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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Is the T-word offensive? | Is the T-word offensive? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| When David Cameron used a word that is similar to "twit" in a radio interview, his press officer broke into a sweat. So why does this word offend people? | When David Cameron used a word that is similar to "twit" in a radio interview, his press officer broke into a sweat. So why does this word offend people? |
| The OED says it's vulgar slang | The OED says it's vulgar slang |
| The recording studio at Absolute Radio erupted in giggles when Mr Cameron used the T-word on the breakfast show thus: | The recording studio at Absolute Radio erupted in giggles when Mr Cameron used the T-word on the breakfast show thus: |
| "The trouble with Twitter, the instantness of it - too many twits might make a twat," he said. | "The trouble with Twitter, the instantness of it - too many twits might make a twat," he said. |
| According to presenter Christian O'Connell, press secretary Gabby Bertin ticked the Conservative leader off as he left the studio for using a swear word. He thought at first that she meant another segment of his interview. | According to presenter Christian O'Connell, press secretary Gabby Bertin ticked the Conservative leader off as he left the studio for using a swear word. He thought at first that she meant another segment of his interview. |
| If he really is that innocent, unaware that the word refers to female genitalia, then Mr Cameron is in illustrious company. | If he really is that innocent, unaware that the word refers to female genitalia, then Mr Cameron is in illustrious company. |
| Robert Browning, in his poetic play Pippa Passes in 1841, uses the word erroneously, thinking it to be an article of nun's clothing: | Robert Browning, in his poetic play Pippa Passes in 1841, uses the word erroneously, thinking it to be an article of nun's clothing: |
| Then owls and batsCowls and twatsMonks and nuns in a cloister's moodsAdjourn to the oak-stump pantry | Then owls and batsCowls and twatsMonks and nuns in a cloister's moodsAdjourn to the oak-stump pantry |
| It is thought Browning took his (mis)cue from a 17th Century poem, Vanity of the Vanities, that made the same mistake. | It is thought Browning took his (mis)cue from a 17th Century poem, Vanity of the Vanities, that made the same mistake. |
| The first documented evidence of the word was in 1656 and it appeared in Bailey's dictionary in 1727, although it was not spoken in the refined social circles that Browning would inhabit 100 years later. | The first documented evidence of the word was in 1656 and it appeared in Bailey's dictionary in 1727, although it was not spoken in the refined social circles that Browning would inhabit 100 years later. |
| Cameron uses T-word | |
| "Browning, in his innocence, didn't know what it meant," says a spokeswoman for the Oxford English Dictionary. "It was pretty unspeakable in the 19th Century. | "Browning, in his innocence, didn't know what it meant," says a spokeswoman for the Oxford English Dictionary. "It was pretty unspeakable in the 19th Century. |
| "A lot of very rude vocabulary tends to not get into print, so it's difficult to get really early evidence. The F-word is a nightmare, although it goes back to the Middle England period." | "A lot of very rude vocabulary tends to not get into print, so it's difficult to get really early evidence. The F-word is a nightmare, although it goes back to the Middle England period." |
| Double meaning | Double meaning |
| There's nothing rare about the T-word in print nowadays, with authors like Germaine Greer, Norman Mailer and Henry Miller having used it in famous works. | There's nothing rare about the T-word in print nowadays, with authors like Germaine Greer, Norman Mailer and Henry Miller having used it in famous works. |
| For everyone else it means 'total idiot' - but it's still offensive, it's a fight-starting word Tony Thorne | For everyone else it means 'total idiot' - but it's still offensive, it's a fight-starting word Tony Thorne |
| It has a second meaning, which is probably what Mr Cameron had in mind - as a term of abuse for a person regarded as stupid or obnoxious. The first known use of it in this sense was in the 1920s. | It has a second meaning, which is probably what Mr Cameron had in mind - as a term of abuse for a person regarded as stupid or obnoxious. The first known use of it in this sense was in the 1920s. |
| "The literal meaning, as female genitalia, is very rarely used," says slang expert Tony Thorne, of King's College London. | "The literal meaning, as female genitalia, is very rarely used," says slang expert Tony Thorne, of King's College London. |
| "Maybe people over 50, for them that is the main sense of the word, but for everyone else it means 'total idiot' - but it's still offensive, it's a fight-starting word. | "Maybe people over 50, for them that is the main sense of the word, but for everyone else it means 'total idiot' - but it's still offensive, it's a fight-starting word. |
| "If you call someone it to their face, unless they are a close friend and you are teasing them, it's a fairly offensive word - although not on the same level as the C-word or the F-word. | "If you call someone it to their face, unless they are a close friend and you are teasing them, it's a fairly offensive word - although not on the same level as the C-word or the F-word. |
| "It looks like 'twit'. People who aren't on the street and don't use street language are maybe not aware of how strong it is." | "It looks like 'twit'. People who aren't on the street and don't use street language are maybe not aware of how strong it is." |
| New media | New media |
| Mr Cameron falls into this category, trying to adopt street language but making "a mess of it", says Mr Thorne. | Mr Cameron falls into this category, trying to adopt street language but making "a mess of it", says Mr Thorne. |
| It's not a widely deployed term of abuse, he says, and there seems to be conflicting opinion about regional uses and interpretations. | It's not a widely deployed term of abuse, he says, and there seems to be conflicting opinion about regional uses and interpretations. |
| But thanks to the satirical character Nathan Barley - created by Charlie Brooker - it became shorthand for irritating media-types who live or socialise in fashionable Shoreditch, east London. | But thanks to the satirical character Nathan Barley - created by Charlie Brooker - it became shorthand for irritating media-types who live or socialise in fashionable Shoreditch, east London. |
| Although in some minds it is associated with "twit", that single vowel change from "i" to "a" can make all the difference. | Although in some minds it is associated with "twit", that single vowel change from "i" to "a" can make all the difference. |
| Twit makes it into Mr Thorne's book, 100 Words That Make Us English, because it's a "homely and comfortable" insult that is quintessentially English, he says. | Twit makes it into Mr Thorne's book, 100 Words That Make Us English, because it's a "homely and comfortable" insult that is quintessentially English, he says. |
| The other does not. | The other does not. |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| There's definitely a north-south divide with the t-word - it means 'twit' down south. I'm a southerner and when I started visiting Manchester over 20 years ago there was a very sharp intake of breath when I used it in that sense. I trained myself not to use it but the t-word still causes as much offence as the c-word in Manchester even now. Generally, I'd say southerners swear alot more than northerners though. Bec , Monton, Salford | There's definitely a north-south divide with the t-word - it means 'twit' down south. I'm a southerner and when I started visiting Manchester over 20 years ago there was a very sharp intake of breath when I used it in that sense. I trained myself not to use it but the t-word still causes as much offence as the c-word in Manchester even now. Generally, I'd say southerners swear alot more than northerners though. Bec , Monton, Salford |
| My mother, born 1929, heard it in the 80s and thought it was merely a stronger form of "twit". She had used it for several weeks before we took her to one side and explained its actual meaning. She spent a week frantically trying to contact anyone she might have offended by using it in front of them. Up here, it's also used as a verb e.g. "I could twat 'im with one head-butt."Lily O, Leeds UK | My mother, born 1929, heard it in the 80s and thought it was merely a stronger form of "twit". She had used it for several weeks before we took her to one side and explained its actual meaning. She spent a week frantically trying to contact anyone she might have offended by using it in front of them. Up here, it's also used as a verb e.g. "I could twat 'im with one head-butt."Lily O, Leeds UK |
| I think currently, it is used in similarity to 'twit', and my friends and I have used it quite often in a teasing manner. However it can vary by region, as one of my friends deeply offended a friend of hers in Edinburgh by using the word. Even though she meant it in a playful manner. Therefore you need to be wary of this. However if it had been anyone except David Cameron who had said it, would there be such a furore? Rachel, Aberdeen | I think currently, it is used in similarity to 'twit', and my friends and I have used it quite often in a teasing manner. However it can vary by region, as one of my friends deeply offended a friend of hers in Edinburgh by using the word. Even though she meant it in a playful manner. Therefore you need to be wary of this. However if it had been anyone except David Cameron who had said it, would there be such a furore? Rachel, Aberdeen |
| I am over 50 and when I grew up it was (and as far as I am concerned still is) certainly an extremely offensive remark and did refer to female genitalia, as did the word "pr*t", which is now more commonly used as a reference to your backside and as used by the Americans.Captain Black, London | I am over 50 and when I grew up it was (and as far as I am concerned still is) certainly an extremely offensive remark and did refer to female genitalia, as did the word "pr*t", which is now more commonly used as a reference to your backside and as used by the Americans.Captain Black, London |
| Yes it had a meaning a long time ago which is more offensive than it is today - but language evolves and for 99.99999% of the population it is a cheap jibe or insult. In the context used I think the press officer etc. need to grow up a bit.Matt, Southampton | Yes it had a meaning a long time ago which is more offensive than it is today - but language evolves and for 99.99999% of the population it is a cheap jibe or insult. In the context used I think the press officer etc. need to grow up a bit.Matt, Southampton |
| My understanding is that it's partly down to regional differences. I was told by someone who worked for a national media outlet that it's considered a fairly standard, inoffensive term in the South of England (like 'twit'). However in the North, especially the North East, it's considered to be a fair bit more offensive (more like the 'c-word').Michael, London | My understanding is that it's partly down to regional differences. I was told by someone who worked for a national media outlet that it's considered a fairly standard, inoffensive term in the South of England (like 'twit'). However in the North, especially the North East, it's considered to be a fair bit more offensive (more like the 'c-word').Michael, London |
| Some words can be offensive to some but not to others. For example, I grew up in South East London where people my age (60+) find the word 'berk' offensive. Why? Berk is short for Berkshire Hunt where the word 'Hunt' is Cockney rhyming slang for the 'c' word . Elsewhere 'berk' is used quite extensively without causing offenceTerry Suttle, New Eltham, London | Some words can be offensive to some but not to others. For example, I grew up in South East London where people my age (60+) find the word 'berk' offensive. Why? Berk is short for Berkshire Hunt where the word 'Hunt' is Cockney rhyming slang for the 'c' word . Elsewhere 'berk' is used quite extensively without causing offenceTerry Suttle, New Eltham, London |
| Wasn't there an episode of Fawlty Towers that had a anagram of the name on the hotel's signpost that read Flowery Twats??? Let's get a grip and not become too "PC"!! Paul Lewis, Cannes, France | Wasn't there an episode of Fawlty Towers that had a anagram of the name on the hotel's signpost that read Flowery Twats??? Let's get a grip and not become too "PC"!! Paul Lewis, Cannes, France |
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