Profanity

Profanity is socially offensive language,[1]

which may also be called curse words or
swearing (British English), cuss words
(American English and Canada), swear
words, or expletives. Used in this sense,
profanity is language that is generally
considered by certain parts of a culture to
be strongly impolite, rude, or offensive. It
can show a debasement of someone or
something, or be considered as an
expression of strong feeling towards
something.

In its older, more literal sense, "profanity"

refers to a lack of respect for things that
are held to be sacred, which implies
anything inspiring deserving of reverence,
as well as behaviour showing similar
disrespect or causing religious offense.[2]

Etymology
The term "profane" originates from
classical Latin "profanus", literally "before
(outside) the temple". It carried the
meaning of either "desecrating what is
holy" or "with a secular purpose" as early
as the 1450s.[3][4] Profanity represented
secular indifference to religion or religious
figures, while blasphemy was a more
offensive attack on religion and religious
figures, considered sinful, and a direct
violation of The Ten Commandments.
Moreover, many Bible verses speak
against swearing.[5]

Profanities, in the original meaning of

blasphemous profanity, are part of the
ancient tradition of the comic cults which
laughed and scoffed at the deity or deities:
an example of this would be Lucian's
"Dialogues of the Gods" satire[6].
English

In English, swear words and curse words

tend to have Germanic, rather than Latin
etymology[7] "Shit" has a Germanic root,[8]
as, likely, does "fuck".[9] The more technical
alternatives are often Latin in origin, such
as "defecate" or "excrete" and "fornicate"
or "copulate" respectively. Because of this,
profanity is sometimes referred to
colloquially as "Anglo-Saxon".[10] This is
not always the case. For example, the
word "wanker" is considered profane in
Britain, but it dates only to the mid-20th
century.[11][12]
History
The history of curse words and profanity
was part of spoken words in medieval era.
The word fuck was used in English in the
fifteenth century, though the usage in
earlier times of 13th century was not with
abusive intent. The word shit is the oldest
of words in use with early references
found in German and Scandinavia
languages.[13]

Research
Analyses of recorded conversations reveal
that an average of roughly 80–90 words
that a person speaks each day – 0.5% to
0.7% of all words – are swear words, with
usage varying from 0% to 3.4%[14]. In
comparison, first-person plural pronouns
(we, us, our) make up 1% of spoken
words.[15]

A three-country poll conducted by Angus

Reid Public Opinion in July 2010 found
that Canadians swear more often than
Americans and British when talking to
friends, while Britons are more likely than
Canadians and Americans to hear
strangers swear during a conversation.[16]

Swearing performs certain psychological

functions, and uses particular linguistic
and neurological mechanisms; all these
are avenues of research. Functionally
similar behavior can be observed in
chimpanzees, and may contribute to our
understanding, notes New York Times
author Natalie Angier.[17] Angier also notes
that swearing is a widespread but perhaps
underappreciated anger management
technique; that "Men generally curse more
than women, unless said women are in a
sorority, and that university provosts swear
more than librarians or the staff members
of the university day care center".[17]
Swearing over time may gain roots as a
habit with involuntary utterance of
obscene words or socially inappropriate
and derogatory remarks. This has been
referred to as coprolalia, which is an
occasional characteristic of tic disorders.

Keele University researchers Stephens,

Atkins, and Kingston found that swearing
relieves the effects of physical pain.[18]
Stephens said "I would advise people, if
they hurt themselves, to swear".[19]
However, the overuse of swear words
tends to diminish this effect.[19] The Keele
team won the Ig Nobel Peace Prize in
2010 for their research.

A team of neurologists and psychologists

at the UCLA Easton Center for Alzheimer's
Disease Research suggested that
swearing may help differentiate
Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal
dementia.[20]

Neurologist Antonio Damasio noted that

despite loss of language due to damage to
the language areas of the brain, patients
were still often able to swear.[21]

A group of researchers from Wright State

University studied why people swear in the
online world by collecting tweets posted
on Twitter. They found that cursing is
associated with negative emotions such
as sadness (21.83%) and anger (16.79%)
thus showing people in the online world
mainly use curse words to express their
sadness and anger towards others.[22][23]

An interdisciplinary team of researchers

from the University of Warsaw
investigated bilingual swearing: why is it
easier to swear in a foreign language?
Their finding that bilinguals strengthen the
offensiveness of profanities when they
switch into their second language, but
soften it when they switch into their first
tongue, but do both statistically
significantly only in the case of
ethnophaulisms (ethnic slurs) led the
scientist to the conclusion that switching
into the second language exempts
bilinguals from the social norms and
constraints (whether own or socially
imposed) such as political correctness,
and makes them more prone to swearing
and offending others.[24]

Types by purpose

According to Steven Pinker, there are five

possible functions of swearing:[25]

Abusive swearing, intended to offend,

intimidate or otherwise cause emotional
or psychological harm
 Cathartic swearing, used in response to
pain or misfortune
Dysphemistic swearing, used to convey
that the speaker thinks negatively of the
subject matter, and to make the listener
do the same
Emphatic swearing, intended to draw
additional attention to what is
considered to be worth paying attention
to
Idiomatic swearing, used for no other
particular purpose, but as a sign that the
conversation and relationship between
speaker and listener is informal

Legality
Australia

Three Australian states (New South Wales,

Queensland, and Victoria) have laws
against using "offensive language" in
public. These offences are classed as a
summary offence. However, if the court is
satisfied that the individual concerned had
"a reasonable excuse to behave in such a
manner", no offence is committed. In
Australia's remaining states and territories,
swearing is not illegal per se, but
depending on circumstances may
constitute disorderly conduct or a breach
of the peace.[26]
Brazil

In Brazil, the Penal Code does not contain

any penalties for profanity in public in a
direct manner. However, direct offenses
against one can be considered a crime
against honor, with a penalty of
imprisonment of one to three months or a
fine.[27] The analysis of the offense is
considered "subjective", depending on the
context of the discussion and the
relationship between the parts.[28]

Canada
Section 175 of Canada's Criminal Code
makes it a criminal offence to "cause a
disturbance in or near a public place" by
"swearing […] or using insulting or obscene
language". Provinces and municipalities
may also have their own laws against
swearing in public. For instance, the
Municipal Code of Toronto bars "profane
or abusive language" in public parks.[29] In
June 2016, a man in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
was arrested for using profane language
at a protest against Bill C-51.[30]

India
Sections 294A and 294B of Indian penal
code have legal provisions for punishing
individuals who use inappropriate or
obscene words (either spoken or written)
in public that are maliciously deliberate to
outrage religious feelings or beliefs.[31]. In
February 2015, a local court in Mumbai
asked police to file a first information
report against 14 Bollywood celebrities
who were part of stage show of All India
Bakchod, a controversial comedy stage
show known for vulgar and profanity
based content[32]. In May 2019 during the
election campaign, the Prime minister of
India listed out the abusive words the
opposition Congress party had used
against him and his mother during their
campaign[33].

In January 2016, a Mumbai based

communications agency initiated a
campaign against profanity and abusive
language called "Gaali free India" (Gaali is
the hindi word for profanity).[34] Using
creative ads, it called upon people to use
swacch (clean) language on the lines of
Swacch Bharat mission for nationwide
cleanliness. It further influenced other
news media outlets who further raised the
issue of abusive langugage in the society
especially incest abuses against
women.[35]
New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Summary Offences Act

1981 makes it illegal to use "indecent or
obscene words in or within hearing of any
public place". However, if the defendant
has "reasonable grounds for believing that
his words would not be overheard" then no
offence is committed. Also, "the court
shall have regard to all the circumstances
pertaining at the material time, including
whether the defendant had reasonable
grounds for believing that the person to
whom the words were addressed, or any
person by whom they might be overheard,
would not be offended".[36]
Philippines

The Department of Education in the

Philippine city of Baguio expressed that
while cursing was prohibited in schools,
children were failing to imbibe it at home.
Thus as part of its anti profanity initiative,
in November 2018, the Baguio City
government in Philippines passed an anti
profanity law that prohibits cursing and
profanity in areas of the city frequented by
children. This move was welcomed by
educators[37] and the Department of
Education (DepEd) in Cordillera.[37][38]

United Kingdom
 In public

Swearing, in and of itself, is not usually a

criminal offence in the United Kingdom
although in context may constitute a
component of a crime. However, it may be
a criminal offence in Salford Quays under
a public spaces protection order which
outlaws the use of "foul and abusive
language" without specifying any further
component to the offence, although it
appears to be unclear as to whether all
and every instance of swearing is covered.
Salford City Council claims that the
defence of "reasonable excuse" allows all
the circumstances to be taken into
account.[39] In England and Wales,
swearing in public where it is seen to
cause harassment, alarm or distress may
constitute an offence under section 5(1)
and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986.[40] In
Scotland, a similar common law offence of
breach of the peace covers issues causing
public alarm and distress.

In the workplace

In the United Kingdom, swearing in the

workplace can be an act of gross
misconduct under certain circumstances.
In particular, this is the case when
swearing accompanies insubordination
against a superior or humiliation of a
subordinate employee. However, in other
cases it may not be grounds for instant
dismissal.[41] According to a UK site on
work etiquette, the "fact that swearing is a
part of everyday life means that we need
to navigate a way through a day in the
office without offending anyone, while still
appreciating that people do swear. Of
course, there are different types of
swearing and, without spelling it out, you
really ought to avoid the 'worst words'
regardless of who you’re talking to".[42]
With respect to swearing between
colleagues, the site explains that "although
it may sound strange, the appropriateness
[of] swearing [...] is influenced largely by
the industry you are in and the individuals
you work with". The site continues to
explain that, even in a workplace in which
swearing is the norm, there is no need to
participate in it.[42] The site stresses that
swearing is, in general, more problematic
in asymmetric situations, such as in the
presence of senior management or clients,
but it also mentions that a "holier than
thou" attitude towards clients may be
problematic.[42]

The Guardian reported that "36% of the 308

UK senior managers and directors having
responded to a survey accepted swearing
as part of workplace culture", but warned
about specific inappropriate uses of
swearing such as when it is discriminatory
or part of bullying behaviour. The article
ends with a quotation from Ben Wilmott
(Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development): "Employers can ensure
professional language in the workplace by
having a well drafted policy on bullying
and harassment that emphasises how bad
language has potential to amount to
harassment or bullying."[43]

United States
Local law in Virginia Beach prohibiting the use of
profanity along the boardwalk of Atlantic Avenue.

In the United States, courts have generally

ruled that the government does not have
the right to prosecute someone solely for
the use of an expletive, which would be a
violation of their right to free speech
enshrined in the First Amendment. On the
other hand, they have upheld convictions
of people who used profanity to incite
riots, harass people, or disturb the
peace.[44] In 2011, a North Carolina statute
that made it illegal to use "indecent or
profane language" in a "loud and
boisterous manner" within earshot of two
or more people on any public road or
highway was struck down as
unconstitutional.[45] In 2015 the US city of
Myrtle Beach passed an ordinance that
makes profane language punishable with
fine up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail.[46]
An amount of $22,000 was collected from
these fines in 2017 alone.[47]

Minced oaths
Minced oaths are euphemistic
expressions made by altering or clipping
profane words and expressions to make
them less objectionable. Although minced
oaths are often acceptable in situations
where profanity is not (including the radio),
some people still consider them profanity.
In 1941, a judge threatened a lawyer with
contempt of court for using the word
darn.[48][49].

Impact on society
A 2011 research by Jeffrey Bowers affirms
the use of bad language has impact on
and alters our behaviour.[50] This study
was conducted to study linguistic relativity
with regards to swear words and
euphisms. As a part of this study, 24
volunteers between ages of 18 - 26 with
mean age 21 were subject to a 20 minute
experiment involving their responses on
swear words spoken aloud and their
responses noted. Additionally their
electrodermal activity was measured using
an in-house device that measured changes
in skin resistance in response to the swear
words[51].

Another study[52] at Stanford in 2016

indicated a direct correlation between
profanity and honesty. Based on this study
of 307 participants, it turned out that the
top two US states (Connecticut and New
Jersey) on profanity were also the highest
on integrity. Previous notions about
children picking swearing from adult
behavior have found to be incorrect while
experience shows that they learn to swear
as behaviour of conformity[53].

In popular culture
This section contains a list of miscellaneous
information. Learn more

The Catcher in the Rye published in novel

form in 1951 by J. D. Salinger was
controversial for its use of the word
fuck.[54][55]
Gone with the Wind, a 1939 film based
on the novel by Margaret Mitchell
includes the line "Frankly, my dear, I don't
give a damn". This has been claimed to
be among the first uses of profanity in a
major American film, although films
produced in America prior to 1935
occasionally used strong language and
gestures.[56]
Seven Dirty Words is a 1972 comedy
monologue by George Carlin in which he
named the seven words that, he said,
must never be used in a television
broadcast.
Kurt Vonnegut's use of the word
motherfucker in his novel
Slaughterhouse-Five became a subject
of much controversy and led to his
books being banned (and in some cases
physically destroyed) by several public
and school libraries.[57][58]
British film director Ken Loach
generated some media debate with his
2002 film Sweet Sixteen as it was given
an 18 certificate for the very large
amount of profanity, and not for any
violent or sexual content.[59] Loach
argued that the language used was
typical of the working-classes in
Greenock in Scotland and that the BBFC
censors had a "London-centric view".[59]
Brandon Sanderson, in an annotation for
his 2007 novel The Well of Ascension,
mentions that some readers are put off
by light cursing:

"I’ve taken a little bit of criticism

from certain readers for the
swearing I put into these books.
I know that most of you
consider things like ‘damn’ and
‘hell’ to be very weak curses, if
 even swear words at all.
However, to some people, they
can be offensive."[60]

See also
Animal epithet
Army creole
Bleep censor
Ethnic slurs
Fighting words
Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our
First Amendment Liberties
Grawlix: typographical symbols standing
in for profanities ( )
Maledictology
Obscenity
Pejorative
Profanity in science fiction           
Profanum
R v Penguin Books Ltd
Sailor Mouth
Seven dirty words
Swear jar
Verbal abuse
Vulgarity
Wordfilter
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 swearing" . The Independent. 2018-08-
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Further reading

Bulcke, Camille (2001) [1968]. An

English-Hindi Dictionary (3rd ed.).
Ramnagar, New Delhi: Chand. ISBN 81-
219-0559-1.
Almond, Ian (2003). "Derrida and the
Secret of the Non-Secret: On
Respiritualising the Profane". Literature
and Theology. 17 (4): 457–471.
doi:10.1093/litthe/17.4.457 .
Jim O'Connor. Cuss Control. 2000.
Edward Sagarin. The Anatomy of Dirty
Words. 1962.
Bill Bryson. The Mother Tongue. 1990.
Richard A Spears. Forbidden American
English. 1990.
Sterling Johnson. Watch Your F*cking
Language. 2004.
Geoffrey Hughes. Swearing:A Social
History of Foul Language, Oaths and
Profanity in English. 2004, first published
in 1991 by Blackwell[1].
Ruth Wajnryb. Expletive Deleted: A Good
Look at Bad Language. 2005.
Jesse Sheidlower. The F-Word. 2009.
(3rd ed.)
 Croom, Adam M. (2011). "Slurs".
Language Sciences. 33 (3): 343–358.
doi:10.1016/j.langsci.2010.11.005 .
Stollznow, Karen. "Swearing is bad?" .
Archived from the original on 2007-05-
21.
Tony McEnery, Swearing in English: bad
language, purity and power from 1586 to
the present, Routledge, 2006 ISBN 0-415-
25837-5.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media

related to Profanity.
Wikiquote has quotations related to:
Profanity

Look up profanity in Wiktionary, the

free dictionary.

Most vulgar words in The Online Slang

Dictionary (as voted by visitors)
Francis Grose (1811). Dictionary of the
Vulgar Tongue at Project Gutenberg

1. Hughes, Geoffrey (1998-03-26).

Swearing: A Social History of Foul
Language, Oaths and Profanity in
 English . Penguin UK.
ISBN 9780141954325.

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Profanity&oldid=926501191"

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