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#2 (permalink) Sat Jan 27, 2007 21:25 pm 'Abuse' vs 'Call names' |
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Abuse is often physical, Tom. To be clear about this type of abuse, people usually say "verbal abuse".
How about something like this:
He hit me with a barrage of verbal abuse in front of my family.
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#3 (permalink) Sun Jan 28, 2007 13:01 pm 'Abuse' vs 'Call names' |
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| It's possible to verbally abuse someone without calling names. A person who knows a language well, and knows human psychology well, can be very abusive without calling a person any names at all, or even using a bad word. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#4 (permalink) Sun Jan 28, 2007 18:33 pm 'Abuse' vs 'Call names' |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| It's possible to verbally abuse someone without calling names. A person who knows a language well, and knows human psychology well, can be very abusive without calling a person any names at all, or even using a bad word. |
This kind of vicious maltreatment, which is often morally and mentally destructive, is much more scary and dangerous -- remember 'Gaslight'?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslight_(1944_film) |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#5 (permalink) Sun Jan 28, 2007 20:51 pm 'Abuse' vs 'Call names' |
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| Conchita wrote: |
| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| It's possible to verbally abuse someone without calling names. A person who knows a language well, and knows human psychology well, can be very abusive without calling a person any names at all, or even using a bad word. |
This kind of vicious maltreatment, which is often morally and mentally destructive, is much more scary and dangerous -- remember 'Gaslight'? |
I've never seen Gaslight, but I wasn't talking about that kind of psychological manipulation. I was just talking about ordinary people who can deeply wound others with words, but without ever hurling a single insult. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#6 (permalink) Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:16 am 'Abuse' vs 'Call names' |
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And that's exactly what happens in 'Gaslight'
A _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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| Since I've watched a movie vs. Since I watched a movie | Expression: 'Further to our discussion regarding my medium of education...' |