We live in a strange world of words, a world of hypocrisy, cynicism, and distorted semantics. We attach meaning to sounds, which once backed by the dubious acceptance of our betters, supersede any other sound with similar and even more accurate meaning. Once approved, some sounds garner respectability, class as it were. Other sounds we ostracize, brand with a red letter and attempt to banish from proper mouths or pens, least they soil our delicate understanding. What was that? Wash his mouth with soap. Carbolic.
Make love, they say. Make love? But we can’t share, or show, or give, or take or even express love. We can’t make or unmake love. We can only feel, sense, and suffer love; the loneliest experience of our wretched species.
The mechanics, you fool! Make love. Mechanics, procedure, activity, exercise, task, undertaking, you know? Wink, wink.
I don’t follow. How can you make love? You can make a buck, and duck a puck and with luck, muck through a ruck and even suck-in a tuck, yuck! But make love?
I always hated that phrase 'making love' and avoid using it like the plague because it never made sense in my mind. Very good question you pose.
ReplyDeleteOne question: Suck in a tuck?
Yup, suck-in a tuck. A tuck can have several meanings, such as make folds, gather up and fold, thrust, or turn in. In plastic surgery it's a technique to tighten the skin after removing slabs of fat from bellies, although it's also applied to other parts of the anatomy. If shoddily performed, it can leave visible scars. Hence, suckling it in.
ReplyDeleteMake love suggests a product you can sell. You go to a brothel perhaps to 'make love'
ReplyDeleteBut if the objection is that in these places you 'make sex' not love, then I'm floundering. Maybe the term is relevant to 'arranged marriages' where quite often attraction has to start from scratch and 'love' is worked at. Time out for scratching my head
Since English is my third language, I’m often baffled by the semantic logic behind certain expressions. To make love is the accepted term to describe coupling, copulating, mating, and a plethora of other words, perhaps shorter, and to my mind more accurate to label the event.
ReplyDeleteThe concept behind the term ‘lovemaking,’ according to my soul mate, is that engaging in sexual activities while in love increases love itself. Therefore, one ends up with a net gain. Hence: making love. I wont argue with that.
My post wasn’t about the meaning the term may have for different people but the structure and construction of the term itself.
Naturally, I agree with you. One couldn’t possibly make love at a brothel: hookers make money and punters buy respite.
Carlos, I wasn't commenting on your English which is playful and sophisticated. Like you, I enjoy playing with words, so my comment was a mere piece of semantic fun
ReplyDeleteCome on, Michael, after all this time? It would never cross my mind you commented on my Spanglish.
ReplyDelete