There’s a famous scene in the Wire that is basically two detectives having a conversation at a crime scene using only the word ‘fuck’ https://youtu.be/XdfwFDZGnUk
NSFW, btw
Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?
61–64 of 64 posts
Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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 com…
Fine is the part of that sentence that expresses appreciation for beauty, not piece of ass.
Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?
#63Sure, 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
I wouldn't say such phrases demonstrate a different meaning of the word 'run', though. The word 'run' just has an abstract meaning related to movement.
Re: Is “Ass” the Most Complicated Word in English?
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
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?
The idea that people who speak differently than you smacks of old-timey classism, right up there with phrenology. Shakespere was as "vulgar" as it got in his day, and to call what he did art what others are doing something else is just bias.
Language is nothing but a set of conventions which necessarily evolves with its userbase.