Female dogs in PoA and other innocent words WAS Re: Spoilers - my POA review

[Ali]

> --- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, "Theresa" <anmsmom333 at c...> 
> wrote:

> Marge states the breeding problem (referring to Harry) comes 
> > from the mother comparing it to dogs. I think it was something 
> > like "if there is something wrong with the b*#%h then there is 
> > something wrong with the pup" 

Haggridd wrote:- 

> Thank you, Theresa, for a fine review of the new HP movie.  I 
would like to talk about Aunt Marge's comment about dog breeding for 
a moment. >

I agree. I'm now beginning to regret reading all the reviews, but 
I've throughly enjoyed reading them! 

Haggridd again:-

<<<I am sad for you that you were shocked by the word "b---h", 
 but there was no reason for it, since the word as used is perectly 
 innocent.  If I understand it correctly, the word does not carry 
the same emotional impact in England as it does here, when used t 
 describe a female dog, an even in the U.S., dog breeders use the 
 word with no intent to curse.>>>

It's hard for me to say whether "bitch" carries the same level of 
vehemence here in the UK as it does in the States. I certainly have 
no problem in writing it. But, it does carry exactly the same nasty 
connotations as you describe. It's a lot stronger than calling 
someone a "cow" for example. We do have the phrase "to bitch about" 
when people are talking unpleasantly about a third party behind 
their back.

And of course, Marge is a dog breeder. That is the only way IMO that 
she can get away with using that phrase. It is the name for a female 
dog, and Marge is using the phrase within context. By the way, I am 
not trying to justify what she said. It was despicable and 
outrageous. I don't suppose I was the only one who enjoyed her 
getting her comeuppance!!

Haggridd:

>>> Interestingly enough we ignore this when the strength of emotion 
in the word goes the other way.  We named the Austin Powers 
movie "The Spy Who S----d Me".  In England, "s----ed" is as srong a 
curse as the F-word is here.>>>

Err, not so. I had to look up the word you meant, as I had a total 
mental blank. That work is a colloquial term which you perhaps 
wouldn't hear in "polite" company. But then, what alternate term 
would you hear in polite company? I wouldn't class it as a swear 
word at all. In terms of "strength" of swear word, "bloody" is much 
stronger, and that's considered ok for a PG-rated film.

Ali