Journal of Arcadius

A note on the word Tup'r

It is somewhat unpleasant to write this, but duty and propriety suggest that it be done. Since the arrival of Walter-Tupper, I have regularly called upon my training and seriousness of mind as a Paladin of Pelor and a Guardian of the Five Rivers to avoid mispronouncing his name as a certain word in my language. Discussing this in detail may help explain matters.

The word "tup" means itch in my language, that of the Five Rivers. To someone speaking common, it sounds like roughly like "toop".

Now in the language of the Five Rivers, there are three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Most words are neuter, and the genders refer only to things that either are, or are directly related to, male or female creatures. The genders are represented by a suffix: 'n for masculine, and 'r for feminine.

Thus, "tup'r" could be transliterated into common as "feminine itch".

In practical use, however, it usually refers specifically to an itch or rash of a woman's privates. A woman saying she had an itch on her elbow, for example, would normally call it a "tup" not a "tup'r".

However, even in the Land of the Five Rivers, people sometime use slang or vulgar words, and this one has a number of such meanings.

A woman, when particularly angry, might refer to something that really annoys her as a "tup'r", and this crude meaning is sometimes used by both men and women to refer to things that irritate women in general. In vulgar language, it is also sometimes used, almost exclusively by women, to imply that another woman has not kept good hygiene in her private places.

The masculine equivalent, "tup'n" has a different vulgar meaning, which I am uncomfortable writing even in this journal.

Given such difficulties, which are compounded by his failure to behave in any way worthy of respect, I make effort to refer to Walter-Tupper by his full name, rather than the short version which so easily leads to saying the wrong thing.

Pelor forgive me, and grant me self-discipline.

*A*