By: Jinx!
It’s not always clear to me what is and isn’t politically correct in the US, so I’ve given my American husband some uncomfortable moments. He still winces when he remembers the time I complimented our gay friends on their fairy lights. (“But that’s just the word we use for holiday lights in the UK.” “Yeah, but Vick….”)
And without sharing the same history, I think it’s hard for Brits to see why using the adjective ‘niggardly’ should cause controversy. It simply means stingy or mean to us, and we’re insensitive to its phoenetic similarities to racial slurs.
But it seems Brits can go in for a pcness all of they’re own. The other day, Chris Adams (author of the wonderful Bits ‘n Bobs blog) pointed me towards a surprising article about pcness and canteen workers in Wales who were serving up spotted dick.
For readers who haven’t come across it, spotted dick is a dessert made from currants, sultanas or raisins (the spotty bits) and a sponge or suet pudding. I try to keep some in the cupboard at all times here, because you never know when you might want to whip your dick out. And in my experience, ‘Do you fancy some nice warm custard on your spotted dick?’ invariably raises a chuckle with American guests who rarely turn down the offer.
But back to the canteen workers in Wales. It seems spotted dick raised a few chuckles when they served it there too – well, isn’t that the point? But there the innuendo was unwelcome. So to put and end to what were felt to be “immature” comments, they came up with the idea of calling in “spotted Richard”. I kid you not.
Similarly, in America we have Welsh rarebit, so-named to squelch humorless persons who will point out at every turn that it does not contain rabbit. At least flammable (on trucks containing inflammable substances) serves a safety purpose: semi-literacy ought not to be a capital crime.
Well thank you Vicki, that’s very sweet of you.
Now tell me, do you keep a straight face over there when someone walks up and introduces themselves with a hearty – “HI, I’M RANDY”?
Well I never, John. I had no idea that Welsh rabbit was the original term and rarebit the later corruption. I see things like rarebit, flammable, and not using niggardly as language change – neither good nor bad, just bound to happen and interesting to follow.
Chris, I’m far too childish to ever stop grinning when that happens. Why this very afternoon my hygienist left the room saying “I’M GOING TO GET RANDY” (Randy = my dentist) and I found myself smirking.
Phew , i was worried that you were going to tell me that your husband was Randy.
Or Richard!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2011/dec/19/epg-alfred-hitchcock-charles-dickens
Oh great link, Chris. I loved the last line ” The altered titles have been swiftly an*lysed and we’re fixing any remaining glitches.”
Well, most language change happens without anyone much noticing, but rarebit was a deliberate attempt to redirect an unfounded complaint, and flammable a deliberate effort to save lives. Of course, these coinages eventually took on a life of their own.
“Spotted dog” is another old name for the pudding, and I understand that both “dog” and “dick” are corruptions of the word “dough”.
John – “Welsh rarebit” is often heard in the UK too.
Then there’s the little girl (from the Western U.S. or Canada) who wanted to take a ride on the “angel boat”. This turned out to mean the ferryboat, which her parents pronounced “fairy boat”.