Marshall Sahlins, a 19th century Christian missionary in Hawaii, complained that Hawaiians had 20 words for sexual intercourse. "If one term were selected to translate the Seventh Commandment, it was bound to leave the impression that the other nineteen activities were still permitted," Sahlins wrote.
Of course, the Seventh Commandment forbids adultery, not intercourse, but that would spoil a good story, which Tony Horwitz tells in his book Blue Latitudes.
This reminds me of the story often told about Eskimos having seven words for snow. The actual number varies from one version of the story to another. The point is always that the lives of Eskimos revolved around snow, just as the lives of Hawaiians revolved around sex. Yet stop to consider how many English words, including slang and vulgarities, we commonly use for sex. Or snow, for that matter.
How many words to we have for rain? Downpour, drizzle, sprinkle, thunderstorm, shower, sleet, cloudburst, monsoon, drencher, etc.
Having multiple words for different forms of the same thing demonstrates a richness of language. It is something to celebrate, not complain about.
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