Studio Reads: Bad Taste in Words

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Bad Taste in Words

I've read a lot of books with colourful language. I've read my fair share of books that have had a few bad taste in words, but none that have bothered me that much. You cringe. You move on. None have really bothered me that much. And I'm not saying that it should be censored in any way, but (you knew that was coming) I came across this book, a book that inspired this post, because it affected my reading experience. And once it does affect my reading experience that's when I'm done. The book? I'm not going to name it, because I'm not mean but just a few pages in I knew I wouldn't like it because of the way it's written, the words that are used. I'm not squeaky clean with language, okay? I swear, a lot. It's a problem, and I like swearing in books, especially in YA because what teen doesn't swear in high school?

I draw the line at the C word that I find vulgar, and it's used. Within the first 5%, but that's not all! I'm going to say this word once, and once only. Retarded is also used, and I hate that word, it's degrading and disgusting. You might find it funny in context, but whatever way it's used, the word isn't funny, especially when it's used light-heartedly like it means nothing. It shouldn't be used as a joke, an insult, it just shouldn't be used. And you may be thinking chill, it's just a word. Yeah, it's just a word, but it's the meaning behind that word. Have you seen someone being bullied and laughed at over something that's not in their control, whether they have a physical handicap, or mental handicap? It's not nice. We don't tolerate bullying, we don't tolerate abuse of any kind, or racism, sexism, homophobia, or at least, most of us don't. Whether religious beliefs or ignorance or whatever, you're inclined to that, you have your own opinion on that, but so do I, and I'm saying it. So why should it be acceptable in books? The one I'm talking about it a contemporary, and I think contemporary in YA, more than other genres, have a responsibility and opportunity to teach us things, and a lot succeed in just doing that.

Now, if it was highlighting bullying and trying to make the readers understand something important, and while I still hate the word, at least that way it's being used for something, and not there as something to shock you or being used freely as if it's just an ordinary word. I honestly get what this book was trying to do, but what I'm saying is it had nothing to do with those words and you could replace those words and it would be the same book.

Now, what do you about swearing in YA, like or not? Any words you find extremely offensive?

Comments (9)

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Saruuh · 540 weeks ago

AMEN! I love swearing in books if it's important to the character's voice (a la Ronan Lynch in The Raven Boys) but I HATE insults and (especially) slurs. If I see any ableist, homophobic, racist, transphobic slurs it's an automatic put down for the book - unless it's highlighting the issue and the next line of dialogue is a character pointing out how shitty the word is. I personally don't think there's ever a need for those words in YA or any other age bracket books, outside of highlighting - most of the time it only shows a stereotypical misunderstanding of teenagers from the author.

whew, rant over. thank you for this post.

1 reply · active 540 weeks ago

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kirstymstudio 102p · 540 weeks ago

Exactly, like in Top Ten Clues You're Clueless, there's this racist/homophobic/sexism conversation AND IT'S IMPORTANT. Ha, I find highschool and most of those kind of books a misunderstanding of teenagers from authors (we know the ones.) ;)

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Shannon @ ISAM 71p · 540 weeks ago

Ohh, great topic! I loathe the "C word". I have used it like, twice maybe, and felt really bad about it both times. It's funny you should bring this up, because I was reading a book with a lot of cursing, BUT none of it was directed at anyone, it was just more of an exclamatory situation, and it fit the character, and it didn't bother me in the least. But I totally agree- any derogatory term like that turns me off immediately. Especially if it has no bearing on the story. Then it's just... in poor taste.

And I am with you 100% on the R-word situation. It just isn't okay. I was reading a book (and now I am seriously thinking it might have been the same book) that used it too, very early on. It also used "deformed freak" talking about kids with disabilities and I couldn't do it. I have been pretty open about having a son born with a genetic defect (cleft lip and palate, and Van der Woude Syndrome) which obviously manifests in his appearance... and I couldn't go on. I do plan on reading this book eventually I think, just in the hopes that this character can redeem herself, and that the whole point is showing that this kind of language is NOT OKAY. But I couldn't continue. It upset me too much, and I had to stop.

This is such a great post, because you are so spot on with language NOT having to be squeaky clean (because come on, that isn't real life), BUT, hurling insults at a particular group is never, ever okay, and unless the message is "don't say this stuff!" then I am incredibly disappointed in whoever writes it.

1 reply · active 540 weeks ago

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kirstymstudio 102p · 540 weeks ago

See, I don't mind when cursing is used at someone (except for slut, because really, it's that stereotyping oh, she sleeps with guys, so she's a slut type of thing. But exactly, offensive ones just ruin it for me.

I don't think people realise what they're actually saying unless it's personal to them, I've grown up with a disabled aunt that has brain damage, she's not bad bad, you can understand what she says, and there are people who are worse out there, but she and her family got harassed where they lived and had to move. Which just makes me so angry. I've worked with kids in the nursery with down-syndrome, Anna (which I didn't know at the time) actually lives up the street from me, so the mother recognised me and said she was glad I was working there since Anna took to me straight away and it usually takes her a while to be comfortable around anyone. It just get's to me with those words, as it would you, it's just such an unnecessary word, there's a reason we have terms for conditions and not people.

:) Thank you! I was reading Top Ten Clues You're Clueless and it has this great discussion on on everything, which I was just like THANK YOU, haha.

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melliane 74p · 540 weeks ago

I confess that I haven't really think about that and as I read them most in English well it's not the same for me to read them in another language.
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1 reply · active 540 weeks ago

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kirstymstudio 102p · 540 weeks ago

Yeah, I don't think the C-word translates well, and you're French, right? So I guess you have your own terms and everything. :)

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Elizabeth · 540 weeks ago

Those two are biggies for me. Really, really huge no-no's. I do still struggle with slipping up with retarded, because I sadly used it frequently in middle school and high school, but luckily it's probably been...wow. Actually I don't know the last time I slipped up, so that's awesome!

But yeah, that would bother me. A lot. Enough to put a book down too haha
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1 reply · active 540 weeks ago

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kirstymstudio 102p · 540 weeks ago

The T-word is another one for me, so I usually say Twit, but I guess it's an British thing (which is also what I hated it being used in Anna and the French Kiss, but I can get over it, since it wasn't being used at someone etc,) I used to use spaz when I was younger, until I realised what it actually meant, and that's the thing, we use a lot of words when we're younger without realising the actual weight of the words, which is why I hate seeing things like that in YA (luckily, it's not a lot) because it's not sending a good message. :(