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Calling people names

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2005

Gerry Abbott
Gerry Abbott
Affiliation:
Honorary Fellow of the University of Manchester, UK
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Abstract

The pronunciation of names in times of conflict. Whenever people have wanted to express disrespect for a person or group — their indifference or disdain or outright hatred — they have traditionally selected a suitably offensive noun or phrase for the purpose. It is a practice that has persisted since time immemorial, and such name-calling is still a cultural feature that we pick up in our early school days. Typically, this sort of juvenile name-calling is an expression of personal animosity, and examples heard in England today include the traditional Teacher's pet! and Tell-tale! or the more recent Fatso! However, in recent years a general reaction against inter-racial name-calling has meant that such terms as Chink, nigger, yid and wog are no longer acceptable in polite discourse.

Type
Original Article
Information
English Today , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , July 2005 , pp. 22 - 23
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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