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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe
Syosset, New York
Grab a #2 pencil and see if you can correctly answer this question:
What is the Yiddish word meaning "to cuss"?
a) "shiltn"
b) "shirem"
c) "shisn"
d) "shikn"
The correct answer is a)--"shiltn."
Well, the first week of "marts" (March) is "Cuss-Free Week" in California. I'm not making a "tsimmes" out of it, but perhaps ALL of the states should celebrate this holiday.
Why even Yiddishist, MIchael Wex, uses cuss words. His new book is titled, "How to Be a Mentsh (& Not a Shmuck"). On MichaelWex.com, he writes, "The terms for cursing--as distinct from simple use of 'bad' words--are quite similar to those found in English: seltn vi a mark-yidene, "to curse like a market woman." sheltn zikh vi afn fish-mark, "to curse like a fishmarket."
Wex also writes about "reciprocal cursing," which demands that your response has to build on and demolish whatever has just been wished on you or you're going to be out of the game.
Getting back to the title of Wex's book, George Wolf (The Mavens Word of the Day), says that there is some disagreement over the relative offensiveness of the terms putz and schmuck. In 'The Joy of Yiddish,' Leo Rosten claims that putz is the more offensive word, but I believe most people today would think the opposite: putz has more of a connotation of bumbling foolishness, while schmuck is the stronger insult."
Lawmakers are trying to tidy up the language used by Californians. According to Denis C. Theriault (MercuryNews.com), "...all Californians will be asked to bite back on four-letter words and a few choice compound-phrases...Police officers won't be waiting with soap."
And Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, is handing out no-cuss jars to all 120 legislative officers in the Capitol--and to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Everytime a naughty "vort" (word) slips out, a few coins get dropped in.
Perhaps it's time to consult with "The God Squad," or the website, "Ask A Rabbi" about how to handle cuss words in the workplace/home/school, etc. Better yet, perhaps a letter to The Bintel Brief at The Forward would work. Although Abraham Cahan is no longer with us, a guest editor can tackle the problem.
Dear Editor:
Today, everyone seems to curse, even our politicians. In '98, Al D'Amato referred to his opponent, Charles E. Schumer, as a "putzhead." Yes, I know that there's a player named J.J. Putz, and that one can purchase the "One Putz Putter" golf club, which supposedly takes strokes off your golf game.
My "froy" (wife) and I work very hard in our stationery store, which is open 7 days a week, except for the major Jewish holidays.
When Jr. High School and High School students come in, I'm "farshemt" (ashamed) of their language I hear the "f" word "fuftsik" (50) times a day.
When we raised our kids, we also used the "f" word: flanken, feh, farbissener, farblondzhet, frassk, fargesn, and farpitst.
If I throw out the kids who use this dirty language, my business will suffer.
Any suggestions?
Malka
(from Syosset, NY)
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Marjorie Wolfe's favorite kind of curse is
one in which the victim must be exalted,
raised to their very pinnacle of his/her
aspirations, and then lulled back into a
false sense of security, be brought crashing
back to earth.
Michael Wex's example:
"Your daughter should marry the richest,
best-looking boy in the country the day
after he's become president of the United
States, and you should have a front row
pew in the church."
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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:
"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction? Yiddish
Trivia." To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com
NU, what are you waiting for? Order the book!
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