pejorative

A word is a term of derision, or a phrase is pejorative, if it implies contempt or disapproval. The adjective pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, and dyslogistic. When used as an adjective, pejorative has two meanings: (1) tending to make or become worse, and (2) tending to disparage or belittle. ^[1] When used as a noun, pejorative means "a belittling or disparaging word or expression".^[2]

Dyslogisms such as "pea-brain" and "bottom-feeder" are words and phrases pejorative in nature. Although pejorative means much the same thing as disparaging, the latter term may be applied to a look or gesture as well; in the evocative language of gesture, it may not be easy to distinguish a disparaging gesture from a dismissive or merely skeptical one, however.

Pejorative expressions that are not inherently dyslogisms may also be used in a non-pejorative way, however, and determining the intent of the speaker is problematic — as with any implied meaning. Conversely, a common rhetorical ploy is to apply "pejorative" to a factual descriptor — as "toxic" might be applied to poison — and then decry it as "pejorative" to suit the agenda of those defending the substance as harmless.

Not every instance of criticism is pejorative.

Sometimes a term may begin as a pejorative word and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense. This happened with the terms Quaker, Yankee, Tory and Whig, and Ham radio operator, which were originally slang insults but came to be used as non-pejorative standard words. In historical linguistics, this phenomenon is known as melioration, or amelioration. Sometimes a term is still considered as a pejorative word by some but not by others — for example, Saturday night special. In other cases, some groups have attempted to reclaim formerly offensive words applied against them, with limited success. Such terms as nigger (nigga), redneck, cracker, white trash, Redskin, dyke, queer, fairy, faggot, tranny, geek, nerd, chav, or cripple are considered pejorative if used by a non-member of the particular group in question. British English also incorporates many British regional slurs.

Since connotations of words change over time, an up-to-date dictionary should be consulted for information on specific words.

References

Dictionary.com [1]

See also

• Euphemism treadmill
• Hypocoristic, a pet name (antonym)
• Semantic change
• Taunt
• Pejorative suffix
• Historical linguistics
• Term of derision
• Term of disparagement
• List of ethnic slurs

Donate to Wikimedia