Cussing in the Far Future
- Thread starter kilemall
- Start date
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
You well and truly fracked the environment...
Xerxeskingofking
SOC-13
it seems that the majority of "future cuss words" that pop up in sci-fi are obscure real life words repurposed as insults. "frak" in Battlestar Galactica, "smeg" in Red Dwarf, etc. Then theirs Firefly, where they used Chinese for swearing (although im told the translations of the long spiels they would lunch into came out like "oh, all the little pixies shall make sure your not on Santa's nice list!" or something equally mild).
nothing new under the (binary) sun(s), I guess
nothing new under the (binary) sun(s), I guess
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
With the Chinese, a great deal has to do with ancestry, potential or lack thereof.
Then there's the appeal to divine or diabolical authority, or references to bodily functions.
Then there's the appeal to divine or diabolical authority, or references to bodily functions.
Xerxeskingofking
SOC-13
sorry, is that actual Chinese swearing, or the "swearing" used on firefly to let characters curse like one eyed carpenters, without breaking broadcast standards?
however, you raise the good point that one can be insulting without being profane, should you want to.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
As with all languages, Chinese can be crudely direct, or metaphorical.
It may be the fastest evolving language currently, due to very active governmental internet censoring, and the need to express certain concepts and expressions.
There's certainly one fictional bear who's dead meat if he ever gets detained.
But like with turtles, it has to make sense, visually or by behaviour.
It may be the fastest evolving language currently, due to very active governmental internet censoring, and the need to express certain concepts and expressions.
There's certainly one fictional bear who's dead meat if he ever gets detained.
But like with turtles, it has to make sense, visually or by behaviour.
I find interesting what different languages--and especially cultures--use as cursing or expletives. For example, English (American) likes bodily functions for its strongest cussing, esp. sex and elimination (see Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words"!). Quebecois (French) uses blasphemy--"Tabernac!". Classical Latin (see McCullough's Masters of Rome series glossary) liked to use "deviant" sexual slurs. Chinese and Arabic, apparently, favor slurs on ancestry; Spanish uses similar slurs--but especially on one's mother. And so on.
Another thought: I wonder if euphemisms are generally related to cussing--what a culture finds dirty or damning would also tend to be what they find need to refer to more delicately?
This might add a bit of atmosphere . . .
What sort of things would Vilani find offensive? Sylean noble/high culture vs. Moran industrial workers vs. Belters, or agricultural farm workers?
Xerxeskingofking
SOC-13
given the classic vlani stereotype is about them being tradition bound and valuing stability, then anything that implies dishonour to their ancestors memories, recklessness, or things along those lines seem a good area to start for insults.
the Aslan would likely have lineage and honour based ones, with land, the quantity or quality, and/or the lack theirof a common insult theme (ie "your father owns a trash pile!" or something)
the Vagr, I think would go more for insults based on charisma ("my shed fur has more followers than you!")
the Aslan would likely have lineage and honour based ones, with land, the quantity or quality, and/or the lack theirof a common insult theme (ie "your father owns a trash pile!" or something)
the Vagr, I think would go more for insults based on charisma ("my shed fur has more followers than you!")
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
Personally, I consider "fraking" a perfectly legitimate activity for a company to pursue. I understand that there are those with opposite viewpoints.
I would love to see more culturally-based swearing styles. For example: Vilani had the Shugilii--millers or food processers, to make raw food-stuffs into things that can be digested by humans. So, in consequence, would there be cursing referring to intestinal distress/vomiting/assorted other unpleasant discharges, as well as incompetent processing or processers? ("You mis-brewed, ham-fisted carpenter of a shugilii!") Similarly, Vargr could refer to vegans, or Solomani to stick-in-the-mud traditionalist Vilani . . .
Yes. Though I had in mind vegans, vegetarians and other herbivorous types--after all, how much intelligence is needed to sneak up on a blade of grass--or even on a carrot?
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
Shhhh! You'll upset the k'Kree.
The only thing the K'kree are good for is a barbecue spit, preferably with some Lea and Perrin sauce on the side.
Shhhh! You'll upset the k'Kree.
Exactly! But remember: this is Vargr blue language. Are they really worried about getting the k'Kree ticked off? Their very existence already does that.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Them's horses with nukes- a different proposition....
On an unrelated note, I wouldn't be surprised if some Hiver's Manipulation PhD thesis is altering cuss words for intended social engineering effects.
Manipulation would be something of an Engineering discipline with them, so Doctor of Manipulation, Professor of Manipulation, Dean of Manipulation, Chief Engineer of Manipulation, etc.
