Heard on MSNBC

[Alice Faber]

Perhaps in origin. But on at least one of the forums I participate in,
participants will talk about "having teh sex" (or "teh sexx0rs"). And
those who *do* use "teh gay" in a way that can be interpreting it as
"something you can catch" are generally mocking (and rather viciously!)
the attitude that gayness is contagious.

Alice

ronbutters at AOL.COM wrote:
> In other words, "the gay" and "the ugly" are thought of as akin to diseases, like "the plague." HIV is also the name of a disease, but it does not usually take the definite article among sophisticated speakers. Phrases like "catch the ugly" are not satirical, just current buzz.
> In that sense, "catch the gay" and "catch the ugly" are somewhat exceptional.
> ------Original Message------
> From: Alice Faber
> Sender: ADS-L
> To: ADS-L
> ReplyTo: ADS-L
> Subject: Re: [ADS-L] Heard on MSNBC
> Sent: May 9, 2009 11:34 AM
>
> Herb Stahlke wrote:
>> Rachel Maddow frequently uses the phrase "the gay" derisively of
>> people, usually conservative Republicans, who think homosexuality is
>> an acquired behavior.  This evening Keith Olberman used "the funny" in
>> a similar way when talking about whether Obama would be humorous at
>> the Correspondents' Dinner.  Is this use of "the" + adjective a new
>> pattern?  Obviously "the" + adjective is a common construction that's
>> been around a long time as in "The difficult is done at once; the
>> impossible takes a little longer."  It's this derisive or ironic use
>> of the construction that feels new.
>
> It's been around in the blogosphere for a while now. For purposes of
> googling, the spelling would be "teh gay" or "teh ghey".
>
>

--
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Alice Faber                                       faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                            tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
New Haven, CT 06511 USA                               fax (203) 865-8963

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