I always thought the word 'wog' over here was an abbreviation of 'Westernized Oriental Gentlemen'. Our convict friend is correct in saying that in the land of the koala-worrier it refers to anybody from abroad but us poms.
But Oriental to me means the far east. And I've never heard a Chinaman called a wog.
It's not really that offensive now. Nor is cunt. If I really wanted to insult somebody I'd call them Moyes.
palerider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:27 pm
I always thought the word 'wog' over here was an abbreviation of 'Westernized Oriental Gentlemen'. Our convict friend is correct in saying that in the land of the koala-worrier it refers to anybody from abroad but us poms.
But Oriental to me means the far east. And I've never heard a Chinaman called a wog.
It's not really that offensive now. Nor is cunt. If I really wanted to insult somebody I'd call them Moyes.
The term has lost its bite over here, because that’s how they refer to themselves. By embracing it, they’ve nullified its power somewhat.
I always thought wog stood for westernised oriental gentleman as well, until I googled it last night and learned that it is a misnomer.
palerider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:27 pm
I always thought the word 'wog' over here was an abbreviation of 'Westernized Oriental Gentlemen'. Our convict friend is correct in saying that in the land of the koala-worrier it refers to anybody from abroad but us poms.
But Oriental to me means the far east. And I've never heard a Chinaman called a wog.
It's not really that offensive now. Nor is cunt. If I really wanted to insult somebody I'd call them Moyes.
The term has lost its bite over here, because that’s how they refer to themselves. By embracing it, they’ve nullified its power somewhat.
I always thought wog stood for westernised oriental gentleman as well, until I googled it last night and learned that it is a misnomer.
Etymology, the study of the origin of words has always fascinated me. In fact I got a distinction for it back in the day at the University of Jaywick. And did you know the word 'cunt', now not as offensive as it once was, originated from the Old Norse 'kunta', meaning prostitute ?
This then made it's way due to the Viking invasions in the 9th century into the rest of the continent and Germanic versions started to appear as 'kunt'. It first appeared in the British Isles in the early 10th century in Scotland, by which time the current spelling had evolved and meant 'a dull, negative and stubborn man in a skirt who doesn't know his arse from his elbow'.
palerider wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2023 11:11 am
Etymology, the study of the origin of words has always fascinated me. In fact I got a distinction for it back in the day at the University of Jaywick. And did you know the word 'cunt', now not as offensive as it once was, originated from the Old Norse 'kunta', meaning prostitute ?
This then made it's way due to the Viking invasions in the 9th century into the rest of the continent and Germanic versions started to appear as 'kunt'. It first appeared in the British Isles in the early 10th century in Scotland, by which time the current spelling had evolved and meant 'a dull, negative and stubborn man in a skirt who doesn't know his arse from his elbow'.
Every day's a schoolday.
Always good to keep your eye in my learned friend.
I found a Latin phrase which is rather pertinent for our plight, it says.
