Etymological vs phonetic objectionability

[Zymologist]

The DeSantis thread got me thinking: what is your opinion on the word "niggardly"? It's an adjective meaning stingy, not generous, etc. AFAICT, it has no etymological relationship whatsoever to you-know-what, but the phonetic similarity is obvious.

I tend to like obscure words with specific meanings; not that I get the chance to use them that often, but I think they're neat. Words like "accoutrements" and "dingus" (no, it's not an insult). But for obvious reasons, I'd be hesitant in using "niggardly."

Should a case like this, where purely phonetic similarity could get somebody in trouble, dictate the non-usage of the word?

[seer]

The DeSantis thread got me thinking: what is your opinion on the word "niggardly"? It's an adjective meaning stingy, not generous, etc. AFAICT, it has no etymological relationship whatsoever to you-know-what, but the phonetic similarity is obvious.

I tend to like obscure words with specific meanings; not that I get the chance to use them that often, but I think they're neat. Words like "accoutrements" and "dingus" (no, it's not an insult). But for obvious reasons, I'd be hesitant in using "niggardly."

Should a case like this, where purely phonetic similarity could get somebody in trouble, dictate the non-usage of the word?

Like this?

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A white aide to Washington Mayor Anthony Williams who resigned after using the word "niggardly" in a conversation will be returning to city government, ending a flap over what critics derided as political correctness run amok.

On Thursday, saying he acted "too hastily" in accepting David Howard's resignation, Williams offered Howard his job back as director of the Office of the Public Advocate. Howard agreed to come back to city government, but he has asked the mayor to find him a different job

http://www.cnn.com/US/9902/04/dc.word.flap/

Senator Under Fire For Saying "Niggardly"

https://www.webpronews.com/senator-says-niggardly/

[guacamole]

Know your audience. If your goal is to be persuasive--like a politician on campaign or supporting a policy--then it's counter productive to use a potentially inflammatory word, even if other people are mistaken in how they interpret your usage.

[seer]

Know your audience. If your goal is to be persuasive--like a politician on campaign or supporting a policy--then it's counter productive to use a potentially inflammatory word, even if other people are mistaken in how they interpret your usage.

I guess we must accommodate stupidity...

[rogue06]

The DeSantis thread got me thinking: what is your opinion on the word "niggardly"? It's an adjective meaning stingy, not generous, etc. AFAICT, it has no etymological relationship whatsoever to you-know-what, but the phonetic similarity is obvious.

I tend to like obscure words with specific meanings; not that I get the chance to use them that often, but I think they're neat. Words like "accoutrements" and "dingus" (no, it's not an insult). But for obvious reasons, I'd be hesitant in using "niggardly."

Should a case like this, where purely phonetic similarity could get somebody in trouble, dictate the non-usage of the word?

What I posted 3 years ago:

Keep in mind that we live in a society where Stephanie Bell, a North Carolina 4th Grade school teacher was been formally reprimanded with a letter added to her file, sent to mandatory Sensitivity Training, and required to apologize to her students and their parents for daring to say the word “niggardly” in front of the class back in 2002. She had to further promise to never use the word, which means stingy and tight-fisted^[1], after several parents complained that it "sounded like" the infamous "N-word."

Of course this should come of no surprise to those familiar with the case of David Howard, an aide to then Washington D.C. mayor Anthony A. Williams, who was forced to resign in 1999 after a colleague objected to his use of the word niggardly in reference to a budget (he later returned to city hall in a different job).

And more recently, in 2009, a California High School history teacher, Dennis Boaz, was publicly accused of racism by the Mendocino County Office of Education for using the term.



Yeah, I know. Poop Deck. Perhaps too serious.












1. According to the font of all knowledge, Wikipedia, the word can be traced back at least to the Middle English word nigon, which has the same meaning, and is perhaps related to the Old Norse verb nigla, which means "to fuss about small matters." Damn those racist Vikings.

[JonathanL]

Should a case like this, where purely phonetic similarity could get somebody in trouble, dictate the non-usage of the word?

I think the answer to that is pretty obvious. Phonetic similarity shouldn't dictate the non-usage, or appropriateness of a word, but unfortunately should does not equate to does.

[KingsGambit]

I wouldn't risk my job using it when "stingy" has the same effect. Right or wrong, it's not worth it.

[NorrinRadd]

I intend to actively seek opportunities to use "niggardly" and "snigger."

[Cow Poke]

The DeSantis thread got me thinking: what is your opinion on the word "niggardly"? It's an adjective meaning stingy, not generous, etc. AFAICT, it has no etymological relationship whatsoever to you-know-what, but the phonetic similarity is obvious.

I tend to like obscure words with specific meanings; not that I get the chance to use them that often, but I think they're neat. Words like "accoutrements" and "dingus" (no, it's not an insult). But for obvious reasons, I'd be hesitant in using "niggardly."

Should a case like this, where purely phonetic similarity could get somebody in trouble, dictate the non-usage of the word?

Because we have so many incredibly ignorant people in the US, the use of "niggardly" should be avoided like the plague.

[Cow Poke]

Know your audience. If your goal is to be persuasive--like a politician on campaign or supporting a policy--then it's counter productive to use a potentially inflammatory word, even if other people are mistaken in how they interpret your usage.

Yeah, pretty much.

[Terraceth]

Setting aside phonetic similarities for a moment, an inherent problem with the word "niggard" is the fact it's so uncommon that most people won't recognize it and will have to ask what it means. It falls into the same category as defenestrate where it's so rarely used that the only real reason to ever use it is just to try to make a joke about how little known it is. Other than that, why use it over any of the various instantly recognizable synonyms that get the point across just fine? (e.g. miser or miserly)

And while it's not that big of an issue in text, when speaking aloud there's the rather legitimate problem that someone can mishear you. So generally speaking, the best-case scenario is someone doesn't know what the word is and you have to waste time explaining it, with the worst-case scenario is someone mishearing you and thinking you're being highly offensive. Neither is preferred, so why use it at all?

[Faber]

I remember when Al Gore was debating George Bush. He always referred to Bush's plans as a "scheme". Etymologically correct, but the implication was obvious.

[Jedidiah]

Setting aside phonetic similarities for a moment, an inherent problem with the word "niggard" is the fact it's so uncommon that most people won't recognize it and will have to ask what it means. It falls into the same category as defenestrate where it's so rarely used that the only real reason to ever use it is just to try to make a joke about how little known it is. Other than that, why use it over any of the various instantly recognizable synonyms that get the point across just fine? (e.g. miser or miserly)

And while it's not that big of an issue in text, when speaking aloud there's the rather legitimate problem that someone can mishear you. So generally speaking, the best-case scenario is someone doesn't know what the word is and you have to waste time explaining it, with the worst-case scenario is someone mishearing you and thinking you're being highly offensive. Neither is preferred, so why use it at all?

Hey! Defenestrate is one of my favorite obscure words.

[Cow Poke]

Hey! Defenestrate is one of my favorite obscure words.

Mine also too!

[Cow Poke]

Hey! Defenestrate is one of my favorite obscure words.

Eschew Obfuscation!!!