I was thinking (ruminating?) about the word "ruminations." Whereas it sounds formal, it actually derives from the word for a cow's stomach (or one of them...I think they have four). This led to the thought that most of the adjectives we use that derive from names of animals or parts of animals are insulting: porcine, bovine, lupine, vulpine. English language adjectives that apply animal names to human beings aren't any more complimentary. "She's catty." "What a pig!" "We were just monkeying around." "I'd never date him--he's a wolf!"
Is this a cause that PETA would take on? Restoring the reputation of animals by removing animal slurs from our language?
Okay, back to the Tech Tune-Up.
P.S. If anyone can think of exceptions to this rumination, please post them as comments.
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Robin - This is going to be my dinner conversation with John. What a fantastic question!
ReplyDeleteHow about eagle-eyed, or "she's a fox!," or "gentle as a lamb"?
ReplyDeleteGlenn
Strong as an ox?
ReplyDeleteReacting to the three comments: I think only Glenn's "She's a fox" counts. In the other examples, a single attribute (the eagle's vision, the lamb's temperament, and the ox's strength) are singled out for implied praise.
ReplyDelete