Jesse Sheidlower on Morning Edition

[Dennis Preston]

Us 50's kids (well, teenagers) knew exactly what sexual act was
referred to; the first time we saw "The earth sucks," we didn't know
quite what to make of it.

dInIs

>---------------------- Information from the mail header
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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Dave Wilton <dave at WILTON.NET>
>Subject:      Re: Jesse Sheidlower on Morning Edition
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>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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--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48864 USA

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