Let the music play: song sparks language debate

HALIFAX, N.S. – The English language is an amazing living organism.

And it isn’t proud — it will beg, borrow and steal from every other language — even dead ones.

There are an estimated 300 thousand words in the English language — by comparison only 42 thousand in the French language.

And each time we use a word — we allow it to grow — often altering its meaning because of the context in which we use it.

We are only two weeks into the new year — and never in such a short time has one word in the English language caused so much controversy.

The word is "faggot".

Earlier this week the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council — the independent body that regulates private broadcasters’ standards and ethics — ruled the 1985 original recording of Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" violates broadcast standards because "the word ‘faggot’… even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so."

Even though the council cannot fully ban a song — this ruling amounts to one.

In response — some radio stations across the country — including Q104 in Halifax — are holding a "Money for Nothing Marathon" tonight during which the original recording will be aired back to back for a full hour between 9pm and 10pm.

Q104 will also have as guests, members of the local LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) community who oppose the ruling on the basis of "artistic integrity".

Global Maritimes this afternoon talked with J-C Douglas — Programming Director of Q104.

In that interview — which you can hear in its entirety on www.globalmaritimes.com — Douglas says his station airs both the original 1985 version of "Money for Nothing" and an edited version which Dire Straits recorded following criticism at the time.

Douglas says they have never received a single complaint — and the CBSC’s ruling serves only to trivialize the cause of the gay community.

Interesting point — and one being echoed by some members of the gay community in Halifax.

But the woman who made the complaint disagrees, saying the word itself represents "hatred".

Does it?

The word "faggot" first appeared in the English language in the 16th century — it meant a bundle of sticks.

It eventually was used against women — especially widows and older women — whose only means of support was to sell bundles of sticks.

They were called "faggot gatherers".

The word was also used as a term for a bundle of herbs or seasoning.

And there is the British slang in which a "faggot" or "fag" is a cigarette.

It wasn’t until the late 19th century that "faggot" was used in reference to an effeminate male — perhaps relating back to its usage as a reference to females.

And then in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it began being used in reference to homosexuals.

Interesting what happens when a language is living and evolving.

But perhaps the "language" that is most interesting is from the original complainant herself when she writes "I know the context of the song. I know Mark Knopfler isn’t directing a hateful message towards gays, but the word itself represents hatred."

Maybe that’s the true slippery slope.

When we start singling out one word without its full context — what are we doing to our language.

Even with the Broadcast Standard’s Council ruling, the word "faggot" will still exist in the English language, with all its present and past meanings.

The context in which it is used is its meaning.

Or is it?

What do you say?