The Gossips
What are they saying? Are they cursing, bullying, sharing sordid stories or tales of beauty?
Acrylic on Canvas/ 12” x 36” x 1.5 “ $285
Potty Mouths
When did it become OK to curse in public? As a child living in a lower middle-class neighborhood, I was exposed to cursing on the streets. At home, however, mother treated profanities ruthlessly by washing my mouth with soap if I uttered one of the evil words. She taught me effectively for I never curse, nor do my friends, family, business associates or social acquaintances. So—who utters obscenities besides stand-up comedians?
I was surprised when when my writers group suggested I have characters in a novel I’m writing, swear to show strong emotions. Uttering fuck or shit does not come naturally to me, though I do realize that for many people they are common place. Words like “Knucklehead” or “Damn” are considered whining instead of cursing.
Why is contemporary society willing to accept crude a words as the norm? What happened to “good” manners and polite conversation?
Strong language has always been part of the voice of most cultures. In every country, swearing or profanity in known to erupt from an explosion of emotion, often aimed at upsetting another person. But anger isn’t the only reason people use crude words. James Harbek of the BBC speaks of five different ways people swear. For example one can say, “descriptively (Let’s fuck), idiomatically (It’s fucked up), abusively (Fuck you…!), emphatically (This is fucking amazing), and cathartically (Fuck!!!).” These are not necessarily meant to annoy.
Some words are taboo, but whether they are considered considered swearing varies from culture to culture. For instance, in some South African tribes, it is not OK for a woman to say her father-in-law’s name or any word that sounds like it, but if she does, it doesn’t turn it into a curse word if said accidentally.
Genitalia are commonly used in strong language, but again not always. In one Philippine language buray ni nanya (mother’s vagina) is heard as regularly as I would say, “Nuts!” Calling someone a ‘whore’ is also an international term, but usually refers to someone other than a wife. The most aggressive curse used by most cultures is naming a sexual act against someone’s mother. “Motherfucker” comes to mind.
Among Christian cultures, devil, hell, and Satan were turned into evil words by missionaries. Contemporary American society considers “damn” and “hell” to be moderate curse words in the middle of the spectrum. Potty words also get mixed attention depending on the country. In Sweden, for instance, you might say Skif (Shit) if annoyed, but it is not a very considered a powerful curse and can be said in front of your Grandmother without repercussion. Poor health bothers the Dutch. Calling someone a “cancer sufferer”is a bad phase to use in Holland. In Mandarin, guītóu, or turtles head, is a veiled reference to penis and a strong curse.
Contemporary society is embroiled in a culture face-off between moralists and modernists. Moralists see swearing as a collapse of civility and sign of America getting coarser. They trace rampant cursing back to civil rights and Vietnam demonstrators shouting curses at rallies in the 60’s. Since then, Hollywood films, rock music and hip hop have made them commonplace. Moralists believe society has lost all sense of shame. They believe increased use of profanities escalates anger and supports bullying that is disruptive to civilized communication.
Cromplaining about unchecked profanity is not new. In the 1920s, society railed around ‘slummers’, well-bred young people who emulated course language heard at the docks. In the 40s, a profanity came sailing home from the wars in Europe and Asia, along with returning GIs. But, during those periods, cursing didn’t not overwhelm common language as it does today. According to NPR, curse language has increased exponentially in recent years. They report that since the 1970s, causal vulgarity became more commonplace as informality expanded.
Modernists consider “dirty” words to be so ordinary that they are no longer profane. They’re simply colorful, though most agree that kids should be taught not to use them at inappropriate times. I’ve even heard someone say that, “potty mouths are like potholes, just another of life’s little inconveniences.”
To many, however, they are much worse than potholes. They see curse words and gutter talk indicating a lack of having class. Most citizens want their leaders to refrain from cursing. No one is interested in hearing a political say “Twat”, “Bitch” ,“Cock” or “Wanked” on national TV.
Apparently, I am one a of dwindling few who find vulgarness troubling, and don’t enjoy hearing people swear in public. I don’t even find it funny when comedians spout curse words and see their use as a crutch and poor substitute for cleverness.
When it comes to raising children, three-quarters of the population say parents should teach them that cursing is never right. Strangely enough, 85% of the same population poled, say they curse from time to time.
Uttering profanities vividly demonstrates that your emotions got the better of you. When I hear people swear in anger, I tend to judge them badly for they are out of control even if they are justified to be upset. I don’t want to be around them until they calm down. Swearing does not explain the cause of their anger and it gets in the way of the ability to problem solve.
Modernists need moralists if their curses are to mean anything. Foul mouths will lose power If everyone in society casually accepts profanity, for without prudes like me who are shocked by vulgarness, curse words will become meaningless.
I would love to hear your take on the use of profanity in common parlance. Please comment below.
References:
Harbeck, J. (2015) Mind your language! Swearing around the world. BBC Culture. retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150306-how-to-swear-around-the-world
Nunberg,G.(2012) Swearing: A long and 3%@&$ History. NPR – Fresh Air Opinion. retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2012/07/24/156623763/swearing-a-long-and-history
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