How fowl ( sorry, foul) is your mouth? Can you curse like a sailor ? Can you hold your own in a “Yo Momma” trash talking contest? Or the infamous “Yabbies Sessions” at the African Shrine instituted by Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
But a foul mouth is not just about being rude or hauling insults. Mouths can be “dirty “ in other ways too. In fact there have been studies to determine which mouth is cleaner. Man’s or Man’s best friend? A Harvard study (2017) determined that there were more than 600 different types of bacteria in the mouth of a dog and about 615 and counting different types of bacteria in the human mouth. Obviously both mouths are full of microbes. And although it seems much like comparing apples and oranges it would appear the tribe of Adam takes the cake, besting the numbers of the K9 brigade. The report on the study went further to state that most of the bacteria in your dog’s mouth are not zoonotic (that is able to make the jump from Animal to Human like the SARS Covid 19 Virus, rabies, swine flu, salmonella, ringworms, and Lyme disease for example). So you probably won’t get a disease from an affectionate doggy kiss but same can not be said of a dog that regularly raids the litter box.
Little wonder a careless nibble on a dog eared finger sometimes becomes infected and if untreated graduates to full blown Whitlow which is caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV 1 and 2). So stop the nail biting and practice restraint and hand washing. Good oral hygiene isn’t also out of order. Brush your teeth, floss, avoid sugary foods, use a zero alcohol mouthwash and cavities, tooth and gum disease and bad breath would be far from you.
How foul is your mouth really? On a scale of 1 to 10. One being harmless and benign and Ten being the extreme, bury my head in shame, Deal breaker. What a friends baby cousin eloquently described as a situation of LWKMDINOP – Laugh Wan Kill Me Die In Need Of Paramedics.
Before POTUS 45 World Leaders and Statesmen were known for their tact and diplomacy when speaking in public or commenting on issues in news and print media. But with the birthing of social media and the Re-Trump-Lican Era the gloves have come off. Sovereign African States are tagged “Shit hole Countries” and US Citizens and Immigrants are routinely referred to as,”Terrorists and Murderers”; “Rapists and Drug dealers” and “Socialists and Baby-killers”. All before lunchtime.
In Nigeria a Senator was famously reported to thoroughly insult a co-senator and threaten to inseminate her on the floor of the hallowed red chamber if her geriatric husband was not up for the task. This of course attracted a lot of flak and backlash from the public. The same Senator after the keenly contested 2020 Edo State Gubernatorial elections said a party leader had been downgraded from “Baba to Pikin” – Father to Child.
In Igala legend and kingship lore, it is recorded that Ayegba the Great, the 16th – 17th CE Ata of Igala, rallied all the able bodied youths in the Kingdom and spent a year gathering cow dung in sacks to be sent to the Apa, the King of the Jukuns, as a declaration of Igala emancipation from Jukun oppression. The gesture was not lost on the Apa, because a brutal war soon ensured between the Armies of the Igalas and the Jukuns.
Insults are not just verbal. They are not the exclusive preserve of the buccal cavity. They have evolved over time to include gestures and conduct that have almost assumed language status and are universally recognized. Who amongst us would fail to interpret – a middle finger, eye rolls, Nose thumbing or a tongue sticking out. Who indeed ? However, there are a few behavior that may be acceptable in one culture or country and unacceptable in the next. I shall illustrated shortly.
Imagine two friends, John and Jake. John invites Jake for dinner at his home, which he shares with his wife, two little kids and Parents. Dinner was fixed for 7:00 pm. Jake arrives 25 minutes late. In Most Western and Asia cultures Jake’s action would be considered rude. In Africa, Nigeria for example, Jake might be seen as abiding by the culture and practice and perhaps even too early. As Nigerians are accustomed to most events, private or official, not starting on time. This was distastefully dubbed, “African Time”. The time specified on an Invitation Card is usually the official starting time less by two – three hours. Although the trend has started to change.
Anyway back to John and Jake. John greets Jake at the door and invites him in. Jake walks in with his shoes. In Asia and some parts of the Middle-East it is a honor to be invited into someone’s home, so bringing dirt in is considered disrespectful. In the West (Europe and America) this is not so much of a bother, save for germaphobes. In many parts of Africa a visitor will either take off his shoes or dust his feet at the door before entering into a person’s home.
John introduced Jake to his wife. Jake shook her hand and gave her a hug. Again in the West this may be overlooked. But in Africa depending on the setting Jake may be perceived as being too forward. In the Middle East and Parts of Asia that are predominantly Moslem shaking or hugging a lady in public is taboo. Especially if you are not related or married.
John also introduced Jake to his parents and lovely kids. Jake patted the kids on their heads affectionately and chatted with John’s parents making long eye contact and smiling. In Buddhist culture the head is sacred, so you never touch someone’s head. Not even cute babies. Some African cultures also hold similar beliefs. The Gwari peoples of Nigeria carry things on their backs and shoulders and never the head because the head is seen as special and revered among them.
Long eye contact is also considered rude in some Asian and African cultures, especially when encountering elders or strangers. Conversely in the West it is considered rude and disrespectful if you fail to make eye contact or look down or away when talking to someone. Some people may even think you have something to hide or consider you a shy and timid person.
At Dinner, John and his Wife chose to eat with their hands, John’s father opted for a fork and knife while Jake chose to humour John and his wife and dug in with his left hand, being a lefty. Mid-way he paused to blow his nose in reaction to the spicy spread and tried pulling pieces of meat and food from his teeth. In some Asian and Moslem Cultures the right hand is reserved for eating, while the left hand is reserved for other duties like using the bathroom. In Many Western Cultures there is strict adherence to table etiquette. Using a fork and knife, even for pizzas and burgers is considered civilized and acceptable table manners. Picking ones teeth and blowing your nose at the dinner table is certainly not acceptable by Elizabethan and Victorian standards.
After dinner. Jake thanked John’s wife for cooking a lovely meal and he gave the kids, parents and wife some money for sweets and treats in appreciation. In Africa, Nigeria especially this is considered normal behavior. It is customary to give the wife or. Kids of the host some money as a token of appreciation. But in countries where there is no tipping or gifting culture this may be considered rude or misinterpreted to mean Jake is trying to portray himself as a big shot. In Asia a meal is seen as a team effort so if you tip a waiter in a restaurant it may be interpreted that you think the restaurant owner doesn’t pay his workers well or that you only recognize the effort of that one individual.
Wow. Many gestures. Many Interpretations. May be one day as the world transits to real globalization its peoples would finally begin to understand and tolerate one another. There is a universe of language out there to learn. Verbal as well as another we have only just began to document and study professionally. Body language. So how foul did you say your mouth was again ?
DrAlexanderGrey 