# That character would NEVER say that! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080 "2020-04-18T20:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/21 "2020-04-19T16:04:10Z")
In the TV show “Hawthorne”, they refer to the highway as “The 64”. The show takes place in Richmond, Virginia. Prefacing the highway number with the definite article is unique to southern California. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/22 "2020-04-19T16:17:36Z")
Doc Brown is the only scientist who pronounces gigawatt with a “j”. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/23 "2020-04-19T17:20:13Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Doc Brown is the only scientist who pronounces gigawatt with a “j”. Yeah, close that can of worms right back up, before we start talking about how Perry Mason pronounces “Los Angle-less” or “Nevahda”, or how Jon Stewart pronounces “gif”. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/24 "2020-04-19T18:28:38Z")
As noted above, I’ve noticed several examples of characters on the east coast saying “THE [highway name]”. The only thing worse is Arizona, where we are a unique blend of CA and the rest of the country. In LA it’s “the 10”, anywhere else it’s “I-10”, but in AZ it’s “the I-10”. That grates every time I hear it. Even more when they say “the I-number” and it isn’t an interstate highway! There was a character I think in FBI, who noted that she “was from Wisconsin”. Not without your accent you’re not, sister! She said it like it is spelled. For a native it would be an obvious “Wes Khan sin.” ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/25 "2020-04-19T18:43:22Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > In the BBC series, _Flickers_ there was a Jewish film producer who kept saying “OY-VEY” (equal stress on the two syllables). Anyone Jewish would know it was “oy-VEY.” Disagree. This Jewish person has always heard it with equal stress on both syllables. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/26 "2020-04-19T20:32:59Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > But there were also lots of language giveaways. One was the way characters pronounced the city Terre Haute. In Indiana, it’s pronounced “Terra Hote.” I don’t care whether it’s close to the French pronunciation or not-- it’s what people here say. On the show, it was always pronounced the way most people outside the state say it-- “Terra Hut.” That’s funny, I always assumed it was Terra Hote and Terra Hut would never cross my mind. If I had to guess another pronunciation it would be Terra Howt, to rhyme with Pout. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/27 "2020-04-19T20:44:40Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That’s funny, I always assumed it was Terra Hote and Terra Hut would never cross my mind. If I had to guess another pronunciation it would be Terra Howt, to rhyme with Pout. I read (I think it was in Mr. Nice by Howard Marks) that it’s nicknamed the “Terror Hut”. So I guess that could be involved? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/28 "2020-04-19T21:20:29Z")
There was an instance of a character in _Deadwood_ angrily calling Al Swearengen a “cocksucker” (although not to his face) as well as other things after having been wronged by him. In the DVD extras, it was explained that the insult was not yet in use at that time, the actor had been improvising, but it sounded so powerful that they decided to leave it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/29 "2020-04-19T22:45:30Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Yeah, close that can of worms right back up, before we start talking about how Perry Mason pronounces “Los Angle-less” or “Nevahda”… Easily explained: Raymond Burr was Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/30 "2020-04-19T22:46:19Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Yeah, close that can of worms right back up, before we start talking about how Perry Mason pronounces “Los Angle-less” or “Nevahda”, or how Jon Stewart pronounces “gif”. And that has jarred loose a memory from way back. As a 50’s kid I’d often watch Art Linkletter’s House Party (TV) with my mother. Even to idiot kid me it always sounded odd to hear him pronounce Los Angeles as “loss ANN guhleeze.” And he LIVED there. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/31 "2020-04-19T22:59:16Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > And that has jarred loose a memory from way back. As a 50’s kid I’d often watch Art Linkletter’s House Party (TV) with my mother. Even to idiot kid me it always sounded odd to hear him pronounce Los Angeles as “loss ANN guhleeze.” And he LIVED there. Art was Canadian too. Born 17 July 1912 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Burr was born 21 May 1917 in New Westminster, British Columbia. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/32 "2020-04-19T23:06:46Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > There was an instance of a character in _Deadwood_ angrily calling Al Swearengen a “cocksucker” (although not to his face) as well as other things after having been wronged by him. In the DVD extras, it was explained that the insult was not yet in use at that time, the actor had been improvising, but it sounded so powerful that they decided to leave it. I find this hard to believe. Did they cite a source for this? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/33 "2020-04-19T23:31:52Z")
In the mini-series they made of Stephen King’s **11/22/63** one of the minor characters who is supposed to be a Maine native pronounces Bangor as “Banger.” Although that is apparently how all the other Bangors in the US are pronounced for God only knows what reason, in Maine it’s pronounced “[Bangore](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_q9hAAIS-c).” ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/34 "2020-04-19T23:39:22Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I find this hard to believe. Did they cite a source for this? [Etymology Online](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cocksucker) says it dates from the 1890s with the literal meaning “one who does fellatio”, and from the 1920s as “contemptible person.” _The Historical Dictionary of American Slang_ has the first citation of the non-literal epithet from 1918. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/35 "2020-04-19T23:47:53Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > In the mini-series they made of Stephen King’s **11/22/63** one of the minor characters who is supposed to be a Maine native pronounces Bangor as “Banger.” Although that is apparently how all the other Bangors in the US are pronounced for God only knows what reason, in Maine it’s pronounced “[Bangore](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_q9hAAIS-c).” Nope. There is a well known Bangor on Hood Canal – where the deadliest submarines dock – which is most definitely _not_ pronounced “banger”. At least, not by the locals. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/36 "2020-04-19T23:56:55Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > I find this hard to believe. Did they cite a source for this? > > [Etymology Online](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cocksucker) says it dates from the 1890s with the literal meaning “one who does fellatio”, and from the 1920s as “contemptible person.” _The Historical Dictionary of American Slang_ has the first citation of the non-literal epithet from 1918. I assume the 1890s cite is from a printed source. But I can well imagine that the word was in use for a while before it was put in print, which is of course the whole problem with this sort of research. It’s impossible to know how people sounded in private conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/37 "2020-04-20T00:03:55Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I find this hard to believe. Did they cite a source for this? My understanding is that cursing at the time was much more dependent on blasphemy than obscenity. The writers used words like motherfucker and cocksucker because they were much more shocking to modern sensibilities. They may have existed at the time but they weren’t used at the frequency shown in the show. “Cocksucker” was used over 300 times in _Deadwood_. Here they all are (obviously NSFW, so spoilered). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWPcXZJV694&list=PLTn6CCrX6YkaO4VI\_IIE2pXqq6CSIC8OK&index=194](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWPcXZJV694&list=PLTn6CCrX6YkaO4VI_IIE2pXqq6CSIC8OK&index=194) Regarding it being improvised, [Ian McShane had this to say:](https://www.thedailybeast.com/deadwood-the-movie-star-ian-mcshane-on-the-lost-art-of-calling-someone-a-cocksucker) > [@](#): > > But it just happened to catch on. It came from that scene with Keone [Young], Mr. Wu. That one-minute comic scene. And I swear, that was exactly written down as it was on the page. People say, “Oh, you must have had a ball improvising swearing.” And I think, improvising swearing? No. Every cocksucker and motherfucker was in the script to begin with. Any cocksucker out of place and you’d know it! It’d upset the rhythm and the poetry of the writing. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/38 "2020-04-20T00:04:26Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I assume the 1890s cite is from a printed source. But I can well imagine that the word was in use for a while before it was put in print, which is of course the whole problem with this sort of research. It’s impossible to know how people sounded in private conversation. As noted above. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/39 "2020-04-20T00:06:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I assume the 1890s cite is from a printed source. But I can well imagine that the word was in use for a while before it was put in print, which is of course the whole problem with this sort of research. It’s impossible to know how people sounded in private conversation. Yes that’s certainly true, and it’s obvious that the writer of the 1918 quote did not coin the use of the word as an epithet. But there are limits to what is reasonable. Deadwood is set in 1876 (I believe; I haven’t seen the show). Can you imagine a word being used in speech since 1976 or earlier, and then not appearing in print until 2018, 42 years later? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080/40 "2020-04-20T00:31:12Z")
Given how vulgar the word is, yes, I can imagine a large gap between its use in oral conversation and its appearance in print. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-character-would-never-say-that/852080.md?page=3)