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“Swear Words” are Bullsh*t

One of the most common yet least permitted languages is constituted of swear words. Children are scolded, women are judged, and less wealthy users are labeled as unrefined for swearing. Why? Do we not hold distinct visions of wealthy businessmen yelling and cursing at business constituents through the phone? One of the few exceptions for such crude language is reserved for the rich, powerful, white man. Yet of all people, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a black woman, gets away with describing a "friend who you don't need to explain sh*t to" powerfully. In a novel? How unprofessional.

As a true curious soul, I would like to analyze and discuss the flaws and inconsistencies of the taboo on swearing. (What, for me? A sixteen-year-old Asian female? Don't worry, I am not making this point to justify starting swearing; I would never.)

To break it down, most swear words belong in three main categories: excretion (sh*t/a**hole), deity (oh my god), and sexually based (the worst of all—the f bomb!). The linguistic background is so complex! Yet rarely does anyone use such casual words with their definitions in mind. In fact euphemisms like shoot, oh my goodness, and frick are nearly sanctified in substitution for their meaningless vulgar counterparts. 

The origins of a string of letters imply something gross and insulting. Luckily such common people, like you and me, barely give these words power to mean anything. After all what’s more offensive—when your friend flips you off or when your successful white-collar boss tells you your work is a piece of 💩?


*For the sake of analysis, please excuse my crude language. I would never mean to offend anyone with my shoddy diction. 

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