Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

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alynnidalar
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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by alynnidalar »

To use your own example, Sal, neither [pink rose] nor [rose colour] are commonly-used set phrases/euphemisms with specific meanings. [sanitary product] is. (of course [product pilot] is also a reasonably set phrase, but not nearly as common as [sanitary product] in everyday life, unless you work in sales or marketing)
I generally forget to say, so if it's relevant and I don't mention it--I'm from Southern Michigan and speak Inland North American English. Yes, I have the Northern Cities Vowel Shift; no, I don't have the cot-caught merger; and it is called pop.

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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by Vijay »

For whatever it's worth, I wasn't sure whether "sanitary product" could also mean napkins or something.

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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by Soap »

Vijay wrote:For whatever it's worth, I wasn't sure whether "sanitary product" could also mean napkins or something.
I dont think you'd be widely understood if you used that. But euphemisms go in and out of style .... i once saw napkin in an old children's book as a euphemism for diaper, and Im pretty sure it was once more widespread, since that's where nappy comes from. Sanitary napkin can also mean menstrual pad (heard it once in a video game walkthrough for Binding of Isaac). But I dont think even in Britain that people would just say napkin and expect the listener to think of diapers unless the context was clear. Perhaps it may be used when "nappy" would sound too casual.
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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

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KathTheDragon
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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by KathTheDragon »

For me, nappy is the only word for them. I would never think of nappies when hearing napkin, though.

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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by mèþru »

I know the euphemism, but sanitary product for me is usually a toilet cleaner or a spray.
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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by Vijay »

So I did have a plausible reason to think "sanitary product" might be ambiguous! Thanks, mèþru! :)

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Re: Confusing headlines and other trips down the garden path

Post by mèþru »

Sorry, Vijay, but my usage of English is bizarre enough that I probably don't count. :-D
ìtsanso, God In The Mountain, may our names inspire the deepest feelings of fear in urkos and all his ilk, for we have saved another man from his lies! I welcome back to the feast hall kal, who will never gamble again! May the eleven gods bless him!
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