![]() ![]() In addition to referring to specific objects and actions, they can also act as emotional intensifiers. ![]() In our language words like fucking, goddamn and bloody are unique in that they have a dual linguistic function. ![]() Swearwords are now the most commonly used words in the English language-studies by psychologists such as Paul Cameron and Timothy Jay show that the average speaker uses expletives at least as often, if not more so, than pronouns and prepositions. Mohr traces the history of English swearing back to its Latinate roots, through the Middle Ages, Reformation and Victorian era in order to explain its modern-day instantiations.Īnd she does so with good reason. But why? How has bad language retained its emotional valence in an increasingly liberal and secular society? Why do people still cringe when someone drops an f-bomb in front of a grandmother, or, worse, a toddler? These questions form the basis for Melissa Mohr’s new book, Holy Shit: A Brief History of Swearing. A new book explains the origins of filthy language ©k bostįour-letter words, expletives, obscenities, insults, curses and cusses-there are almost as many euphemisms for offensive language as there are swearwords. ![]()
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