I Swear - Ken Boddie - Australia

Ken Boddie

3 years ago · 5 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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I Swear

DEAR AUTO-CORRECT
Ee Circ
N
RUDE woRrpS INTO

NIC :

E ON
You =E Of SHUT
EE ———

I swear, you swear, we all swear, despite the indisputable fact that swearing truly is a curse. But, before I take off on a rampage through the profanity, obsenity, curses, foulness, dirt or colour of the English language, and, from time to time, a dalliance around, rather than close affinity with, the truth, let me provide some words of caution.

If words quite crude and oh so rude,
Are not your cup of tea,
If curse words blue are not for you,
Please do not fight with me,
My aim's to try and clarify,
Without offending you*,
Just why and where, we have to swear,
And when it is taboo.Yours truly, the self-proclaimed Bard of beBee. * Well not too much anyway

Any cursory (pun intended) romp through the internet these days will reveal a plethora of reasons, by a plethora of authors, why we feel the urge to swear. One such author, I believe, put it quite succinctly as follows:

Swearing is like using the horn on your car, which can be used to signify a number of emotions (eg anger, frustration, joy, surprise).
Jay, T (2009), The utility and ubiquity of taboo words, Perspectives on, Psychological Science, 4(2), 153-161.

It would appear that swearing can be beneficial, but not always for all parties:

it can be a release, permitting us to vent our anger and frustrations (although heaven help the poor recipient if the foul language is aimed at someone in particular, rather than at, say, the hammer that missed its inanimate target and found its accidental animate appendage);
it can be a verbal substitute for physical violence (surely a torrent of abuse trumps a punch in the face any day?); and
it can be used for emphasis, almost like punctuation (often with comical results, just ask Billy Connelly).

No matter what you may think or say, we all swear given the appropriate circumstances, and swearing knows no social boundaries or predominates in any particular socioeconomic class.

In order to realise that swear words have a number of origins and references, let's get a few examples out there, in the open.

Grandma go get that cup of tea now, and I'll give you a shout in a couple of paragraphs time (although, doubtless, there are a few grannies who'd give a drunken sailor a fair run for his money by way of colourful foul-mouthed come-backs).

I'll begin with some generalities, many of which are common throughout the English speaking world:

First there's the common swear word with sexual connotations - FUCK (the F-bomb); although there are other associations with the sexual act and anatomy (eg SHIT, CRAP, ARSE-WIPE, BUGGER, BLOODY) that are arguably used to varying effect, both historically and currently.
Then there's blasphemy - GODDAM, JESUS CHRIST, YA ALLAH; often depending upon your religious or atheistic background or indoctrination.
How about ethnic or racial slurs - CHINK, GOOK, NIP, HONKY, DEGO, WOG, YANK, REDNECK, POMMY, POLAK, COON.
Ancestral allusions - BASTARD, SON-OF-A-BITCH.

Swear words can vary in offensiveness depending upon context, the company we're in, and geographical location. These days we are more likely to avoid so called taboo words in mixed company or at work, due to the possibilities of recrimination, and more likely to use them in same sex groups, particularly in relaxed or sporting settings. But no matter how politically correct we are starting to become, there's always one rebel.

Also, there are words considered profane or likely to cause offence in some countries, while in other regions, due in part, no doubt, to their regular use and widespread recurrence with such regularity, that they have almost lost meaning or offence. As an example, how about that infamous television advert which ran worldwide as a tourist hook for Australia in 2006 and featured the inimitable and attractive blond bikini-clad Lara Bingle:

So where the bloody hell are you?
Launched by Tourism Australia in 2006 as an ad running in the USA.

http://ken-boddie.squarespace.com

The author of the above, Ken Boddie, besides being a sometime poet and occasional writer, is an enthusiastic photographer, rarely leisure-travelling without his Canon, and loves to interact with other like-minded people with diverse interests.

Ken's three day work week (part time commitment) as a consulting engineer allows him to follow his photography interests, and to plan trips to an ever increasing list of countries and places of scenic beauty and cultural diversity.

#eg #Jay #heaven #Bard #Psychological Science

Comments

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #29

#29
#29 Ken Boddie "an aching asteroid" ... that has a HUGE following ;~)

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #28

#28
Ha, ha! It's been a while since this heavenly body arose, Fay. More of an aching asteroid these days, blissfully bound for a black hole. 🤣😂😂

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #27

Ken Boddie a Bard you are ... a rising star ;~) A Bard you shall be ... for all who can see ;~) Artist of alliteration Delightful with a pun ;~) Thanks for the SMILE ;~)

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #26

#25
And here’s a few more acronyms, to tickle your fancy, Fay: FORD - fatally obese redneck driver; DIET - do I eat today; EGYPT - everything’s great, you pretty thing; SALT -same as last time; and TEETH -tried everything else, try homeopathy. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #25

#23
That Shakespearean insult list is certainly worth its weight in fool’s gold, Fay. If nothing else, perhaps the process of picking our own peculiar imprecation, from the proliferation of possibilities presented by the three columns of composite curses, permits us to convey our chosen peck of profanities in a cool, calm and collected manner, while still cutting our proponent to the quick. 🤗

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #24

Ken Boddie This came to mind ... from Louise Penny's books ... a very interesting character , a poet Ruth ... adept a swearing ... often said she is "FINE" F ... fucked-up I ... insecure N ... neurotic E ... egotistical

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #23

Ken Boddie I forgot to say ... Truly ... you are "one of the best of bees and beautiful bard of bees" I loved your poem ;~) If words quite crude and oh so rude, Are not your cup of tea, If curse words blue are not for you, Please do not fight with me, My aim's to try and clarify, Without offending you*, Just why and where, we have to swear, And when it is taboo.

Fay Vietmeier

3 years ago #22

Ken Boddie I SWEAR ... devilishly delight-full '~) I shall forage in the future for foul follies to fling at fustilarians ;~) MANY thanks for the Shakespeare Insult Kit Have already chosen: "craven ... clay-brained, clot-poles" ... can hardly wait ;~) to clobber some cockered clout ;~) I loved "wombat" Makes me want to go down under if only to buy a round of drinks ;~) My Mom swore like a tarnished truck driver ;~) ... looking back, I think it was fueled by frustration ... "I swear" ... I'm sharing this hoping others will chime in and catch the spirit ;~) I will confess that swearing IMHO is not good reflection on a person ... But here is inspiration to ... ... pull it off a "swear" with flair ... catch those clods unaware ... as did as clever Shakespeare

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #21

#21
Talking about fluency in swearing, Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic, reminds me of this curse I came across when researching for one of my camel posts: “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your crotch and may your arms be too short to scratch.” 🤣😂🤣 Perhaps not something for polite company, but the imagery is hard to forget.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

3 years ago #20

#19
As much as I like reading your posts, I like your eloquently written comments. :) I know people who are very fluent and adept at swearing, in a "good" way and without using F-words. There's a lot more meaning behind swearing than we think.

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #19

#18
It has been postulated, Lada, that "swearing is a sign of a limited vocabulary". Perhaps that may be true when the same single word obscenities are repeated ad nauseum, but, as your Croatian/Dalmatian listings suggest, along with the many relatively complex obscene adages used by and frequently extended by, improved upon and propagated by my fellow Aussies, swearing is often creative and inventive. This suggests that the user of particularly colourful language may, in many instances, be much more sophisticated in the linguistic resources they can draw from than we might at first give them credit for. 🤗

Lada 🏡 Prkic

3 years ago #18

#17
Ken, I am from Dalmatia and hear those swear words daily. It is also known that people in the construction industry swear a lot. But I never use swears that describe the tools of procreation of both genders and the act itself. 😳 Instead, I created my own polite version that sounds rib-ticklingly funny. I'm a Dalmatian lady after all. 😊 I use those "polite swears" rarely at work but when I use them at the construction sites, everybody knows it is a sign of a serious problem that requires an immediate solution. Although I wanted to translate them into English they are just untranslated. 😀

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #17

#15
Well, Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic, now that I've looked at both Parts 1 and 2 of Croatian swear words and phrases, I can see that serious swearing, in both Croatian and English, commonly features the tools of procreation of both genders and the act itself. As in English, I guess that many of these highly descriptive phrases can be intended either to offend or to entertain hilariously, dependent upon the circumstances and audience? This, of course, is a rhetorical question, as I anticipate that you are unlikely to be a definitive expert in the application and interpretation of such raucous ribaldry, albeit, in my humble opinion, so rib ticklingly humorous. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #16

#15
Thanks for the feedback, Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic, and the sympathy. I’ll read your link over the weekend and get back to you, ‘bloody oath’ I will. 🤗. As always, all things Croatian gratefully received. 👍

Lada 🏡 Prkic

3 years ago #15

Ken, it is sad to see that the post received only 7 Relevants. :( Croatians, especially Dalmatians, are famous for swearing. You can read more about Croatian swear words here, https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/learning-croatian-dalmatian-phrases/ Some swear words can't be translated literally or translated at all. Swears are just part of the culture they came from, and when translated to English sound even more weird than creating Skaspearian insults. :-) I enjoyed reading your article, as always.

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #14

#13
No white rabbits around these days, Jerry. Too many grey hares. 🤣😂🤣

Jerry Fletcher

3 years ago #13

#10
Yes, Ken, you are quite correct but I come from an era where the lyrics to "White Rabbit" included "One pill makes you taller and one pill makes you small" There are times when the little gray cells should "Go ask Alice..." but don't. Now if you'll pardon me I'm going to click my red slippers and be off. And so it goes.

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #12

#11
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQp1RzBpRJZ6oHG2bwyHUHw0PVPK_d0vr2te8IWhlPfT7AsAnAwkOr0A7Re&s=10. Just in case you think I’m pulling your pisser, Neil Smith.

Neil Smith

3 years ago #11

#5
I can't imagine seeing that on the side of a bus round here any day soon .😁

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #10

#4
Incidentally, Jerry Fletcher, I don’t wish to be picky, but Alice was the one who ate the magic mushrooms and ended up in Wonderland, whereas Dorothy was the one with a bad dose of wind and who ended up in Oz. 🤗

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #9

#4
Incidentally, @jerry, I don’t wish to be picky, but Alice was the one who ate the magic mushrooms and ended up in Wonderland, whereas Dorothy was the one with a bad dose of wind and who ended up in Oz. 🤗

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #8

#7
Well, John Rylance, I’ll give it a go. Bloody good read this book. Bloody oath I will. Goddam right it’s true. Streuth, mum, I tried to say you looked crook. 🤗

John Rylance

3 years ago #7

Can you from your vast knowledge of expletives give me guidance on which swear words to use if the following. Swearing on the bible Swearing an oath of allegiance Swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth Swearing on my mother's grave. i want to avoid any social faux pas. Were you risking it for a biscuit when you penned this risk(a)y piece?

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #6

#4
Ha, ha, Jerry Fletcher. Stepping out to that song, “We’re off to see the Wiz ...”, now brings to mind suspicious images of clandestine activities in public conveniences. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #5

#3
Thanks, Neil Smith, for homing in on Shakespeare’s elaboration of the most maligned part of the female anatomy. It brings to mind another tourist advert, this time a poster, to encourage visitors to come to the Northern Territory, or NT, namely: “CU in the NT”. 🤣😂🤣

Jerry Fletcher

3 years ago #4

Ken, Alice went looking for the Wizard. When they turned it into a Broadway play they titled it The Wiz. Where I come form that has an entirely different meaning. Then again, he was the wizard of Oz...And so it goes.

Neil Smith

3 years ago #3

As someone who traditionally uses swearing as punctuation I am trying to tone it down a bit but I have for years been impressed with Shakespeare's more foul mouthrd output , especially the bit in Twelfth Night where he has Malvolio read a forged letter ,ostensibly from Olivia where he phonetically spells oht C-U-N-T . Just in case anyone in the audience missed it he has another character repeat the phrase soon after . It's interesting that the polyglot audience of Shakespeare's time got the joke while it flies over the expensively educated heads of many contemporary audience members .

Ken Boddie

3 years ago #2

#1
Next time you're tempted to throw the F-bomb in polite company, Joyce \ud83d\udc1d Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee, try one of the Shakespearean combos. "You fobbing flap-mouthed fustillarian" may not quite have the same sharpness and hit-me-between-the- eyes effect as "fuck-wit" has, but, who's to say it isn't politically correct, particularly if they haven't got a clue what you're talking about?

Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee

3 years ago #1

Hahahaha Leave to you to be a beacon in the dark. [I can find my way to the bathroom now.] I find myself in the presence of more "polite" company these days. [At least, that's what they think they are...] Everything has reverted to "damn," but I know that won't work everywhere. [Think church and churchgoers] It's amazing how my lips and fingers balk at profanity now, but I still use the occasional fucking exclamation point.

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