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Swearing is becoming more widely acceptable, linguistics experts claim (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 10 months ago by BrikoX@lemmy.zip to c/interestingshare@lemmy.zip

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Swearwords increasingly used for emphasis and to build social bonds, rather than to insult, say academics

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[–] themelm@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you're so worried about literacy then you shouldn't need to rely on the crutch of swearing to make sure something has impact. Maybe you can tell when I'm serious because I stop swearing as I enjoy doing casually and instead rely on formal and precise language.

Why do we have thesauruses at all? Why add any unnecessary flourishes to language? Would it be the same message if someone spoke without swearing at all? Why should people censor themselves just so you can have people know you for suresies meant it when you stubbed your toe this time?

Why do individual words need power? Surely the sentiment and meaning of them is what gives them power. For instance this post of yours is more offensive to my cuss-loving ass than any amount of calling me a dumb motherfucker would be. Take your faux-erudition and carefully place it somewhere dark please.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I had similar discussions with my kids when they learned to swear. The first swore frequently and indiscriminately. It was just annoying and he sounded like an idiot. But the younger kid knew just when to drop that nice juicy swear word so appropriately that you just couldn’t object. He knows how to use other words, so doesn’t sound dumb, and he makes the most out of when he does swear.

[–] themelm@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

OK, but people who go out of their way to not swear when they want to are honestly instantly distrusted by me until I know them better. You see swearing as childish and I see it as a normal thing people do when they're comfortable.

You still say you need to keep swearing in reserve for effect but a constantly shouty swearing guy going real quiet and formal with language is terrifying and you definitely know shit has gotten real.