If you preface a statement with “I’m not trying to be racist, but…” does that then make it okay? Is there a term for such disclaimer? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Verbal Disclaimers” Hello...
Lo, a Chinese American caller from Oak Park, Illinois, learned English as a second language and uses Oriental for herself without taking offense, but wonders why others object. Applied to people, Oriental can sound dated or condescending because it...
When you hear the F-word in a modern Hollywood movie about life in an earlier century, you may wonder if this expletive is an anachronism. Is the F-word of recent vintage, or did Hollywood actually get right this time? Grant recommends a book on the...
Does the expression “call a spade a spade” have racist roots? Martha explains that it derives from an ancient Greek phrase, but cautions against its use nevertheless. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Call a Spade...
Lindsay from San Diego asked about a word for the typographical symbols that stand in for profanity, like @#$%!^*)!&!. The term is grawlix. Cartoonist Mort Walker included it in his humorous book Lexicon of Comicana, where he catalogued visual...
You may have used the expression, “Nobody here but us chickens!” Would you still use it if you knew its origins lie in a racist joke from the turn of the 20th century? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Nobody Here...