Posted by Mark H. on May 14, 2002, at 17:51:52
In reply to My motto: » CtrlAlt n Del, posted by SandraDee on May 13, 2002, at 19:15:25
I find it curious that our culture consistently mislabels the use of common slang as swearing and cursing. Even a moment's reflection on the meaning of the words makes it clear that swearing refers to the improper taking of an oath (in anger, for instance), and that cursing is invoking ill on another (such as from divine sources). Neither cursing nor swearing has anything inherently in common with the use of sexual and scatological slang, which often originates in the vernacular and finds its way evenutally into both literature and educated spoken usage.
It is basically a middle-class affectation to ascribe great emotional significance to certain words borrowed from the vernacular of the street. In private, the use of such words is often considered titillating and daring, while public use remains forbidden and "in poor taste."
This arbitrary and fundamentally hypocritical distinction may seem odd and even amusing to an outsider, yet major interpersonal conflicts resulting in physical violence, litigation, enormous financial losses and even death occur daily over just such distinctions, from drive-by shootings to class-action suits precipitated by racial slurs uttered in the ill-assumed "privacy" of a corporate board room.
Labels and usage offensive to politically organized subclasses of society have become the new "swear" words, and the reaction to their use is in direct proportion to how well the subclass has publicized and found acceptance for its negative interpretation of the "offending" language. It's important to note that having a strongly negative reaction to any word or phrase is a learned response -- there is nothing inherently "offensive" about certain words. Words become "offensive" only when a fairly large percentage of people agree on their offensiveness.
Ironically, during a time when the most explicit, degrading and artless pornography is universally available to anyone with a computer and an internet connection, we are experiencing more limited restraints on our use of language than at any other time during my life, including the 1950s. The result is the promotion of those who tightly control their speech over those who are emotionally honest and open, both in business and in politics.
I don't wish to wrap up my comments in a neatly phrased conclusion. I'd rather these thoughts open outward, inviting additional consideration from those who are willing to look at how our judgments about language use shape our lives.
With kind regards,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:23413
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020509/msgs/23775.html