NYT Article on Slang Word for Vagina Cites Many Cunning Linguists

[babylonsister]

OK, this title 'captivated' me! :silly:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/28/nyt-article-on-s_n_70134.html

Behold the Sunday NYT, making you spit up your morning coffee yet again with the etymological exploration of newfangled lady-parts moniker, "va-jay-jay." Many linguists are cited (though we have to infer that they're cunning - missed opportunity, NYT!) Parting thought: I can't believe the word sprang from a producer being uncomfortable with the word "vagina" in the context of childbirth on a medical drama. Do they have a problem with the word "leg?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/fashion/28vajayjay.html?ref=fashion

What Did You Call It?

By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM
Published: October 28, 2007

THIS is the story of how a silly-sounding word reached the ear of a powerful television producer, and in only seconds of air time, expanded the vocabularies — for better or worse — of legions of women.

It began on Feb. 12, 2006, when viewers of the ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy” heard the character Miranda Bailey, a pregnant doctor who had gone into labor, admonish a male intern, “Stop looking at my vajayjay.”

The line sprang from an executive producer’s need to mollify standards and practices executives who wanted the script to include fewer mentions of the word vagina.

The scene, however, had the unintended effect of catapulting vajayjay (also written va-jay-jay) into mainstream speech. Fans of “Grey’s Anatomy” expressed their approval of the word on message boards and blogs.

The show’s most noted fan, Oprah Winfrey, began using it on her show, effectively legitimizing it for some 46 million American viewers each week.

“I think vajayjay is a nice word, don’t you?” she asked her audience.

Vajayjay found its way into electronic dictionaries like Urban Dictionary, Word Spy and Merriam-Webster’s Open Dictionary. It was uttered on the television series “30 Rock.” It was used on the Web site of “The Tyra Banks Show.” Jimmy Kimmel said it in a monologue. It has appeared in the Web publications Salon and the Huffington Post and on the blog Wonkette.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/fashion/28vajayjay.html?ref=fashion

[Deja Q]

1. 'Vajay' would be easier to type than 'Vajayjay'

:crazy:

[WinkyDink]

2. What is disturbing to me is GA's apparently porn-ing of a childbirth scene.

Yeah, I made a neologism. It's the topic.

[DuaneBidoux]

3. Here's my own invention for tv: Fuddle: the act of fucking and cuddling.

Everyone would no exactly what it means and the censors couldn't touch it.

Another one thought was good on (I believe) an anti tabbaco ad was something to the effect of "what the fxxxs up." After all, what do they say if the word sounds the same but is spelled completely different?

[KG]

4. great. another we can say, cuz we're not allowed to say the real word

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. I agree. Why can't we say words that are found in any medical textbooks?

Same with the word, "Penis." Even at work, I've heard people say, "You know, THAT thing."

This is quite an infantilized culture and I suspect the American right wing churches are to blame.

[Warpy]

20. We're going back to the 70s

When a crime drama could feature a body being chopped up and flushed down a toilet, but none of the characters could say "toilet."

Language police ruin everything.

[zabet]

5. Cunning

linguists.

My favorite kind of
linguist!!
:P

[VP505]

7. Cunning linguists,

um, is that some kind of tongue twister?

[peace frog]

8. One would certainly hope so

:evilgrin:

[immoderate]

9. Approval from the Fellatious and Cunning Linguistics Society

:)

--IMM

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Dirty words.

Hard
Thrust
Wet
Screw
Tool
Basket
Butt
Finger
Bang
Diddle
Doggy
Pussy
Slit
Ram
Nip
Clam
Come
Hung
Erection
Wet
Hump


Just a few of thousands of "dirty" words in common usage.

[Toots]

11. If the Pilgrims had killed a cat instead of a turkey we would all be eating pussy for thanksgiving

:silly:

[babylonsister]

12. Oye!

:spray:

[WinkyDink]

13. I'd have preferred coq au vin, myself.

[Bigmack]

16. Thanks .....

that thought just went out - at nanospeed - to my dearest friends. I didn't even footnote you.

[man4allcats]

21. And I, for one, would have been

truly thankful for that! ;-)

[renie408]

14. OH!! I just blew coffee on the keyboard!! That title is great!

I didn't even read the article. Just loved the title.

[babylonsister]

19. That was pretty much my reaction, too!

:spray:

[DemoTex]

15. Reminds me of those two obscure Shakespeare characters:

Fellatio and Cunnilingus

[Faygo Kid]

17. Reminds me of the great SNL sketch with Christopher Walken as Col. Angus

Takeoff on Gone With the Wind - all the ladies adored Col. Angus.

Daddy: Are you ladies out here talking about Colonel Angus?

Melinda: Yes, Daddy! I can't wait to meet him!

Daddy: Oh, watch out, Melinda! Once a woman is introduced to Colonel Angus, she'll settle for nothing less.

Melinda: Daddy, they say all the womenfolk just love Colonel Angus!

Daddy: Hmm.. I don't know why people make such a big fuss over Colonel Angus!

Miss Anabelle: I myself never much cared for Colonel Angus! He rubs me the wrong way. I'm not sure why.. can't put my finger on it..

[man4allcats]

18. Sounds like "Sheneneh" (pronounced "Shanaynay"),

the character Martin Lawrence played in drag on his TV show. In the show's story line, Sheneneh was the owner/operator of Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon. I always liked Sheneneh. I've always been pretty fond of vajayjay, too - even back when it was still called

Vagina!

[OzarkDem]

22. We're on the verge of WWIII and our economy is tanking

and this is what they think is news? :crazy: