Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#51

Post by johnnycab » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:37 PM UTC

Roonerelli wrote: post #21

Micky Flannigan, a uk comedian, does a great routine about when he lived in America and people confused his cockney pronunciation of "house" with the American pronunciation of "Ass". So at the end of a date he's on the doorstep with a girl and they are saying goodbye: He says: I'd like to come in your house She looks shocked. So he says: I won't try to kiss you, I just want to come in your house

The faux-pas is not entirely restricted to cockney pronunciation; here is an example of another UK comedian, Michael McIntyre taking the piss out of TV chef Gino D'ACampo's (Italian) mockney version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJnO8rzXP0

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#52

Post by tyre » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:38 PM UTC

Shaanie wrote: post #28

lostgame wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spiritual ‘Guru’ Osho has an amazing breakdown of all the types of expression ‘fuck’ has: Ignorance: Fucked if I know. Trouble: I guess I am fucked now! Fraud: I got fucked at the used car lot. Aggression: Fuck you! Displeasure: What the fuck is going on here? Difficulty: I can’t understand this fucking job. Incompetence: He is a fuck-off. Suspicion: What the fuck are you doing? Enjoyment: I had a fucking good time.…

In many of those it's just used as an amplifier. If you can remove the "fuck" and the sentence still makes sense, then it's not really doing anything.

> it's not really doing anything

"fuck" is fascinating in part because it doesn't mean much beyond amplification. It's pure emotion

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#53

Post by werber » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:38 PM UTC

umvi wrote: post #22

Basically any vulgar word ends up being overused by the (uneducated) masses by the definition of the word vulgar. I'm not sure why, probably because they don't have the vocabulary to precisely express their thoughts and end up reusing the handful of strong words they do know in new ways and contexts. Like how a chef who only knows about cayenne and salt wouldn't be using subtle spices like paprika. He's just going to…

I'm curious if there's anything to back up the use of profanity correlation to one's level of education.

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#54

Post by dragonwriter » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:43 PM UTC

mercer wrote: post #41

DoreenMichele wrote: post #26

When I lived in Germany, I explained to someone (in German) that ass means both arse and donkey and they cracked up. Shrek: "I've got to save my ass" -- meaning his donkey (named Donkey), but Fiona interprets that differently from his intended meaning. Also, I would interpret piece of ass as sex object , not beautiful. It's about just being used for sex. A less ugly use of the expression is roughly "looking for no-st…

Interesting. As a bilingual/fluent but not native English speaker 'piece of ass' always contained at least an element of beauty. not necessarily, but usually.

> As a bilingual/fluent but not native English speaker 'piece of ass' always contained at least an element of beauty.

As a native English speaker it does not contain that in itself, though it's frequently accompanied by a positive qualitative assessment of utility as a sex object (very often also dehumanizing by using wording traditionally used for objects rather than humans, e.g., “that’s a fine piece of ass!”), which assessment is often based on appearance (and frequently accompanied by nonverbal communication or other context which clearlt—often lewdly—indicates that the qualitative assessment of sexual utility is based on appearance, often quite specific features of appearance.)

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#55

Post by ydnaclementine » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:45 PM UTC

HappySweeney wrote: post #50

Sure, it's complicated, but has anyone looked at all the definitions for the words 'take' or 'get'? Both have more than 100 definitions each.

A similar world I would put up there as well is 'run'. Run a business, run a program, physically run

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#56

Post by ryanmercer » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:51 PM UTC

vidarh wrote: post #44

ryanmercer wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bud Light had a commercial some years back where it's just them using 'dude' a bunch of different ways https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyMSSe7cOvA I've also seen it used in stand up several times and I feel like at least one film.

> and I feel like at least one film. "Dude, Where's My Car?" Half the dialogue (ok, I'm probably exaggerating a little bit) is the word "dude". Often repeated many times in different intonations.

They even poke fun of it some in it with the

"Dude, what's mine say?"

"Sweet, what's mine say?"

"Dude, what's mine say?!"

"Sweet! What's mine say?!"

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#57

Post by diegoperini » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 1:57 PM UTC

ryanmercer wrote: post #3

I would think "dude" would be more confusing. - "Dude" = cool - "Dude" = come on man, really? - "Dude!" = WTF man, I should punch you in the face - "Dude!" = holy crap, I just got that girl's number! - "Dude?" = who's there, is there a killer in my house? - "Dude?" = no shit, for real? - "Dude!?" = why'd you sleep with my sister?! - "Dude" = hey Steve - "Dude." = not cool bro - "Dude!!!" = you're not gonna believe th…

Maybe due to the language or culture barrier, I don't get why you are down-voted.

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#58

Post by umvi » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 2:14 PM UTC

grepthisab wrote: post #48

umvi wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, "history is written by the victors", I suppose, but that doesn't make the masses who are "evolving" the language "right". Unless you think it's "right" for the ignorant to redefine words like "literally" and "nonplussed" to mean the exact opposite of their original meanings or to make "could of" a valid grammatical construct.

I really used to think like this. I thought there was a "proper" way to use words and evolution of language by the "uneducated masses" was a bad thing and they were "ignorant" for not sticking with dictionary definitions. I was insufferable.

So is there any value in studying or preserving English grammar and vocabulary at all if it is ultimately meaningless and can easily be redefined by people who have not studied English?

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#59

Post by salawat » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 3:31 PM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #54

mercer wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. As a bilingual/fluent but not native English speaker 'piece of ass' always contained at least an element of beauty. not necessarily, but usually.

> As a bilingual/fluent but not native English speaker 'piece of ass' always contained at least an element of beauty. As a native English speaker it does not contain that in itself , though it's frequently accompanied by a positive qualitative assessment of utility as a sex object (very often also dehumanizing by using wording traditionally used for objects rather than humans, e.g., “that’s a fine piece of ass!”), wh…

I'm a native English speaker as well, and I think you're conflating two different uses.

Yes. There is 'fine piece of ass' as one might hear one utter of an uninvolved person to a friend that matches what you are describing.

That changes significantly when the subject to whom the "fine piece of ass" belongs is a direct recipient of the comment. I.e. "Girl, you have/are one fine piece of ass."

In that case there is communicated the sense of appreciation of beauty between the speaker and receiver. There is the also the not necessarily explicit "that I'd like to try," which clearly distinguishes the "appreciative" form from the "sex objectification form."

Be aware this is not license to use the phrase carelessly. Aware of the norms of the company you're keeping must be taken into account. On the American side of the pond, careless banding about of that sort of thing has been growing increasingly problematic in any business casual up, or official social context. It is a solidly informal comment not intended for "polite company".

I'm a blast at parties. For the curious. (I'm really not.)

Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?

#60

Post by ryanmercer » Thu, Oct 03, 2019, 4:13 PM UTC

diegoperini wrote: post #57

ryanmercer wrote: post #3

I would think "dude" would be more confusing. - "Dude" = cool - "Dude" = come on man, really? - "Dude!" = WTF man, I should punch you in the face - "Dude!" = holy crap, I just got that girl's number! - "Dude?" = who's there, is there a killer in my house? - "Dude?" = no shit, for real? - "Dude!?" = why'd you sleep with my sister?! - "Dude" = hey Steve - "Dude." = not cool bro - "Dude!!!" = you're not gonna believe th…

Maybe due to the language or culture barrier, I don't get why you are down-voted.

I'm guessing some of it is an age thin with some early-mid 20,s people viewing the thread. "Dude" was all over tv and movies in the 90's and early 2000's.