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Would you consider bastardise to be a swear?

  • 15-04-2012 03:05PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11


    I mentioned it in secondary school, back in 2006, and was sent to the principal. :mad:


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    And you're still sore about it!

    No, I wouldn't consider it a swear-word or in any way inappropriate to use in polite company.

    Ditto for niggardly, but see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,228 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    It's a perfectly acceptable word, without any offensive connotations in itself. It is a very powerful word, though, and it is certainly not positive. If you heard someone describe your work as 'bastardised', it would be most upsetting, and you would surely feel insulted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,185 ✭✭✭DoctorEdgeWild


    Thanks for the link above regarding the word 'niggardly'. Really interesting to read about the incidents involving people being offended by it. I find it a really fascinating aspect of language.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,204 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    I wouldn't consider bastardised as specifically negative. I would use it in the sense of 'adapted', 'impromptu', 'hacked' or simplified.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    I wouldn't consider bastardised as specifically negative. I would use it in the sense of 'adapted', 'impromptu', 'hacked' or simplified.
    I'd agree with slowburner that it is not positive; it is a little on the negative side of the scale. To me it connotes reduced in quality.


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  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,204 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    I suppose it's like 'mongrel' and depends on your view of mixed up things although looking at a few dictionary definitions it's definitely supposed to be pejorative (and has a couple of meanings I was not aware of).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    ... looking at a few dictionary definitions ...
    What? You put effort into things like this? Next thing, you'll be inviting us to do some work.

    We are on the road to perdition.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭PixelCrafter


    No, it's not a swear.

    However, you might want to let go. 2006 is almost 20 years ago and this thread is 12 years old!!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,921 ✭✭✭...Ghost...


    The OP probably let it go soon after the posted the thread 12 years ago

    Stay Free



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭PixelCrafter




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