:26:41 from 202.154.130.63:
In Reply to: Re: Naughty words posted by David Bamford on April 03, 2002 at 22:52:51:
I think that words like “boy” or “girl” can generally be derogatory when used of adults, eg saying “hey boy” to a stranger would generally be derogatory, but it is not in the phrase “a night out with the boys”.
So Muhammed Ali reacted to the word!! And young women in their twenties objected to being referred to as “girls”, although now a “young woman” can be in her teens. The (mixed) school my twelve-year son goes to refers in circulars to “your young person” which sounds ????
Likewise saying “you B**stard” to a stranger is insulting, while saying “Hi you old B**stard” to an old friend is not.
Two other words with sexual meanings in the States are “hooker” (prostitute) and “pecker” (penis):
But in Australia (and franchised here in New Zealand) is a real estate chain called LJ Hooker, with headquarters in Hooker House.
And the nursery rhyme “One-a-pecker, Two-a-pecker” was used as the title of a novel by Ruth Park, but the novel was probably retitled in the States!