More euphemisms: "pervasive language"

[Jonathan Lighter]

I think "pervasive" means pervasive.

In other words, one or two "asses" or even "bitches" might be OK, but lots
of 'em plus others would be "pervasive,"

If I hear anybody saying "That's pervasive!" where I'd expect "That's
disgusting!" I'll change my mind.

JL

On Sat, Mar 17, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Amy West <medievalist at w-sts.com> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Amy West <medievalist at W-STS.COM>
> Subject:      Re: More euphemisms:  "pervasive language"
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On 3/17/12 12:01 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> > Date:    Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:58:38 -0400
> > From:    Neal Whitman<nwhitman at AMERITECH.NET>
> > Subject: Re: More euphemisms:  "pervasive language"
> >
> > Although this phrase is new to me, I take it to be the same semantic
> narrowing of "language" to mean "offensive or obscene language" as you get
> in movies that are rated PG for "mild language":
> > http://literalminded.wordpress.com/2005/03/06/mild-language/
> >
> > Neal
>
> Maybe. Or maybe "pervasive" is carrying that connotation.
>
> --
> ---Amy West
>
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