It's what I love about you... Gidget, Pee-wee Herman, and event-related potentials (P300 wave) in the same article. You're a super genius, polymath, and I'm here for it!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. That was the whole point, really. That and having an excuse to talk about how dynamic the language is. Like John McWhorter says, it’s always on the move.
I have a strong stomach for colourful language, although I have no need for it in my own speech or writing. But it strikes me that all these uses of the original word for female dog are negative or (to coin a meaning similar to anti-hero) anti-negative. I was trying to think if there are masculine nouns used similarly and at occurred to me that dog has a similar variety of uses and meanings with similarly negative and anti-negative elements. I wonder if it is due to the simultaneous common human perception of the dog, male or female, as both man's best friend and as an unclean animal willing to consume even its own vomit.
Could be. That’s an interesting observation. It used to be that calling someone a dog or a cur was a real insult. Today, back to that inversion thing, calling someone a dog (or a dawg) is more of a compliment.
An enjoyable romp, and I hope its effect on the culture is the Cardi B or someone starts using the old Germanic pronunciation, which I am guessing is something like "Bizsh-Co". But I have a complaint: It's a great catch to see the word in Franny, but I feel you have not done the story any sort of justice with this summary: "But she’s clearly disturbed after stepping off the train and proceeds to make sarcastic, alienating remarks throughout lunch."
“Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don't cheat with it.”
I had to look that up. Hemingway! It’s an interesting use because it could mean wrecked or ruined (an adjectival use mirroring Salinger’s) or it could mean cursed (a la Chaucer). Fascinating. Thanks for sharing that.
Just watched the latest episode Guy Ritchie's "Mobland" and in that context, your delightful piece on the 'B' word seems almost quaint, genteel and Austenesque.
"Then there’s flip a bitch, California slang for making a U-turn."
I still say this, having grown up in SLO. And my wife, who grew up in Chico and then Sacramento, hates it. No one in Oregon knows it, and they all look at me funny.
It’s definitely more of a Southern California thing. I grew up in Sacramento and first heard it at Sierra College (a little north of Sacramento) from a professor. Whenever I (or a friend) used it, we sort of knew we were appropriating it.
I also lived in Oregon for a few years and don’t recall anyone using bitch outside the narrow pejorative use. It’s like all that wonderful California vibe never made it over the pass.
As a 40+ year construction dude I thought I'd heard it all. I have some words that function similarly, but they're NSFW (unless your workplace is ummmm... colorful.)
When i lived by Chicago (that's the German "bei"by the way) i loved taking our little Sunfish sailboat out on the big lake. The windier and rougher conditoons were, the better. And so for me, a Small Craft Advisory from the weather bureau did not mean beware but instead, "Attention sailors. The lake is pretty good today."
I can imagine bitchen working the same way. A bitchen day to a Seaman may be an excellent day for a surfer.
I wonder how many of the uses as noun reflect dropping “the son of” and bitching as a verb is related in military usage to grumbling - a soldierly habit with roots in antiquity
Very funny essay, Mr. Miller! It never occurred to me all the various ways "bitch" can be used, but that's the secret power of English, isn't it? One word conversion I will oppose to my dying day is using "gift" as a verb. Why and when did that suddenly become widespread? It drives me crazy when I hear, "I was gifted this."
It's what I love about you... Gidget, Pee-wee Herman, and event-related potentials (P300 wave) in the same article. You're a super genius, polymath, and I'm here for it!
LOL. Lee! This was a blast to write, actually. I was like, how much can I cram in here?
I laughed outloud at the office story. The whole thing is really great.
That happened several years ago now and people on the team still bring it up. Hilarious.
This was fun, or shall I say, bitchin?
I’m glad you enjoyed it. That was the whole point, really. That and having an excuse to talk about how dynamic the language is. Like John McWhorter says, it’s always on the move.
I have a strong stomach for colourful language, although I have no need for it in my own speech or writing. But it strikes me that all these uses of the original word for female dog are negative or (to coin a meaning similar to anti-hero) anti-negative. I was trying to think if there are masculine nouns used similarly and at occurred to me that dog has a similar variety of uses and meanings with similarly negative and anti-negative elements. I wonder if it is due to the simultaneous common human perception of the dog, male or female, as both man's best friend and as an unclean animal willing to consume even its own vomit.
Could be. That’s an interesting observation. It used to be that calling someone a dog or a cur was a real insult. Today, back to that inversion thing, calling someone a dog (or a dawg) is more of a compliment.
An enjoyable romp, and I hope its effect on the culture is the Cardi B or someone starts using the old Germanic pronunciation, which I am guessing is something like "Bizsh-Co". But I have a complaint: It's a great catch to see the word in Franny, but I feel you have not done the story any sort of justice with this summary: "But she’s clearly disturbed after stepping off the train and proceeds to make sarcastic, alienating remarks throughout lunch."
Everyone's a critic...
No worries! I’m planning a full review soon!
I prefer the literal meaning, and so does at least one of my fictional characters: https://davidperlmutter.substack.com/p/national-pet-day
Delightful.
“Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don't cheat with it.”
I had to look that up. Hemingway! It’s an interesting use because it could mean wrecked or ruined (an adjectival use mirroring Salinger’s) or it could mean cursed (a la Chaucer). Fascinating. Thanks for sharing that.
Haha. Indeed. I think about it all the time.
Just watched the latest episode Guy Ritchie's "Mobland" and in that context, your delightful piece on the 'B' word seems almost quaint, genteel and Austenesque.
LOL. I bet that’s true.
"Then there’s flip a bitch, California slang for making a U-turn."
I still say this, having grown up in SLO. And my wife, who grew up in Chico and then Sacramento, hates it. No one in Oregon knows it, and they all look at me funny.
It’s definitely more of a Southern California thing. I grew up in Sacramento and first heard it at Sierra College (a little north of Sacramento) from a professor. Whenever I (or a friend) used it, we sort of knew we were appropriating it.
I also lived in Oregon for a few years and don’t recall anyone using bitch outside the narrow pejorative use. It’s like all that wonderful California vibe never made it over the pass.
As a 40+ year construction dude I thought I'd heard it all. I have some words that function similarly, but they're NSFW (unless your workplace is ummmm... colorful.)
True. There are a lot of swear words that end up demonstrating similar linguistic flexibility.
When i lived by Chicago (that's the German "bei"by the way) i loved taking our little Sunfish sailboat out on the big lake. The windier and rougher conditoons were, the better. And so for me, a Small Craft Advisory from the weather bureau did not mean beware but instead, "Attention sailors. The lake is pretty good today."
I can imagine bitchen working the same way. A bitchen day to a Seaman may be an excellent day for a surfer.
Exactly!
I preordered your book and November cannot come fast enough!
Margaret! Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it. I’m busy working on promotional plans now.
I wonder how many of the uses as noun reflect dropping “the son of” and bitching as a verb is related in military usage to grumbling - a soldierly habit with roots in antiquity
Probably a lot.
Very funny essay, Mr. Miller! It never occurred to me all the various ways "bitch" can be used, but that's the secret power of English, isn't it? One word conversion I will oppose to my dying day is using "gift" as a verb. Why and when did that suddenly become widespread? It drives me crazy when I hear, "I was gifted this."
Thanks, Tad! English really is a wonder. I get the reticence to accept gift as a verb. Alas, it’s not up to us; the market will decide.