April 05, 2007
Does "Frak" Have A Future?
In my last post, I used the word "frak" as a less offensive alternative to the grand-daddy of all curse words.
For those of you who may still be unfamiliar with this word (which is not technically a word - yet), it originated on the original Battlestar Galactica in 1979 as kind of a silly way for the characters to vent frustration and give a wink and a nod to the audience that it was intended to be a replacement for the more ominous Anglo-Saxon word, f*ck.
In the reimagined BSG, series creator Ronald D. Moore inserts it into the script every chance he can get, often to great effect. As the show has become more popular, I've noticed the word frak come up in many a blog post and email (I'm not a big IM person, but I imagine that it has shown up in that medium as well). And I got to thinking.
If the term "jump the shark" can embed itself into the lexicon of popular culture, could frak develop into a more popular alternative to f*ck than the current choices?
Stay with me here.
Usually people will replace the more taboo word with "freaking", "frigging" or even "flipping" depending on the audience that's on the receiving end of the communication. But each of these forms uses the "ing" form only. (Now I'm talking about American culture here as opposed to, say, Britain, where it's much more commonplace in everyday conversation.) There are limits to the usefulness of these words, however. You rarely hear "freak", "frig" or "flip" (either as a noun or a verb). But frak has much more versatility.
You can use the "ing" form ("are you out of your fraking mind?" or "I don't fraking care"). But you also have at your disposal the one-syllable "frak" to use either as a noun ("I don't give a frak") or a verb ("go frak yourself").
Consider the other possibilities where you can make a one-for-one swap with f*ck:
- What the frak?
- Oh, frak it!
- Holy frak!
- Frak me!
- Frak this.
- You dumb frak.
- If I hear you say that one more fraking time...
- Sorry, I fraked up.
Now, of course "frak" currently sounds strange to the ear. But, over time, familiarity would make it sound more natural.
But it also raises questions. Let's assume for the sake of argument, that "frak" really takes off, especially among the impressionable yoots.
Stay with me here. Keep an open mind.
What you would have is a word clearly meant to represent the word "f*ck" without the social stigma of it being innappropriate for polite company. But how do you interpret it? How do you react?
What do you do with a middle-school student who says it in class? How to respond to someone who you barely know who uses it? How do obscenity laws apply? Can you say it on television outside of BSG?
I mean really, what the frak?
These are the things I think about when my mind wanders.
English majors and linguists, discuss.
Posted by Gary at April 5, 2007 01:36 PM | TrackBackAside from the fact that my blogging nom de plume happens to rhyme with "frak" (a fact which alternately amuses and concerns, depending on the day and mood) I have to confess I sort of like this one. Yes, I'm a fan of Galactica new-and-old (as well as the Robot Chicken spoof, which was fraking great) which does help. The problem, of course, is that the one-for-one swap is so close that 'frak' becomes the literal equivalent of the F-bomb, making it socially unacceptable in the circles that don't accept cursing and it makes you look like a pansy in the ones that do. Curiously, I think it makes you look worse (in cussing circles) than just not swearing at all. Not sure why. Mystery of the universe I guess.
Posted by: The Random Yak at April 5, 2007 01:09 PMFraking good post, Gary.
Spoiler:
And I don't mind the revelation of who the Five are,
but "All Along the Watchtower?" A fraking Dylan song? And not even the good Hendrix version, but a wussy new version? What the frak?
My thought has always been this: if you're saying "freaking" or "frigging" or (in this case) "fracking" because you'd rather say "f**king" then you should either a) go ahead and just say the word we all know you mean or b) figure out how to use language such that the need for cursing is less necessary in your mind. Cause if the thought behind it is f*ck then what difference, really, does it make that you said frack? (Or fardles if you're an Anne McCaffre fan or freck if you're a Farscape fan...the list is endless.)
I try to opt for b most of the time, personally, though if all I can think of is the other, then I usually just out with it, apologize, and move on.
Posted by: beth at April 5, 2007 02:18 PMI generally try to keep my language as curse free as possible, but "frak" is especially useful in a house with three small children who love to parrot words. I child will casually drop any learned words into language to test acceptable combinations of "colorful metaphors" as Spock calls them.
If adults react to curse words they will say them over and over again with relish, just because of the reaction. Imagine if you will a child dropping "frak" in a casual sentance in Sunday School versus the f-bomb. Of course I want my children to have clean language all the time, and not even woodenly swear, but better the wooden swear word than the actual one.
My Granny would die if she caught us with even a wooden cuss word because the intent was there.
If you really wanna nail down a JTS moment, I think it'd have to be the first time a character used "motherfrakker." Every other possible interpretation went right out the airlock at that centon.
J.
Posted by: Jay Tea at April 5, 2007 07:39 PMI prefer the Chinese cursing in Serenity
Posted by: quasimodo at April 6, 2007 07:06 AMYou think a simple TV show can cause people to alter their speech patterns? No ruttin' way.
On the other hand, your global warming post was shiny.
Frak, I didn't see quasimodo's comment. It makes mine look more dumber.
Posted by: brainy435 at April 6, 2007 11:29 AMBut you haven't left room for the encyclopedic "farookin!" Without that, what have we got to talk about?
Posted by: Robbo the LB at April 6, 2007 09:56 PMIf I may suggest that "frak" is pronounced with the same "a" as in "cat", then the gerund form should be altered to, "frakkin'". Otherwise, it has the effect of making the word appear more like "frake-ing".
And dropping the "g" just adds to the informality and breezy attitude suggested by the word.
Posted by: Joan of Argghh! at April 7, 2007 07:57 AMJoan, good point! Thanks for the clarification. Now if I can just get Steve to stop spelling it "frackin'".
Posted by: Gary at April 9, 2007 07:46 AM
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