AAR

[Anne Marble]

What do you think about the word penis in love scenes? Sometimes it works for me, and sometimes it sounds funny. (It is sort of a funny word. ) Do you think that substitutions such as "member," "shaft," and "erection" are better? People often refer to the other terms as euphemisms. But I see some as workable substitutions and others as outright euphemisms. "Member" works sometimes, "shaft" and "rod" work for me. But I'm kinda sick of "manhood" and of course, "manroot." And don't get me started on "mighty lance" and all that. Eek! Yet sometimes I don't mind euphemisms as long as they work and fit the story. I've read outright erotica that used euphemisms, and I've read stories with love scenes that weren't all that hot that used the slang. The erotica with the euphemisms came across as hotter simply because of the way they were written.

And what about the "C" word (the male one)? Some readers hate it. Yet others prefer it. I recently saw an on-line discussion about this. Someone was criticized harshly for using the C word and was told that word only belongs in erotic stories. But I've seen the "C" word more and more often, and certainly not just in erotic romance. I was startled when I read Robin D. Owen's "Heart Dance" last year and came across the "C" word. After all, the books aren't erotic romance. Instead, they're futuristic/fantasy romances with more emphasis on the characters and on the setting than on the body parts. And yet I thought it worked in the context. I couldn't imagine the heroes thinking of their body parts in any other way.

Yet slang terms can be offputting in many cases -- especially in historicals. (They might not have used that term yet, especially in Medieval and Dark Ages romances!) Also, some slang terms sound OK, and some sound ugly, and the ones that are OK vary from reader to reader. Also, the slang terms might be OK if you're in the viewpoint of, say, a rough-edged hero, but many heroines are less likely to use those terms. Also, have you ever read the slang terms people have used in the past? Eek! Authors are better off sticking to "member" or even "manroot" instead of most of those terms.

Finally, do you think authors should pick one term and stick to it throughout the entire book? Or at least the entire scene? Or should they vary it? Some people get sick of seeing the same word over and over again. But on the other hand, many readers think that varying the terms gets silly, especially if it's done a lot. (Look, now he has a member. No, wait, in this sentence, it's a spear!)

What about terminology used to refer to the heroine's body? In this case,
it seems that the clinical terms sound more clinical. And yet the slang terms... in most cases, forget it! Maybe it's just me, but I verge away from them. Particularly as one of the best known terms has been used to insult women. In these cases, I think I'd rather stick to the euphemisms. What about you?
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[Kass]

[veasleyd1]

I have real trouble not being shaken out of reader's trance by the "c" word. When I was growing up (back in the Dark Ages of the Dior New Look), it was one of the rudest things a high school boy could call a girl.

[Linda in sw va]

The 'C' word makes me cringe, I absolutely hate that word. I don't want to see it in erotica even, a huge turn-off.

The 'P' word is ok..I guess. I don't dislike it but can't say it's a turn-on during a love scene either. Better than member, shaft, rod, and the like I suppose.

I'd actually rather authors be a little more vague during the love scenes, I don't need to read the play by play in minute detail. Feels a bit voyeuristic to me. *shrug* I've seen authors skirt around using any of these phrases and I was able to catch on to what they were doing and I was fine with that, there is such thing as too much information. IMHO.

Linda
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[Lynda X]

To me, vagina and penis are too clinical sounding to be erotic; I prefer euphemisms, usually the commonly used ones. I agree with the previous poster, though, that the female "c" word is too strong, too synonymous with a terrible insult, most of the time to be erotic. I do like the gentler term for women's genitals. synonymous with a kitten. I read somewhere where most men refer to their own genitals as c---ks, and I confess, I find it erotic. "Manhood" seems dated to me, but "erection" is perfectly fine.

Oh, Anne, can you tell us some of the common terms from the Middle Ages? I can't think of any. (I ask ONLY in the interests of education, mind you! <G>).

[veasleyd1]

[Lynda X]

Yes, I have heard that, veasleyd1, but to me, it is signals an immature hero--not attractive, at all.

[Anne Marble]

[Cora]

I actually prefer the correct medical names to most of the silly euphemisms in use. "Rod" I don't mind, but the others? Forget it. Besides, we hardly ever use euphemisms for other body parts, so why for those? If the correct term is appropriate, i.e. if it is a word that the character themselves would have used, then by all means use it.

As for slang, the male C and D-words are fine. And I know that I am in the minority, but I don't mind the female C-word but loath the female P-word with a passion.

[dick]

I doubt there's a man alive who refers to his "manhood" with the word penis, except when he's talking to his doctor. C-ck, p--ck, d-ng, doodlywacker, even weenie in some situations, are far more likely. I doubt, too, whether he would use the word "vagina" except perhaps in general conversation or in a clinical situation. All those other terms--c--t, p---y, weenie warmer, p---k pocket, dong-deicer are far more usual. And, considering that human nature hasn't changed much, I imagine men have used those same terms for centuries. And you know, I've never seen anything wrong with the word f--k, myself. If nothing else, it has the cache of having a central core of meaning which hasn't varied.

[Schola]

[Elizabeth Rolls]

I suppose at the end of the day as a writer one uses words that fit the pov character and/or that one feels comfortable using oneself. To be honest, judging by the differences of opinion here, one may as well suit oneself because you sure aren't going to please everyone no matter what you choose. And that of course is part of the problem. Whichever solution you arrive at over this one, someone is going to be unhappy. Either you have been too clinical, too crude or too prissy.

As for using "proper" names - I wonder. Is one particular word ever the only right word to use, or should we be prepared to use different words for the same thing to evoke different moods, situations and characters? There is a richness to the English language, slang and all, that I would hate to chain in political correctness.

Schola - would the book to which you refer be Return of the Rogue by Jo Beverley? She also uses a different female "c" word, "c-nny" in place of the usual one. Gets the idea across but perhaps without being as potentially offensive.

Elizabeth

[Linda in sw va]

[Elaine S]

[Maysa]