Effing Swear Words

Oxford Languages defines swear words as “a word of a kind used to express anger or other strong emotion and regarded as coarse, blasphemous, or otherwise unacceptable in polite or formal speech.” Coarse speech is stated as being “lacking in refinement; crude or vulgar” (accompanied by the sound of pearls being clutched) … Oh, my! “Blasphemous speech” is “speech against God or sacred things” which we cannot have here in the U.S., a secular country. Of course, religious minorities have their own rules, but they do not apply in general. And “Unacceptable” … to whom is it so?

In other words, swear words are, as George Carlin indicated … “Bad Words.” Mr. Carlin became famous because of a routine he called “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.” In that diatribe he stated his opinion, that there were no bad words.

In the Anglo-American language traditions, we are still suffering from the Norman conquest of England in 1066. When the Normans took over, the “rulers” spoke French (Normandy being in western France as we know it today) and the conquered peoples spoke English (… and Welsh, and … Gaelic, etc.). To address the court one necessarily spoke in French or hired someone who could because speaking English to the ruling class was just so vulgar. This is, by the way, we have the still stupid legal doublets like “cease and desist,” and “null and void,” and “aid and abet,” “last will and testament,” etc. when the two terms mean the same damned thing. The legal system had to serve to two populations, the rulers and the ruled, so doublespeak became popular.

Swear words are often referred to as “profanity,” which harkens back to “the sacred and the profane” and the definition (Source: Oxford Languages: relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious) tells us that profanity is something to be striven for … in a secular country.

What prompted this post was a comment from a sincere follower of this blog that I had seemed to be using more profanity than I had in the past. S’truth, I have. Profanities like “Fuck Trump, Our War Mongering President” seem to just flow out of me.

Since I do not wish to be discourteous, I will examine whether my use of language is necessary to make my point. If the chosen swear words do not seem to be needed, I will pare them out.

More Legal Doublets (for you fans of such)
Cease and desist: Stop an action and do not resume it.
Null and void: Having no legal force; invalid.
Aid and abet: To assist in committing a crime.
Terms and conditions: Provisions of a contract.
Fit and proper: Suitable for a position.
Give and bequeath: Transfer property via a will.
Force and effect: Valid and binding.
Mind and memory: Mental capacity.
Breaking and entering: Illegal entry into a premises.
Assault and battery: Physical threat and unlawful physical contact.
Will and testament: A document declaring a person’s wishes for their property after death.
Each and every: All individual parts.
Free and clear: Without encumbrances (e.g., in real estate).
Heirs and successors: Those who inherit or take over a position.
Wear and tear: Depreciation from normal use.
Order and direct: A directive from a court or authority.
Indemnify and hold harmless: To secure against loss.

Postscript Most of Carlin’s seven words are of Anglo-Saxon origin, which tells us something about prejudice.

W.C. Fields, a Great Comedian/Philosopher

I was reading a blurb for a book featuring some of W.C. Fields great lines. Fields created a persona of being a lush, which would not fly now (but did in my youth, thank you Foster Brooks). The blurb writer did not include my favorite Fields quote, which was his take on “spirituality.” I believe it went “Everybody ought to believe something. I believe I’ll have another drink.”

I think comedians are modern day court jesters, and since we govern ourselves, they send their barbs toward all of us. I miss George Carlin. There was none better at that role.