Niggardly Comes Under Fire- Should We Not Use This Word?
When someone says "niggardly," what comes to mind? If you don't know what it means, then you mind will probably look for the closest word you can use to associate meaning. Yeah... that one. But, you should know that the word has NOTHING to do with the racial slur. The word's origin started somewhere in eastern Europe with the earliest recording in 1366.The root of the word suggests that it is from Old Norse, the Norwegian language as written and spoken c.100 to 1500 C.E. It did not originate in America and is in no way related to the racial issues that post-dated the word.
The word itself, according to Merriam-Webster Online dictionary means "grudgingly mean about spending or granting" or basically, "stingy."
Regardless, the word created huge controversy when an aide to the then-mayor of Washington, DC, lost his job after using the word "niggardly" in a budget briefing last year. Two African-American colleagues who were present thought he had used a racial slur.
If the word doesn't mean anything politically incorrect or racist, should we banish it from our speech just because someone might get the wrong idea?
Loading...-
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 05:21PM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
I don't think it should be "banished" or anything, but I do see how people would take it the wrong way. Especially if the person using it doesn't know the definition.
If you use it in the wrong context, like saying "yeah, that Al Sharpton 'niggardly' balanced his checkbook," it could easily be construed as a racial slur.
I would personally refrain from using the word for two reasons.
1. I wouldn't want to be constantly explaining what it means to people every time I use it.
2. I wouldn't want to get my ass beat by a mob of black dudes if they didn't give me a chance to explain what it meant. Like I said, it could easily be construed as a racial slur.
Now I wouldn't use it, I think other people should be able to use it if they choose. -
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 02:24PM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
I have heard of this word and have heard it used in context. I have never heard it used as a slur. It's too high brow a word for those who use slurs on a regular basis. Those who want this word sanitized are the same people who see bogeymen behind every corner. I hate the McCarthy-like purge of the language which the PC crowd has wrought. So if I ever have a need to use the word I will use it. I can say so because I have no intention to ever use it as a slur. -
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 11:03AM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
I don't think any words should ever be banned! I could care less what they say the word isn't dead. Just put a rap cd in a cd player and wait about 2 minuets and you will hear it again! -
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 09:54AM GMT (edited)
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
PC run amok. Ignorant fools are found everywhere. What's next? Better never "honk" your horn because white folks might extropolate some hidden racial meaning. -
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 08:50AM GMT
Answered I don't know, but I think that when it comes to the word "niggardly" we should...
the word in itself may well be 'innocent'. i am not knowledgeable about every word ever formed over the 'many years' of mans' existance.
But, due to the 'still' sensitive nature of the word, i would say, to 'not let good intentions, be evil spoken of' -- in other words, consider the tender emotions of some and find 'safer' words to portray the message. -
raves +2 posted Jul 10, 2008 05:17AM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
... that or we should make ebonics the national language of the United States and have a good ole fashioned book burning and destroy every racist dictionary that harkens back to the anglo-saxon period of history. Sheesh! -
raves posted Jul 10, 2008 05:12AM GMT
Answered I don't know, but I think that when it comes to the word "niggardly" we should...
Since I have never used the word or even heard it used I don't think it is really an issue. I mean if it was a word like yes or no maybe we should be worried but "Niggardly", who even uses that word?
-
raves +1 posted Jul 10, 2008 03:48AM GMT (edited)
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
Someone else's ignorance of the meaning and use of any word is not a just cause to limit free speech.
I will not be forced into changing my vocabulary, just to placate someone else's misconceptions. No matter how narrowly, or niggardly, they view the freedom or expression.
2. meanly or ungenerously small or scanty:
-
raves +2 posted Jul 10, 2008 03:08AM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
Words are just words- for instance- you can say "prick my finger" but people get all crazy about "finger my prick" and they are the same exact words! Words can be hurtful, I know, (I have been a big girl all my life- not fat, just big and tall) but some where, some time, this political correct bullshit has got to end. -
raves +2 posted Jul 09, 2008 11:42PM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
Niggardly is a perfectly good word, bearing no relationship whatsoever to the "N" word. People should educate themselves and understand the meaning of the word, not intended in any way to demean someone despite its similarity to the "N" word! If we start editing all homonyms because they may be taken out of context as being not politically correct, we would destroy the English language. -
raves +1 posted Jul 09, 2008 10:33PM GMT
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
The first thing that came to mind when seeing this word was that I didn't think it was a real word, not that it had anything to do with the word nigger.
Should we really stop doing things because of others ignorances? -
raves +5 po
Answered No way, we shouldn't have to edit "niggardly" out because it has an innocent meaning.
We can't teach tolerance and equality toward race by redefining English. Instead, take this as an opportunity to teach people.