Jesse Sheidlower on Morning Edition

[Dave Wilton]

Right, the word was well-established by the time I encountered it growing up
in New Jersey in the 70s, decades before the Simpsons came on the scene.

I wouldn't dismiss a sexual origin for the term out of hand. But if that is
the origin, it had no such connotation for me and my friends by the time we
started using it. But our parents and teachers certainly assumed it did.


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Barbara Need
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:12 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Jesse Sheidlower on Morning Edition

Oh no, I don't think Maggie had anything to do with it. I learned the
word in the early 70s in eastern MA and I asked my mother what it
meant (and why it was a word I shouldn't use!). She certainly
mentioned the sexual connotation as part of her explanation.

Barbara

Barbara Need

On 27 Mar 2008, at 14:14, Katharine The Grate wrote:

> I think it was little Maggie Simpson and her pacifier that helped
> the word
> find a place in society.
>
> Katharine
>
>
>>
>> I completely agree - I am 52 and 'suck' has never had a sexual
>> connotation
>> for me either.  Now that I think about it - the same applies in my
>> social
>> group.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Patty
>>
>>
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org