Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit: Untranslatable Insults, Put-Downs, and Curses from Around the World [Paperback]

Stephen Dodson (Author), Robert Vanderplank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009

The most curious, funny, insightful, and expressive invectives from more than forty languages-fully illustrated, you miserable misokakku.

"Misokkasu": Scum of soya paste. (Japanese) "Tu es um borra-battos.": You s**t in your own boots. (Portugese) "Like a fart in a trance.": A dreamy person who seems at a loss what to do. (Scottish) "A pies ci morde lizal!": Literally, a dog has licked your gob. (Polish) "Prumphaensn.": Fartchicken. (Icelandic)

Whether borne out of surprise, anger, passion, or humor, curses and insults make up some of the most colorful and profound phrases in a language. In Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit, word experts Dr. Robert Vanderplank and Stephen Dodson have scoured the world looking for the most interesting, insightful, and expressive invectives from more than forty languages. These are the words you won't learn in any language class.

Arranged by language, containing pointers on gestures, and appropriately illustrated, Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit (a Spanish phrase to avoid) will equip you with the vocabulary to amuse, shock, offend, and let off steam, wherever you happen to be.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Robert Vanderplank is the Director of the Oxford University Language Center, which boasts experts in more than 160 languages.

Stephen Dodson is a linguist, editor, and lover of language, as well as the creator of a popular website. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade; 1 edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399535063
• ISBN-13: 978-0399535062
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny, but VERY crude, March 23, 2011

By 

Timothy D. Borkert (Portsmouth, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit: Untranslatable Insults, Put-Downs, and Curses from Around the World (Paperback)

Got this book for my wife. She enjoys crude humor. This was too crude for her though. We threw it away because we did not want our kids to accidentally get their hands on it.

It was very funny. If you like crude, XXX rated humor (joking about rape and forced sodomy) then this could be for you.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Language Hat!, August 13, 2009

By 

Trey Jones - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit: Untranslatable Insults, Put-Downs, and Curses from Around the World (Paperback)

Stephen Dodson's "popular website" is Language Hat! This book will be fun for all, and particularly useful for satirical linguists in need of source material and inspiration.

Also, I think the "similar book" the other reviewer was looking for might be this one: International Dictionary of Obscenities: A Guide to Dirty Words and Indecent Expressions in Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian, by Christina Kunitskaya-Peterson. Another useful reference book.

2 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a similar book, July 30, 2009

By 

Robert J. Lanier "Black Bart Roberts" (Two Dot Montana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uglier Than a Monkey's Armpit: Untranslatable Insults, Put-Downs, and Curses from Around the World (Paperback)

Ordering this now. Will comment later. In the 1970's i had a similar book, The International Insult Dictionary. Insults in five languages. I lost it in a divorce. The only contested item?

If anyone has International Insult Dictionary i would like to buy it.

Robert J. Lanier

Two Dot, Montana