Quote:
Originally Posted by Caz
There has been a lot of discussion lately, particularly about swearing on TV. Frank Skinner apparently is doing a Panarama about such next week.
Got me wondering about swearing in general. Why are certain words considered vulgar? Who decided which words should be classed as swear words? Why do we use certain words when we are angry when a substitute would suffice?
If we substituted a run of the mill word for a swear word, would that eventually get the staus of a swear word?
A certain word which most decent people see as the most taboo of swear words has been in use since the 13th century, but only more recently has acquired it's status as such. I see this word as disgusting myself, but can't figure out why this in relation to others is such.  After all it's only a combination of letters. Why do we view it in that way?
Do you think swearing in general is on the increase, or just more prolific in certain classes? |
I think I know the one you mean ... and it is quite common in Chaucer; it occurs, spelled "queinte" and usually glossed as "female pudendum" ... it doesn't seem to have aquired its present notoriety by the end of the 14th century.
But I agree with George Carlin (7 Words You Can't Say on TV) ... there are no "bad" words ... bad actions, bad intentions, yes ... but words, in and of themselves, are never "bad" ... merely offensive to certain people.