Be Careful What You Say

I think it is very unfortunate that the English language has become such a minefield. It seems as if it has become impossible to speak without inadvertently saying something that has some sort of a double meaning or hidden innuendo that you had no intention of invoking.

Fortunately, the landmines are not attuned solely to me. I often get a bit of amusement from other peoples’ verbal stumbling. One of my favorite occurred a few years ago when my big little sister* describe a guy as a “stud” intending to express her ridicule of his 2x4 like, characteristics. She of course was unaware that the word “stud” has a few other uses. Particularly mortifying for her, was “ a male breeding animal”.

In general, however, I find the constant double meanings and dirty insinuations in speech to be a sad reflection on the immoral state of our culture.

*I just wanted to clarify my sororital status. Since I have three sisters all of who are younger than me, I have given them all designations for use in my various familial stories. Here they are:

My older little sister: Emily who is 16 and the oldest of my female siblings, come to think of it the oldest of my sibs period.

My big little sister: Arita is 13 and is bigger and taller than Emily.

My baby sister: Madeline is a year and a half old and the youngest of my clan.