Two things have brought this subject to mind. The first was a thread on a mailing list about the use of a particular offensive expression, how it was particularly ungentlemanly like to use where women would read, and so on. The second is a song I hear on the radio from time to time that uses the phrase G.D. (Use your imagination). The interesting thing is the radio does censor it, but only one word. It silences the God part, not the damn part. Apparently it is more offensive to say "God" on the air, than "damn" (which is a swear word in and of itself). Not surprising, considering our society, the ACLU, and recent Supreme Court decisions.
However, the history of swearing is interesting. Until somewhat recently historically, swearing was blasphemy pure and simple. There were no "swear words" per se, but it was various iterations of sacrilege against the name of Jesus, Mary, saints, or various holy things. Today, this has largely been replaced by what is the most popular (and apparently the most versatile word in the English language) curse word, the omnipresent f-bomb.
That word is commonly understood as a reference to sex, not usually of the most pure variety. It's an interesting development, that swearing went from blasphemous religious expressions to involving sex. Considering our society, one could say that sex has become a religion in and of itself anyway. Perhaps the change in swearing only demonstrates how that statement might be true.
The convention has been to use religion as swearing. The question is, has the convention changed, or simply the underlying religion?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Bryan McKay
Well, "fuck" seems to have had a rather long and illustrious history in the lexicon of English cursing. As far as the censoring of the "God" and not the "damn" goes, I think most people are fine with the word "damn," but when used in a supposedly blasphemous fashion it becomes unacceptable. Censoring the "God" leaves a relatively neutered expression that is likely to offend far fewer people. Censoring the "damn" and leaving the "God" wouldn't make all that much sense, and censoring it altogether would probably just make for an even more awkward edit. I don't think they were censoring the word "God," but rather trying to avoid offending anyone whose religious beliefs might be offended by the artist in question taking the Lord's name in vain.
2 - gonzo marx
what the fuck are you god damned shit for brains bitches talking out your ass about now?
see George Carlin for a masterful dissertation on "cuss words"
as far as i know, the earliest use of the work "fuk" was an anglo-saxon monosyllable that meant to literally hit over the head with a large club
so the phrase "i'm gonna fuck you upside the head" would be a correct, historical usage...when it entered the language as a euphemism for sex is a whole 'nother kettle of fish
glad to share...
Excelsior!
3 - Temple Stark
Gonzo that was too too obvious. Tsk.
4 - gonzo marx
i should have slipped a pussy and a motherfucker in there?
geeez Temple, if yer gonna kvetch, show me yer kung fu
{8^P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excelsior!
5 - Nick Jones
Okay, John, tell me which which makes more sense in this song lyric, from "The Pusher", by Steppenwolf (I think):
"I said God____, God____ the pusher man."
"I said ___damn, ___damn the pusher man."
6 - gonzo marx
yes, it is Steppenwolf...
"the dealer, the dealer is a man
with a love grass in his hand.
but the pusher is a monster,
that guy, he's not a natural man"
great band...great song
"Monster" is particularily apropos for current events...go give it a listen kiddies, tell em yer gonzo sent ya
Excelsior!
7 - dietdoc
I find the whole idea of "cursing as an art form" very interesting. It seems now that you cannot make a coherent statement, particularly in a movie or as lyrics in a rap song, without the use of profanity. I have always thought that the more profanity one uses in a conversation, the less, as a general rule, educated the speaker. For lack of an effective word for appropriate emphasis, those less skilled in the language fall back to profanity.
Now, lest you think me pruddish, I am not. I have been known to burst out in a rather animated (and to some, alarming) monologue, perhaps not as artistic as George Carlin but certainly as colorful, under certain circumstances. I use profanity, usually, to emphasize a particularly strong emotion: anger, frustration, surprise, etc. I am not necessarily proud of my lapses, but they (along with shit) do happen. For the better part of my adult life, I was of the opinion that profanity can be used, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate company, skillfully and to good effect.
What I have noticed, however, is that profanity has now become so omnipresent, in every medium, that the aged value of profanity as emphasis is no longer effective. I think that profanity, like nudity and violence, has become so ubiquitous that it can no longer be used for effect.
Part of my personal conversational arsenal is lost and I do miss it. The startled look on the nearby faces was always, like MasterCard, priceless.
Cheers,
Ron
8 - andy marsh
I've been watching a series on HBO that's supposed to be somewhat historically accurate. Deadwood, on HBO, has a favorite word or saying and if you watch the 50 minute long episodes you'll hear the word cocksucker at least a dozen times...and that's on one of the more moderate episodes.
I have read that they were foulmouthed and rude...but I still wonder how historically accurate it really is...
9 - Lisa McKay
Good point, Andy - I've never done any historical research on the origin of colorful language, but I was also under the impression that the expression was relatively recent (by relatively recent, I mean 1900s, I guess), but we could be wrong, huh?
John, a couple of things - you seem to think that the "god" part of the expression is censored because of liberal or anti-Christian bias, but Bryan has it right when he says that it's essentially to protect the sensibilities of those who would be offended by using "god" as part of a curse word or phrase. Similarly, you rarely hear people on TV use the phrase "Jesus Christ" as an epithet, undoubtedly for the same reason.
Second point, John - as a woman, there are probably only one or two words that I find really offensive (Andy's already mentioned one of them), but I do recognize that most anything goes nowadays. I remember having a conversation with my son when he was a fairly young teenager about the constant use of expletives among the young, as I had to wonder what they said when they got really mad. Used to be a time when a hearty "fuck you" meant something. It's been somewhat diluted in efficacy through overuse, and I find that very little has the power to shock any more, at least language-wise.
10 - John Bambenek
Is there anything you crowd of people who seem to run together won't swarm and nitpick?
11 - Lisa McKay
Crowd of people who run together? To whom are you referring?
12 - Bryan McKay
Well, John, I have three things to say to you:
1) My first post was intended to be a thoughtful and reasonable response to your post. A few other people have written intelligent things as well. The least you could do would be offer a rebuttal if you disagree.
2) If you don't want people nitpicking your articles, don't write here anymore. If you're going to post your ideas in a public forum, you have to expect them to recieve comments or criticisms. That's how ideas and theories are tested. If these ideas turn out to be ideological Vampires and fail to withstand being exposed in the sunlight, maybe the problem lies with you and not us.
3) And finally John, lighten up. I think you're being a bit fucking paranoid.
13 - Shark
Bambi: "...swearing went from blasphemous religious expressions to involving sex."
Swearing is about breaking taboos. In contemporary society, we've pushed the boundaries so far and so quickly, one has to be creative if one wants to FIND a taboo, let alone capture it in language.
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BTW: John, it's nice to see you exploring such profound thoughts in such an elementary manner. Good examples for readers with new brains who've yet to take them out and play with them.
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Bambi whines: "Is there anything you crowd of people who seem to run together won't swarm and nitpick?"
Um, you might ask yourself if there is any dinkly little essay that spills outta yer brain that is not some implicit (often explicit) socio-political insult aimed at the dreaded "liberals"?
Feh.
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the fucking kitchen.
14 - Eric Olsen
Shark is correct in that the impact of swearing comes from breaking taboos: hence swear words derive from religion, sex and excrement
15 - andy marsh
man i could put a couple of really good sentences together using that theory Eric!
16 - beadtot
A rather substantial case can probably be made which proves that cursing and swearing help to preserve sanity -- as well as adding new verbiage to the lexicon as demonstration of the power of any given and truly unique oaths to endure and affect change.
17 - DrPat
Heinlein wrote it down, but never claimed it as his own original thought:
18 - John Bambenek
Wow, what witty commentary...
"you're being a bit fucking paranoid."
"Bambi whines"
"If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the fucking kitchen."
No, it's more like a sandbox, with a bunch of kids having a temper tantrum.
19 - Nancy
I'm just puzzled as to who you mean 'runs together'? Most of these people are at each other's figurative throats, most of the time, when I read them, at least. Kind of like herding cats.
20 - Eric Olsen
John, some of your statements do seem to express the perspective of the persecuted. Please do realize that aspects of jet propulsion are at play here. No one's firmly held opinion is any more valid than anyone ele's firmly held opinion unless it is back with facts, logic and reason.
For example, this sentence is about as loaded and unsupported as it gets:
"Not surprising, considering our society, the ACLU, and recent Supreme Court decisions."
I'm not trying to tell you what to do or how to write, but sentences like the above just beg for rather extreme response.
As writers we are much better off not assuming our opinions are correct just because they are our opinions.
Not picking on you, just trying to help.
21 - Bryan McKay
No, it's more like a sandbox, with a bunch of kids having a temper tantrum.
Except I think you're the most childish person in this discussion. You wrote an extremely opinionated and biased post without any supporting evidence to back up your claims. When people began to have intelligent and reasonable discourse around your topic, myself included, you completely ignored it. When you finally did show up, it was to act unreasonably defensive and accusatory. Perhaps if you actually were open to discussing your ideas, you wouldn't have to filter so many angry comments out of your inbox each day. On the other hand, maybe you avoid serious discussion because you have nothing of worth to add to the discourse. If that's the case, kindly step aside and leave the adults alone.
22 - John Bambenek
Eric-
There is a difference between criticizing the positions of say, the ACLU, and ad hominem attacks.
Bryan-
"You are fucking paranoid" is not an intelligent contribution. Either grow up or shut up.
23 - Lisa McKay
Is there anything you crowd of people who seem to run together won't swarm and nitpick?
John, the above was the first thing you had to say after several people had posted thoughtful, non-flaming, non-accusatory, conversational comments in this thread. You continue to come out of the yard like a snarling pit bull and then act offended when people respond with a baseball bat rather than a treat.
Either grow up or shut up.
You first.
24 - Bryan McKay
Did you bother to read the first comment in the thread?
25 - John Bambenek
After re-reading the comments, I've come to the conclusion I've had before, you never really dealt with the main points, but nitpicked asides.
Bryan apparently can't even read the post, much less comment on it...
"Opiniated" and "without supporting evidence" were his expressions.
Opiniated? NOOOOOOO!!!!! SAY IT AIN'T SO?!?!?! I mean, this IS an opinion post. And without supporting evidence of what? It's observations. What part is unfounded, that the history of swearing involved blasphemy or that the f-word is the more common today?