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Do you think of Mariah Carey as a vocalist or a diva? Pejorative names and labels, like "diva," express disrespect or a low opinion. Now obviously "diva" is pretty tame as pejoratives go, but think of a nastier pejorative, like "pig." Using it to address a police officer would be an example of eff____ery, or bold, in-your-face rudeness.
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"PEJORATIVE"
A pejorative word or phrase has a negative, disrespectful, or insulting meaning.
Pronunciation:
Many ways are correct. I prefer "puh JORE uh tiv."
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "a pejorative thing."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was pejorative.")
Other forms:
"Pejorative" is also a noun, meaning "a negative or insulting word or phrase."
(Other forms exist, like the verb "pejorate," but they're very rare.)
How to use it:
Knowing the word "pejorative" helps us talk about when and why certain words and phrases aren't acceptable and how the tone and feeling behind certain words and phrases change over time and differ across situations.
Talk about pejorative labels, terms, names, nicknames, words, and phrases.
Because "pejorative" is also a noun, you can also talk about "pejoratives."
Either way, pejoratives, or pejorative terms, always express disrespect or a low opinion, and they range from mildly negative (like "McMansion," a pejorative for oversized, shoddily built homes) to despicable (like the "n"-word, the pejorative label for black people).
Notice how pejorative words most often describe people (like "yellow-belly" for a cowardly person and "meathead" for a muscular person) but they can describe things, too (like "junk-heap" for a car in poor repair and "loony bin" for a psychiatric hospital).
examples:
White outsiders in Hawaii are called "haole," a label that's sometimes pejorative, sometimes lighthearted, depending on the intent.
Ironically, books that make a case for respect and respectful language, like To Kill a Mockingbird, routinely get banned because they necessarily contain pejoratives.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pejorative" means when you can explain it without saying "disparaging" or "derogatory."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "('A certain word or label') may have once been a pejorative, but now we consider it (neutral, funny, descriptive, or complimentary)."
Or, flip that around: "('A certain word or label') may have once been (neutral, funny, descriptive, or complimentary), but now we consider it a pejorative."
Example: "'Grammar nazi' may have once been a pejorative, but now we consider it almost neutral."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month is called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play!
From yesterday: The title of this television series, which debuted in 1982 and was created by James Burrows and Glen and Les Charles, means both "a toast to your health" and "makes someone happier or more enthusiastic." The title is ______.
Answer: Cheers.
Try this today: The title of this television series, which debuted in 2004 and was created by David Milch, means both "branches that are no longer alive" and "things or people that are no longer useful." The title is ________.
review today's word:
1. One opposite of PEJORATIVE is
A. EXCITABLE
B. ALTERABLE
C. CELEBRATORY
2. He was surprised to learn his official job title wasn't "Assistant" but the slightly pejorative "_____."
A. Mail Sorter
B. Paper Pusher
C. Administrator
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. B
Do you think of Mariah Carey as a vocalist or a diva? Pejorative names and labels, like "diva," express disrespect or a low opinion. Now obviously "diva" is pretty tame as pejoratives go, but think of a nastier pejorative, like "pig." Using it to address a police officer would be an example of eff____ery, or bold, in-your-face rudeness.
"PEJORATIVE" A pejorative word or phrase has a negative, disrespectful, or insulting meaning. Part of speech:
White outsiders in Hawaii are called "haole," a label that's sometimes pejorative, sometimes lighthearted, depending on the intent.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pejorative" means when you can explain it without saying "disparaging" or "derogatory."
Fill in the blanks: "('A certain word or label') may have once been a pejorative, but now we consider it (neutral, funny, descriptive, or complimentary)."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. One opposite of PEJORATIVE is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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