Profanity and ‘rudeness’ – its all a matter of relevance. Yes, we can agree that there are
certain words (or expletives) that are virtually universal with a majority
understanding of its offensive connotation, such as fuck. But, as we have
discussed throughout the semester, it is a combination of the individual and
society that attribute meaning to everything – profane words included.
At some point in history it was decided that the word fuck was a “bad” word, an offensive
word, and a word to avoid if possible.
Who made that decision, and why did it stick? Well, it partially did.
Words can gain significance just as easily as they can be diluted of
significance. Some people throw
the expletive fuck around without
concern, because it does not have the same negative impact to them in their
particular social context as it might to another person in a different social
context.
Like fuck, there
are a number of expletives and profane phrases used in language that have a
different significance depending on the context. Meaning is applied, meaning can change, and meaning varies
depending on cultural significance.
An article by Anna Wierzbicka discusses how, “cultural norms reflected
in speech acts differ not only from one language to another, but also from one
regional and social variety to another.
There are considerable differences between Australian English and
American English…” (Wierzbicka 1985, p. 146). The expletive ‘cunt’ is not one that people often say in
Canada. It would be considered
very offensive to call someone a ‘cunt’; therefore, most people avoid it. Whereas, in Australia I have heard the
word thrown around much more liberally.
At first I was surprised, but now I have adjusted. Why have I adjusted to the use of this
word, a word that I have previously found very offensive? Well, like I mentioned above, words can
lose significance just as easily as it is gained. We as individuals, and as part of society, apply meaning to
words, which makes it possible for us to change the meaning, and change our
personal understanding of the word.
For me, ‘cunt’ has lost its offensive significance and has become not so
inappropriate in certain contexts (while in Australia).
Wierzbicka, A 1985, ‘Different Cultures, Different
Languages, Different Speech Acts’, Journal of Pragmatics, vol. 9, reviwed on 14
September 2012, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378216685900232#
Hey Claire, I found your comparison between Australia and Canada really interesting. Are you from Canada? I noticed a big difference between the use of swearing in Canada and Australia when I was exchange near Toronto last year. I don't swear much at all by Australian standards, but in Canada some words that I didn't even think were offensive got a comment! The word "piss" is one that I found people got really offended by in Canada, while in Australia it's pretty commonplace. It's also interesting that you pointed out how words can gain and lose significance so easily. I wrote about it a bit in my post, but when I was young I though "shit" and "bloody" were the worst words in the world, but the more people use them, the more familiar they become. I wonder if we will keep inventing more offensive words once we get used to the current ones so that we never run out of ways to swear...
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