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Every once in a while, I used to half-jokingly say “Pictures are ‘hung,' people are ‘hanged'†whenever I heard anyone talk about someone who “hung†themselves. I've since dropped this practice, but it always bugs me slightly whenever I hear people use “hung†to describe either suicide or execution by hanging in the past tense. Part of the reason for this annoyance may have to do with the word “hungâ€'s association with the male anatomy ("How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus?"). Does anyone know how far back the “Pictures are ‘hung,' people are ‘hanged'†convention goes back? It seems to be something that a lot of people today are disregarding. I'm wondering if I should insist on the distinction between “hung†and “hanged†or just let it go. Right now, I'm leaning toward the latter option.
Good question, and now I'm wondering not just when but why the irregular use of the word hanged evolved to refer to execution or suicide by hanging? Was there a need to distinguish between people who were hung from a rope, hook, or some other object but not in a lethal manner, and people hanged lethally around the neck? In other words, in the sentence, "Joe was hanged," we know that Joe was executed. On the other hand - not the other neck! - "Joe was hung" could mean that he had been hanging from a rope in a non-injurious way for some period of time (a stunt that magician David Blaine might do!).
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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