Swearing
Created | Updated Apr 19, 2002
Swearing is a uniquely human way of expressing distaste, shock, fear, surprise, anger, and myriad other emotions, by adding simple and colourful embellishments to our everyday language.
While I am confident that censorship may prevent me from relating the full vocabulary of 'blue' language, I am sure that I should be able to include an abridged lexicon of profanity, without causing too much offence to the wowsers, damage to the environment, and undue injury to the elderly.
As an Australian I tend to find swearing as more of a hobby than something which I only turn to in the most difficult social binds. I tend to think of it as a conversational crutch. It lengthens sentences, confuses and disorientates the unaccustomed, and used creatively, without malice, and just a little bit of imagination it can be immensely amusing and appear almost witty. At the very worst it is a good way of ending or livening up a dull conversation, and it can help divert the female attention of the room, from the overbearing brainbox, who has been on his soapbox for the last half hour and has just launched into a fresh tirade on the ethical issues surrounding attempts to isolate the gene for cognitive thought.
There are different branches of swearing which must also be taken into consideration. Loosely defined, swearing is any word or phrase which any particular person might find offensive or shocking. This holds to a certain point, but when we think of a word like "n****r", this is instantly both offensive and shocking, but it doesn't really count as swearing. Its just not cricket. There is a common sense line which good swearers toe, in order not to bring the art into disrepute. There are many words and references which would be very offensive to different religious denominations, racial classes, or professions. The decision as to whether or not they are kosher as viable swearing options comes down to split second common sense by our would be swearer.
It involves assessing the immediate company in which one is in, and the various ties and friends which the people around you may hold. The pretext of the swear word(s) in question must also come into play. The historical origins and past meanings of the word may have deeper references than we realise.
Most slang references to race and religion can be a knife edge call. I have worked quite a bit with indigenous people in the north of Australia. Most would take offence to the use of Abo, Darkie, Coloured, or Boong. Rightly so too. None of the blokes that I have come across though, would bat an eyelid at being called Black Fellas. So a modicum of local knowledge can help out at time. I also know many Chaplains and ministers of various denominations who laughed out loud at being called, Sky Pilots or Bible Thumpers. Quite clearly one has to take into account the strength and nature of the sense of humour in the intended recipients of any borderline conversation grabbers.
Anyway, wowsers and religious zealots aside, swearing, like everything else in the world, is something which can be enjoyed by us all, so long as we use it in moderation, with common sense and with respect and consideration for the wowserism of others.
More to follow................
While I am confident that censorship may prevent me from relating the full vocabulary of 'blue' language, I am sure that I should be able to include an abridged lexicon of profanity, without causing too much offence to the wowsers, damage to the environment, and undue injury to the elderly.
As an Australian I tend to find swearing as more of a hobby than something which I only turn to in the most difficult social binds. I tend to think of it as a conversational crutch. It lengthens sentences, confuses and disorientates the unaccustomed, and used creatively, without malice, and just a little bit of imagination it can be immensely amusing and appear almost witty. At the very worst it is a good way of ending or livening up a dull conversation, and it can help divert the female attention of the room, from the overbearing brainbox, who has been on his soapbox for the last half hour and has just launched into a fresh tirade on the ethical issues surrounding attempts to isolate the gene for cognitive thought.
There are different branches of swearing which must also be taken into consideration. Loosely defined, swearing is any word or phrase which any particular person might find offensive or shocking. This holds to a certain point, but when we think of a word like "n****r", this is instantly both offensive and shocking, but it doesn't really count as swearing. Its just not cricket. There is a common sense line which good swearers toe, in order not to bring the art into disrepute. There are many words and references which would be very offensive to different religious denominations, racial classes, or professions. The decision as to whether or not they are kosher as viable swearing options comes down to split second common sense by our would be swearer.
It involves assessing the immediate company in which one is in, and the various ties and friends which the people around you may hold. The pretext of the swear word(s) in question must also come into play. The historical origins and past meanings of the word may have deeper references than we realise.
Most slang references to race and religion can be a knife edge call. I have worked quite a bit with indigenous people in the north of Australia. Most would take offence to the use of Abo, Darkie, Coloured, or Boong. Rightly so too. None of the blokes that I have come across though, would bat an eyelid at being called Black Fellas. So a modicum of local knowledge can help out at time. I also know many Chaplains and ministers of various denominations who laughed out loud at being called, Sky Pilots or Bible Thumpers. Quite clearly one has to take into account the strength and nature of the sense of humour in the intended recipients of any borderline conversation grabbers.
Anyway, wowsers and religious zealots aside, swearing, like everything else in the world, is something which can be enjoyed by us all, so long as we use it in moderation, with common sense and with respect and consideration for the wowserism of others.
More to follow................
