The word tattletale comes from Flemish and Frisian, meaning to tell secrets. Children often exhibit gossipy behavior to maintain order and gain attention, but discrimination between keeping secrets and reporting to adults develops with age. Adult gossip may be motivated by sadistic pleasure or personal gain. Gossip is often discouraged and can lead to negative labels and consequences.
The word tattletale is a compound word that owes its roots to several languages. Tattle is to tell and derives from the Flemish verb tatelen which means to stammer and from the Frisian term tateren which translates into “telling stories or secrets”. Talo is a Germanic term related to the words speak and tell. When put together, as they were early in the 15th century, a tattletale is someone who betrays secrets or “tells” others.
More frequently, people associate the term gossip with children. It is true that many children between the ages of 5 and 10 may exhibit gossipy characteristics. Bill Cosby, in many of his routines about his family, called one of his daughters “the informant.” He reported on the other children’s misdeeds, and Cos often joked that his wife always sent the “informer” with her whenever she went out.
Part of the motivation for becoming a gossip may be to keep order in a home or school environment, and also to attract attention for oneself. A child can be encouraged not to be a gossip, which can create complex problems. There are instances where a child should legitimately say something, but holds back for fear of being labeled a gossip. On the other hand, some children can’t help themselves and have to “tell” other children. They can also be particularly incapable of keeping any kind of secret.
Discrimination between when a secret should be kept and when an adult should be told usually develops as a child ages. However, some adults also display gossipy characteristics, having never gotten over the need to tell. In addition to seeking attention, adult gossip may also be motivated by other selfish motives. He or she may sadistically enjoy the punishment or embarrassment of others, or “telling” may be a convenient way to get rid of obstacles to, say, other employees, job promotions, for example.
Their peers often don’t like small talk between adults and children because it gets other people into trouble. They can be avoided or avoided which can actually make the person gossip more as the need for attention is met less frequently. Adults who feel they have to legitimately report something may fear the gossip label as much as children. If they observe illegal activity in their workplace or in their neighborhood, they still may not report it because a gossip is often looked down upon.
For example, in prison settings a person who informs on other inmates is often called a rat. A policeman who reports the illegal behavior of other members of the police force is called a drug trafficker. Both the rat and the drug trafficker can face life-threatening recriminations from their peers. It is fair to say that in many circumstances gossip is significantly discouraged.
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