Are
some words just ugly sounding or do they reflect an ugliness about our world or
humanity? What if some words sound nasty
and define some nasty stuff? Meet Tyler
Vendett, who has explored the English language’s gross side in a book, The
Illustrated Compendium of Ugly English Words :
Including Phlegm, Chunky, Moist, and More.
So
apparently there are words that are universally loved, according to the author,
such as serendipity, imbroglio, and labyrinthine – and some that are dreaded,
such as asinine, decrepit, hogwash, regurgitate and vermin.
A
lot of this sounds arbitrary, but maybe there’s more agreement about words than
we realize. The author notes some words,
by their definition, are ugly because they represent things we’d rather not
associate with – barf, maggot, scab to name a few.
Other words are bad because they’ve been used in a negative context and many people have a bad association with them. It could be that someone overused a word around you, perhaps at work, or someone mocked you in school using specific words that can’t be erased from memory. Lastly, some words, just by their structure and letter usage, sound traumatic.
Other words are bad because they’ve been used in a negative context and many people have a bad association with them. It could be that someone overused a word around you, perhaps at work, or someone mocked you in school using specific words that can’t be erased from memory. Lastly, some words, just by their structure and letter usage, sound traumatic.
“According
to phonaesthetics,” writes the author, “words with multiple syllables that
contain smooth letters like L, R and M are more likely to be considered
beautiful than single syllable words containing strong letters like F or K. Certain letter combinations, especially those
that force you to reach deep into your throat (like unk) or unwittingly, spit
on your friends (like th) also detract from a word’s beauty.
The
author believes one can come up with words that make us squirm, giggle
nervously, or unite us in our despising of them. Tyler has listed over 300+ cringe-worthy
words.
The
list includes some words you would not expect, such as meal or
literally, but certainly you agree with malignant, leech, and gunk. We understand the awkwardness posed by clammy,
clump, and catheter, but why the outrage over spine, rural, or polyglot?
Some
words chosen by the author really only make the list because they resemble
other words that bring up x-rated or violent images. For instance, the book includes masticate
because it sounds like masturbate. The
author is so sensitive that panties, junk, and juice also top the list of ugly
words. Some words on the list are rarely
heard today, including hornswoggle (bamboozle), guttle (greedily devour), and
catawampus (destructive or askew).
Whether
you agree with even a tenth of the words selected here, the book does give a
good reason to relearn or learn anew several hundred words that could come in
handy, negative baggage and all.
Will the book leave you feeling our language is feted or corroded? Or will, it help you see the pulchritude of English? You decide.
Will the book leave you feeling our language is feted or corroded? Or will, it help you see the pulchritude of English? You decide.
“Goodness does not more certainly make men happy than happiness
makes them good.”
--Walter Savage Landor
“There is nothing in life except what one thinks of it.”
--Wallace Stevens
“What resembles nothing does not exist.”
--Paul Valery
“He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”
--Aristotle
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