Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Bad language

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    152

    Default Bad language

    one of my friends said once
    "where's the fucking J...?"
    She was looking for this person but she couldn't find her
    Now, what 'fucking' literary means in this context ?

  2. #2
    Marylin's Avatar
    Marylin is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    959

    Default Re: Bad language

    Quote Originally Posted by Gala
    one of my friends said once
    "where's the fucking J...?"
    She was looking for this person but she couldn't find her
    Now, what 'fucking' literary means in this context ?
    It functions purely as an intensifier and it implies anything from dispicable, vile, unpleasant, dirty and corrupt (or whatever else you can think of that's far from flattering).

  3. #3
    Tdol is online now Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    35,371
    Teacher

    Default Re: Bad language

    To me, it would sound more natural to say 'Where's that f***ing J...?' if J is the person's name. 'The' would be used with a position, like 'the f***ing doctor'.

    Here it is an intensifier, but some speakers seem to think that every sentence needs the word at least once, so it is often meaningless.

  4. #4
    Marylin's Avatar
    Marylin is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    959

    Default Re: Bad language

    Quote Originally Posted by tdol
    To me, it would sound more natural to say 'Where's that f***ing J...?' if J is the person's name. 'The' would be used with a position, like 'the f***ing doctor'.

    Here it is an intensifier, but some speakers seem to think that every sentence needs the word at least once, so it is often meaningless.
    Unless what he wanted to say was: Where is the f*** jacka..s?

Similar Threads

  1. Language teaching problem
    By Eway in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 02-Apr-2009, 01:36
  2. The English language and its varieties
    By italianbrother in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 22-Feb-2007, 11:34
  3. ‘Superlativisation’ or exaggeration in English Language
    By PaulNorton in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 29-Dec-2004, 02:05
  4. Which language is easier?
    By Anonymous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 27-Dec-2003, 15:15

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0