Spitting
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Spitting or expectoration is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is usually considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world. It is possible to transmit infectious diseases in this way.
Spitting upon another person, especially onto the face, is a universal sign of anger, hatred or contempt. For example an urban legend exists claiming that protesters represented the contempt with which they viewed Vietnam veterans by spitting on them upon their return to the United States. [1][2] While the claim that such events occurred has been debunked, persistent belief in the legend recalls the deep conflicts in public opinion of the war, and documents the power of the symbolic action of spitting. It can represent a "symbolical regurgitation" or an act of contamination. It can also be a device to bring good luck or ward off bad.[3]
It may be preceded by hocking or to hock, a slang term given to mean forcing up phlegm from the upper respiratory tract, giving the ejected gob a more slimy consistency. Also called a "loogie".
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[edit] History of spitting in Western Europe
Social attitudes towards spitting have changed greatly in Western Europe since the Middle Ages. Then, frequent spitting was part of everyday life, and at all levels of society, it was thought ill-mannered to suck back saliva to avoid spitting. By the early 1700s, spitting had become seen as something which should be concealed, and by 1859 many viewed the spitting on the floor or street as vulgar, especially in mixed company. Spittoons were used openly during the nineteenth century to provide an acceptable outlet for spitters. Spittoons became far less common after the influenza epidemic of 1918, and their use has since virtually disappeared, though each justice of the Supreme Court of the United States continues to be provided with a personal cuspidor.[1]
[edit] Dangers of spitting
Atypical pneumonia can be spread by respiratory droplets. Atypical pneumonia is a pneumonia that does not respond to the usual antibiotic treatment, therefore making this pneumonia rather severe. Another disease which can be transmitted by spitting is tuberculosis.
[edit] Spitting competitions
There are some places[where?] whereby spitting is a competitive sport, with or without a projectile in the mouth. For example, there is a Guinness World Record for cherry pit spitting, and there are world championships in Kudu dung spitting.
[edit] Other
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (January 2008) |
- Amongst the Fremen of Arrakis in Frank Herbert's Dune series, spitting is an act of showing one's appreciation and respect. Since the desert of Arrakis provides only a small amount of water to live from, giving away fluid is a special sign of honor.
- Spitting (or "gobbing") was a common practise among English punks in the 1970s. When the punk bands played live, it was seen as part of the punk ritual to spit on them.
- The Maasai people in Africa spit upon one another as a greeting and farewell.[citation needed] This was satirized in the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
- A camel or llama may spit if it is annoyed.
- In law, spitting may be considered an assault and battery.
- Spitting within a few days after removal of a tooth can disrupt the recovery process as the spitting action can change the pressure inside the mouth and disturb scabs/clots in the wound.
- Baseball player Frenchy Bordagaray was once suspended for spitting on an umpire. He remarked that the punishment was "more than I expectorated."
- In 1506 some African Tribes called the Mara Chasion believed that spitting was a sign that evil/bad had entered your mouth and you subconsciously spit it out.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Shafer, Jack. Newsweek Throws the Spitter The magazine repeats the myth of the gobbed-upon Vietnam vet.[http://www.slate.com/id/2158608/
- ^ Lembcke, Jerry. The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam
- ^ s.v., Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend., Maria Leach, ed
