Cussing vs. Cursing

Hi, you have A Way with Words.

Hi there, this is Susan DiGiacomo in San Marcos.

Hi Susan, welcome. San Marcos, California, huh?

Yes, ma’am.

All right, what would you like to talk with us about?

Well, as a child, I grew up with my grandparents. I was my grandpa’s sidekick. And I suppose one day I might have said something, a bad word, and he stopped me and took me aside and said, “Sweetheart, there is a difference between cursing and cussing.” And he says it takes a slow mind to curse. And he says it takes an active, vibrant mind to cuss. And he says, “I’m going to tell you some words that you can use to cuss, and this is what I want you to do.” And he taught me three words that I’ve used most of my life. I’ve never heard another living soul use these words, and I’m really curious if anyone knows anything more about them. I taught my children how to say them and told them how proud I was, and this was part of their heritage. And as soon as they mastered them, about a week later, every kid on the block knew it.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

You went viral.

Yeah, exactly.

Congratulations.

Yeah, well, at any rate, these three words are really interesting, and hopefully you guys would know something about them. My husband’s been begging me to call because we really enjoy your show.

Well, great.

We’d love to hear them.

Okay. Try us out.

All right. The first one is Alapaloo, Palip, Palam, Basam, Sam, Malikazowski, Kisnoozalism.

And all the kids on the block were saying that?

Oh, yeah. They could repeat them at one time. All three of them.

You just made my rabbit disappear. So these are the things he would say if he hammered his thumb or stubbed his toe or the electric bill was higher than it should be. And when my son was little, he had quite a temper, and I told him, “Listen, you can say these words anywhere. No one’s going to know what the heck you’re saying, and they’re not going to get angry at you.”

Very good.

So that’s just the first one. You have two more of these gems.

That’s one word?

Yeah. I have three of them.

All right, let’s hear them.

That’s the first one. The second one, transnance, ninai, fi, ninai, namuality.

And what is that? Is that a noun?

I have no clue. I have no clue. It sounds like what you get when a lot of financial companies merge.

There you go.

I have no clue. I don’t know where Grandpa got them.

That’s the name of your bank.

He enjoyed playing with words.

That’s great. What’s number three?

Elegantly scrumptious, stunningly rambunctious, Oscomoblicating, hippocanocious, super gobsloptious.

Wow.

My goodness.

That sounds like a compliment.

Thank you very much.

You’re welcome.

Wow. I’m feeling sufficiently sufonsified. I also like this shirt. Have you guys ever heard anything like this?

No.

Never.

You’re the first.

You’re weird.

Okay.

Not a problem.

Unique.

Unique.

That’s the word. But I love the idea of all these little kids running around the neighborhood with these $20 words coming out of their mouths.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Susan, what does this do to the mood, though? I’m wondering if, I mean, if your grandfather did this, then did people think he was cussing or did it make everybody laugh?

Well, like I say, he liked to play with words. He was really a mentor of mine. I’m always saying, “Well, Grandpa said” or whatever. And, in fact, another one that is kind of funny, when I was little, we lived on a farm in northeast corner of California up in Surprise Valley. And it was a farm between two towns. One was Cedarville and the other one was Lake City. And the name of the ranch was called the Ackerman Ranch, and I used to think that was such a magical word. You know, was it an Indian word? Was it this or that? And one day I asked him, and he said, “Grandpa, how did you pick Ackerman for the ranch? It’s such a beautiful word.” And he goes, “Oh, honey, I just got tired waiting for your grandmother, and I said, ‘Oh, come on, let’s go.'”

Oh, that’s great.

I thought you were going to tell me it was some indigenous word.

Oh, I thought it was. I mean, I was willing. I’d go for it.

It’s a sweet thought. You as just the sidekick to your grandpa, who does sound like a little bit of a hero to you.

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. He’s your green hornet, and you’re his Kato.

There you go.

That’s nice.

Oh, that’s great. Well, I think these might be unique to your family. But I bet you, if we put the word out, everyone else, more than a few people will have these not quite cuss words, right?

They’re euphemistic, and they diffuse your temper in the same way that a cuss word does.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, there’s been times they’re not quite as satisfying as saying some of the short, curt words, but…

Like hat and sit?

Yeah, like hat or car.

Oh, cat.

Exactly. But I was just curious. You folks come up with some explanations on different things like this. He grew up in Wisconsin, Illinois area. And I was just curious if you’ve heard any of these things. It would be wonderful if other people could call in and let us in on some of their cookbooks.

That would be wonderful.

If they have different ones.

Yeah, we’d love to hear from anyone else who knows something like this. If you’ve heard similar words or if you’ve got your own, by all means, share them. 877-929-9673 or send them an email to words@waywordradio.org.

Susan, thanks so much.

You’re Jim.

You’re welcome.

Thank you.

No problem.

Okay, take care.

All right, thank you, dear.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.