ESL Podcast 439 - Talking about Censorship

to ban - to not allow something to be used, bought, seen, or heard

The university wants to ban cigarette smoking in all of its buildings.

inappropriate - not right or correct for someone or for a particular situation

It is inappropriate to make jokes about people's religions in the office.

to talk over (something) - to talk about something; to discuss something

They've found two houses that they like, so they're going to talk over their decision tonight before deciding which one to buy.

obscene - very offensive because something is dirty in a sexual or hateful way

When Lynn was a child, her father washed out her mouth with soap when she said obscene words.

filth - dirt; garbage; something that is disgusting and unclean and shouldn't be touched or used

The college student's apartment was covered with empty pizza boxes, dirty socks, and other filth.

absurd - bizarre; not logical or rational; silly

He's reading an absurd book about what the world would be like if there wasn't any gravity.

free speech - Americans' freedom or ability to say or write almost anything they want, without being told that they cannot or should not say or write certain things

Thanks to free speech, Americans can criticize their government without much fear of punishment.

to violate - to go against something; to break a rule, law, or principle

She violated the speed limit by driving 75 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.

to believe in (something) - to strongly think that something is good, correct, or right

I believe in children's right to a good education.

to portray - to represent or illustrate something; to express something in a certain way

That painting portrays her as a much more beautiful woman than she actually was.

morally objectionable - something that goes against one's beliefs about what is good and bad, right and wrong

Do you think that marriage before the age of 16 is morally objectionable?

graphic violence - attacks that hurt one or more people, described or shown in great detail with a lot of blood

I would never show that movie to my son! It has too much graphic violence and it would give him nightmares.

to be exposed to (something) - to be allowed to see or hear something; to not be protected from something

Were you exposed to people from other cultures when you were growing up?

to fear monger - to use fear to change people's opinions about something or the way that they act; to frighten people into doing or not doing something

The advertisements are fear mongering, showing pictures of horrible accidents to make teenagers understand the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.

to not give (someone) credit - to underestimate someone; to not believe that someone is capable of doing something; to not think that one can do something

You should give Jonathan more credit. He isn't as stupid as you think he is.

shouting match - a conversation where people are yelling louder and louder to have their opinions heard, but really aren't communicating well

That couple down the street argues all the time, and we can hear their shouting matches almost every night.