I suppose it began with "The 'N' Word." Journalists,
particularly in broadcast media, had to find a way to indicate that
the word "nigger" had been employed by someone, somewhere, yet it
was forbidden to use the word at all. Of course the term offends,
it's odious, no one disputes that.
Yet to be forced to write about the use of that word by such a
childish locution -- one that belongs in the "poo-poo, ca-ca" realm
of diction -- descends to the depths of silliness.
But lo, the habit has proliferated, and journalists and public
speakers of all kinds now regularly employ the phrase "the 'X'
word" to indicate almost anything. And they preen on doing it. They
think they're being clever.
"The 'L' word" -- "liberal." "The 'R' word" -- recession. "The
'B' word" -- bitch.
AN EASY SEARCH of the news turns up examples of the blight
everywhere.
"Dealing With the 'D' Word," by Clark S. Judge,
National Review Online, April 29. "Democrat"?
"Depression"? No. "Dysfunction."
"It is time for someone to drop the 'N-Bomb' on Pastor Jeremiah
Wright: Nut." Michael Graham, The Boston Herald, April 29
("Lefty Pastor Fine for the Lunatic Fringe"),
April 29.
"Caterpillar Prices, Runaway Rice Make Consumers Hiss
the 'I' Word," Simon Kennedy, Bloomberg, April 29. You have to
read to the fourth paragraph to find the word in question:
Inflation.
"Will India Raise the N-Word With Iran?"
Timesnow.tv, April 29. Here, the "N" means "nuclear."
"The F Word Means You're Fired," The
Ladders/Businesswire, April 28. At least somebody's doing something
-- but just about the use, not the usage.
ENOUGH. Let us consign "The 'X' Word" to its proper hell, alongside
such other clevernesses as "Blank, Lies, and Blank," and "He's
(They're) Ba-a-a-ack!" Some publications may choose to use
asterisks or hyphens to bowdlerize offensive terms. Broadcasters
can resort to an electronic beep.
If a broadcaster needs to make a point, he can always spell. I
called a local talk show here in Massachusetts a few years back to
object to the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling allowing so-called
"gay marriage." I said, "This will mean that homosexuality has to
be taught in sex-ed classes. I have two boys in public school. I
don't want their schools teaching them to bee-asterisk-asterisk-tee
eff-asterisk-asterisk-kay." It got on the air.
"The 'X' Word" is a cliche. We in journalism are supposed to
avoid them, not revel in them.
topics:
Business, Iran
