Thursday, September 17, 2009

What Did You Call Me?!?

Steven Holland
Engl 1101
Dr. Hughes
Blog 4

The word “bitch” has been used for so long it is now a very common word, even though many people consider it to be an obscenity. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word, used as a noun, originated as to referring to a female dog. The word has been used for centuries, with its first uses over a century ago. The word has since evolved with its meaning over the many years of its existence. The word then evolved around the 1500’s to include the female fox and wolf, and other “beast” species. The words next meaning came about in the 1400’s. The word’s new meaning would now refer to a treacherous or malicious woman. This is probably one of, if not the most used meanings of the word itself. The phrase Son of a Bitch was then developed with a close meaning to its origin. The phrase usually refers to a malicious man; however it also rarely refers to a woman. The term can also be applied to animals as abuse. In the early to mid 1900’s, the word “bitch” took on yet a new meaning. Unlike the previous meanings, this one had no relationship to the previous meanings. The word was mainly used in Alaska and Canada in reference to a primitive lamp. This may cause some confusion to someone who didn’t know this meaning when a fellow Eskimo asks his buddy to, “Pass me the bitch.” Could you imagine the look on his face? In the 1600’s, we see that the word gets yet another meaning, and another part of speech. The word now gains the ability to be used as a verb. When used in this tense, the word’s meaning is to behave or complain rudely. Now a person can be a “bitch” by “bitching.” According to the Urban Dictionary, which contains modern versions of definitions created by the people who use them (which makes it more accurate for modern-day times), most of the older meanings of the word (with the exception of an Eskimo lamp) are still used today. Urban Dictionary also lists some more new definitions, one specific amusing one being “a person who rides specifically in the middle of a front-seat only car meant for 2 passengers or less.” Another new definition is that of a servant. This definition is often used in terms of a relationship where the female is in charge. A friend who spots this tragedy would make fun of the poor guy by saying that he is his girlfriend’s “bitch.” So next time you think about calling someone a “bitch,” make sure you are clear in understanding the development of the word or you might just call them an Eskimo lamp.
Altough there are some differences between the two different dictionaries (OED and UD), there are also some differences that we don't notice. For instance, the Oxford English Dictionary is a more formal type of dictionary and it could be classified as being prescriptive. It tells you how the word "bitch" is used and how to use it. The Urban Dictionary, however, is more descriptive. Since it is written by people who use the word regularly, it contains the most up-to-date definitions. The Urban Dictionary seems to be more relaxed since it is not quite as formal as and is more laid back than the Oxford English Dictionary.