Decoder Ring Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier”
Jul 16, 2025
Join linguistics professor Nicole Holliday, who explores the nuances of language and identity, alongside professional namer Laurel Sutton, as they dive into listener questions. They discuss the quirky journey of the 'ass intensifier' in casual speech. Get insights into how pharmaceutical names are crafted, revealing the blend of creativity and regulatory challenges behind them. They also tackle the bizarre phenomenon of cow abductions by aliens, tracing its cultural roots and implications, all while keeping the conversation lively and humorous.
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Origin of the Ass Intensifier
- The "ass intensifier" emerged during WWII with Marines using it informally to emphasize adjectives.
- It quickly spread in post-war culture, enriching informal speech with humor and familiarity.
Function and Spread of 'Ass'
- The ass intensifier acts as an informal way to say 'very' with added humor and familiarity.
- It has extended usage due to more acceptance of profanity and informal speech today than in the past.
Evolution and Usage Limits of 'Ass'
- The word "ass" originally meant donkey and only later evolved to mean butt in the 17th century.
- Its intensifier use is limited mostly to short, informal, and less 'fancy' words in English.