is "bastardization" a curse word? can I use it in a paper I'm writing

Quick question.

i wouldnt consider it dirty, no.

Bastardize is to bastard as cannibalize is to cannibal.

i've used it in conversation, but in a paper I'm not so sure

well words like fuck and shit are labeled as 'vulgar slang' in the dictionary, while bastardize is just listed as a verb. I think you will be okay.

if you have a good enough reason to use some controversial phrasing/word that serves your paper or a particular argument it'll be fine with most professors, in my experience.

http://scholar.google.co.il/scholar?start=10&q=allintitle:+fuck&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5

I'm going to play it safe and use something else. No need to push the envelop on some paper. But it is an awesome word when talking about something you hate, which in this case is the concept of "commodification."

no

edit: so yes you can use it.

edit edit: unless you meant it as a curse word.

Bastardize is not a curse word, but (as you know) the point behind it is that declaring something a bastard is to debase it. It's totally acceptable to use it in the general sense of debase, but you can maybe see why it might not be the best choice under all circs. Personally, I just think it comes across as sounding a bit archaic and not particularly eloquent. Sort of the ineffective playground insult synonym of debase.

edit: pretty sure it was a vocab word back in 6th grade or sommat

I can safely say 'bastardisation' is not a sweary, nor is 'to bastardise'. Neither is 'He's the bastard-son of a ...', though calling someone a 'Bastard' without the literal context obviously is (though for some reason a lot of American daytime shows have 'bastard' left in them - I think it's therefore less offensive in the US than here in the UK as we edit them out)

The crazy world of word nuances that keep my day interesting !

  On 11/5/2012 at 10:21 PM, mcbpete said:

I can safely say 'bastardisation' is not a sweary, nor is 'to bastardise'. Neither is 'He's the bastard-son of a ...', though calling someone a 'Bastard' without the literal context obviously is (though for some reason a lot of American daytime shows have 'bastard' left in them - I think it's therefore less offensive in the US than here in the UK as we edit them out)

 

The crazy world of word nuances that keep my day interesting !

my sentiments as well.

SOUNDS GOOD

BASTARDIZE AWAY

Bastardization generally refers to something non-human, so it's not really an insult, or vulgar, at that point. Bastard can be taken either way, depending on the way you use it.

no use it

I wish I could go back in time and use this word. Oh yeah, I haven't finished the paper. I guess I should use the word.

I described Macbeth as a cunt in a highschool paper and got a B+ on the paper I think lol

OK:

Modern popular electronic music is really just a bastardization of early 90s IDM experiments.

Not OK:

damn son dat electronic shits a straight up bastardization of real og idm shit, nigga

lol

go ahead and use it man. its still nothing compared to the guy that put a whole chocolate chip cookie recipe in the middle of his paper to get his doctorate. lol

but seriously, you will be fine as long as its not used as an insult.