Reader question:
What is a loaded word? Please give examples.
My comments:
Loaded words, by definition, are those that have "more meaning, especially a negative meaning, than you first think" (Longman).
Like a loaded truck, a loaded word or statement is heavy with subtle connotations. And like a loaded gun, it can be hurtful.
When Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney last month likened electing Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, to putting an "intern" in the White House, he used a loaded word.
Yes, you guessed it. "Intern" has become a loaded word in US politics thanks (and no thanks, according to Hillary) to the well-documented rendezvous in the Oval Office involving then President Bill Clinton, Hillary's husband, and Monica Lewinsky, an intern.
In China, "Party member" is said to have become a loaded word, especially among non members. People, for example, no longer list "Party membership" as a primary consideration for marriage, as they used to do in the 1960's and 70's. In fact, people these days are said to bristle at the question: "Are you a Party member?" That sounds an innocuous question, I know, but somehow some people sometimes get offended by it. To them, it's a loaded question. Perhaps they have something to hide. At any rate, it's no use asking me that question. I'm not a Party member. I'm not even a dancing party member.
Anyways, a loaded question, sometimes known as a leading question, is one that's designed to lead people to a certain answer. It's unfair. The most well-known loaded questions are of the type that lawyers ask in court, such as: "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" It's the damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't question that has the defendant pinned and framed. It's unfair.
Why wife beating, why not husband beating? Aren't armies of Chinese husbands henpecked anyway? OK. Let's ask the same question again just to be fair to the fair sex. "Have you stopped beating your husband yet?"
Little use asking, either, because a Chinese wife whose hubby is henpecked would have a ready answer for that one. They'd reply with their head held high: "He deserves it."
He "deserves" it? Now, that's another loaded word.
双语美文:在思考中成长
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浪漫英文情书精选:The Best Surprise最好的惊喜
诗歌:永远向前(双语)
啊,我讨厌英语 Gullia Oops Jaime Pas Langlais 这首歌是不是也唱出你的心声了
浪漫英文情书精选:To Be Close To You Again再次靠近你
美文:爱的奇迹
浪漫英文情书精选:Is It Love?这是爱么?
献给女性:如果生命可以重来
精选英语美文阅读:如何拥有幸福的婚姻
精选英语美文阅读:公务员的无助
Love Your Life 热爱生活
精选英语美文阅读:木鱼声声
浪漫英文情书精选:Let Dream Come True让美梦成真
美文阅读:青春物语
如果生命可以重来(双语)
浪漫英文情书精选:Need You With Me需要你爱我
浪漫英文情书精选:Boundless Love无边的爱
精美散文:27岁的人生
浪漫英文情书精选:My Heart And Soul我的灵魂
精选英语散文欣赏:月亮和井
英文《小王子》温情语录
幸福的秘诀:简单的生活很幸福
精美散文:我就是我
精选英语美文阅读:A Friend's Prayer 朋友的祈祷
精选英语美文阅读:在你的镜头前,我总是很美
精选英语美文阅读:爱他就把他留下来 (双语)
浪漫英文情书精选:Starting Over Again重新来过
双语散文: Optimism and Pessimistic
浪漫英文情书精选:My Love Will Reach Any Distance爱无边
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