'Rude-word campaign rocks Italy's political classes' (２００７年９月１５日版 P14)

Teacher's review

What exactly is a 'rude' or 'bad' word? People can be rude, but a word? In English there are such words. They are commonly called 'swear words' or 'cuss words'. They are words that are considered rude and and many people believe they shouldn't be used. Many of them you can't even say on television. The strange thing is that they are used quite a lot in certain situations. These words are very strong and can express very strong feelings. You can often hear them in dramatic films or used by people trying to sound tough. People use them to express anger and frustration. 'Rude' or 'bad' words' have the power to shock people. That's likely why the 'rude word' campaign in the article is working so well. It gets people's attention. Whether it's positive or negative is another story.

 

Marcel Morin

 

 

記事に登場する単語解説　

 

tell off 文句を言う　（例） He asked his girlfriend if he could see other women, so she told him off.
petition 嘆願書
to bar 禁止する
felon 重罪犯人
f-word 　 'fuck'を間接的に言う言い方
grass-roots 　草の根・一般大衆
fascism ファシズム
fled　flee(逃走する）の過去形

immerse　没頭させる
manifesto マニフェスト・声明
parliamentarian 国会議員
coalition 連携・連合
mock あざける
docile 　素直な・コントロールしやすい　（例） Fish are the　most docile pets you can have.