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Tom Chaney No. 225, Cussing with Imagination Of Writers and Their Books, No. 225, 04 October 2009 Tom Chaney: Cussing with Imagination A catch up posting. There will be 2 Tom Chaney columns for today The next earlier Tom Chaney author review of Bonnie and Clyde By Tom Chaneybookstore@scrtc.com Cussing with Imagination Once in a while I reach into the grab bag of the past and pull out a column, dust it off, fluff it up and run it again. Such is the case this week. Here goes! Just as World War Two was ending, our father started on a major renovation of the house we lived in at the corner of Main and Yancey in Horse Cave. We lived in the house all during the work, at one point moving into just one room with all the furniture. Mr. Rucian Rowe was the contractor. He had an assistant who, besides being handy with a hammer, was a pretty good cusser for Horse Cave. Our mother objected to his cussing where Ann and I were able to hear. Boots spoke to the carpenter about his swearing; he promised to mend his ways.. Pretty soon Boots struck his thumb with his hammer. "Dagnabbit!" he exclaimed. "What did you say, Boots?" the carpenter asked. "Dagnabbit!" He replied. "I'll try it," quoth the carpenter. 'Twern't long afore the carpenter had need of strong language. Trying to imitate Boots, he exclaimed, "Dag-god-nabbit!" Boots allowed as how he just better return to regular cussing. A couple of years ago the intrepid publisher of this newspaper wrote a column decrying what he then saw as the increasing use of profanity in everyday language. I take issue with him on the matter and suggest an alternative. The problem is not cussing so much as it is the lack of imagination in the process. Let us look to our linguistic history, to see that the vocabulary of cussing has been greatly diminished to the point that the few four-letter words we know have lost their force through overuse. The esteemed Dr. Arthur Moore late of the University of Kentucky Department of English once told of seeing a sailor striking his hand with a marlin spike. The sailor stopped what he was doing and cursed for twenty minutes in three languages without repeating himself. It was, according to Dr. Moore, a veritable linguistic feast for the ear. So here is what we do. Here is a list of Shakespearian curses. Take three words, one from each List below, and hurl them to the wind (or at whom or whatever needs cussing) with vivacity, verve, and volume. Use as needed; avoid at all costs the usual ****, ****, and ****. Take not the divine name in vain. Work on your vocabulary; amaze friend and foe alike.
I think of Mark Twain who remarked, "In certain dire and trying circumstances, profanity offers a relief denied even to prayer." On another occasion Mark Twain's wife Olivia, tired of his cussing, let fly with a burst of profanity designed to blister the paint on the side of the house. The humorist heard her out; paused to consider the outburst; then said, "Olivia, you know the words, but you don't have the tune." In the play Inherit the Wind the prosecuting attorney objects to the use of profanity by his opposing counsel. The other lawyer replies, "Language is a poor enough way of expressing ourselves. Let us use all of it that we have." Cussing is a basic necessity of life. The ability to let fly with a good cussing has drastically cut the mayhem and murder rate.Let us then develop the art. Avoid the usual. Don't take the name of god in vain. And, more importantly, don't repeat yourself. Tom Chaney can be found telling stories, planning his next meal, and occasionally selling books at: The BOOKSTORE in Horse Cave, KY Box 73 / 111 Water Street Horse Cave, Kentucky 42749 (270) 786-3084 Email: Tom Chaney bookstore@scrtc.com To read other Tom Chaney book reviews and essays, enter "Tom Chaney" in the searchbox.270-786-3084 Email: Tom Chaney This story was posted on 2009-10-11 08:35:12
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Tom Chaney: Of Writers and Their Books:
Tom Chaney No. 225, Sept. 27, 2009: Bonnie and Clyde Tom Chaney No. 223: Sept. 20, 2009: At the Dusk of Dawn Tom Chaney No. 222: Sept. 13, 2009: The Lighted Torch Tom Chaney No. 221: Fenton Johnson, New Haven, KY Tom Chaney No. 220, 30 Aug. 2009: Biscuits Tom Chaney #219 review of The Advocate 23 August 2009 Tom Chaney reprint #38 review of The Way to Cook Tom Chaney #218: Commentary on Julia and Julie Tom Chaney #217: Book review of Pegasus Descending Tom Chaney #216: Book review of The Road View even more articles in topic Tom Chaney: Of Writers and Their Books |
 
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