S4E50: "Давай по-русски - Как не стыдно"
Summary
Hosts Vasily and Yulia welcome philologist Svetlana Shuneyko to explore the history and linguistics of Russian words for sex. They discuss the late arrival of the word "sex," analyze historical terms like "soita," and examine the role of folklore and profanity. The episode concludes with advice on using private "cryptonyms" to enhance intimacy and communication between partners.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Hosts and guest Svetlana Shuneyko
Etymology of 'styd' and the history of the word 'sex'
Historical terms: Saitya, sovokupleniye, and corpus data
Ancient texts, birch bark letters, and medieval wedding invites
Folklore, Afanasyev's tales, and Pushkin's language
The taboo nature of Mat and its use in intimacy
Soviet sexual totalitarianism and Aaron Zalkind's 12 Commandments
The return of the word 'sex' in the 1980s and 90s
Survey results: How partners initiate sex verbally
Grammar.ru and Maxim Krongauz on gendered language
Creating secret words (cryptonyms) for intimacy
Conclusion: The podcast's own cryptonym and farewell
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