Swearing – the power words
There is nothing like coming out with a few swear words when you trap your finger in the door, or the speed camera just flashed at you.
I have been known to use a few.
I’m a writer. I know words have power. They have brought down Empires, won battles and changed minds. You cannot beat a good word.
Back in England when it was a Theocracy (and exported out to the USA) the worst thing you could possibly do was to blaspheme. Thus a lot of our swear words were those power words.
God
Christ
Jesus
Blind me
Bloody Mary
Hellfire
Damnation
These were so terrible that they had to be modified.
Gee
Cripes
Golly
Gosh
Blimey
Crikey
When religion lost its power people had to use other power words. Fortunately sex was handy. We could commandeer a whole vocabulary of swear words.
In older Britain sex was not a big deal. Sex parts and words were used in everyday language. We still see the remains of this in surnames – Cunniliffe = cuntlips.
But in Victorian times, with all its repressed hypocrisy, the sex words were unspeakable. Even body parts like belly and arse were gentrified – willy, stomach, bottom, fanny.
Sex words were the new shocking power such as:
Cunt
Fuck
Prick
Dick
Arse
Wank
Twat
There are the controlling misogynistic put-downs (that are ironically often nused by females to put down other females)
Slapper
Tart
Whore
Bitch
Slut
Slag
Gradually these words, which were not used in genteel company, began to lose their power. The sixties sexual revolution saw them used more and more. The Lady Chatterley trial, Allen Ginsberg Howl trial and the prosecution of IT and OZ gradually broke the walls down.
Nowadays it is not unusual to see these words used in newspapers.
They still retain some power but it is on the wane.
The latest unprintable ‘power’ words I would suggest are racial. If you really want to cause offence you deploy a few of them and the world (probably rightly) comes down upon your head.
I won’t even use them because I think they are too abusive.
So are racial words destined to be the swearwords of tomorrow? Or are we going to find other power words?
If so – where are they coming from?
Politically correct has gone far too far, no one can say much these days before they receive reprimands, for example I read today that a shop displayed Golliwogs in the toy shop windows and people were offended, why they are toys – children do not if they were given one think of them in a racist way – why should these toys have to be referred to by many as “Happy People” that is rubbish. Why are programmes like “Fawlty Towers” now censored when repeated and on the DVD’s it is all too crazy.
We’re not allowed to say “golly” anymore. Although, I think the pc police have a bit of trouble with Little Richard’s meaning and haven’t caught on to that just yet. Best not tell `em.
And don’t tell what “Rock ‘n Roll” means either.
I think they know.
Fawlty Towers censored? What are they censoring?
Probably for taking the rise out of old people – the 2 ladies, the major, or the Spanish, or the Germans, or the Irish, or the wife,…a very long list of taboo’s.
Most humour takes the piss out of someone. I can’t see Fawlty Towers as offensive. Chubby Brown maybe.
But I still can’t work out why either, as there was never any below the belt humour or anything really. I’ve met Germans that burst out laughing just talking about that dining room sketch.
They would cancel out most humour if they object to that. H&S goes mad.
I’d meant to mention earlier – that’s why Robertsons had to take it off their marmalade label. It was on the TV, with commentary from some West Indies people who are now sitting comfortably in high ranking council positions in some London boroughs. Judging by the severity of their diatribe on the matter one would’ve thought someone had just shot Bambi right in front of them.
Whatever happened to the Milky Bar Kid?
Is he persona non grata, too?
I don’t swear much but do occasionally drop f bombs when things are going badly.
I think we all do. Nice to hear from you – all the best – Opher
Andrew, the Irish do not take offence at the jokes told about them in fact as you probably know they themselves tell the best jokes about themselves. Do you remember the late Dave Allen and his sketches about the Church, you just laughed so much. I doubt a lot of them could be shown now. We have become too sensitive in this Country and criticised if we speak our minds, I like honesty in all its forms, the truth is not always welcome.
Anna, I loved Dave Allen and he’s irreplaceable. There was a documentary on a while back about great comedians from the era and apparently he’s now no longer considered politically correct. But also Dave had it written into his contract that every episode of any of his TV series may only be shown on first broadcast plus one repeat only. Which goes to explain why we never get to see any re-runs. Pity.
Andrew, my youngest Son told me about what Dave Allen had written into his Contract, because I could not understand why they did not repeat his programme. I loved him I thought he was fantastic also I was a little in love with him he was so gorgeous. Did you know the Church excommunicated him, ridiculous. Andrew the World has gone mad it is so stupid we have to watch all we say.
Blimey and golly gosh, I’ve learned some new words today! Was surprisingly old (10 or 11) when I heard the F-word for the first time, but I was (a) middle class and (b) subject to severe parental censorship. Now, of course, I eff and blind with the best of them. We happily swore in front of our kids – our only condition, don’t swear in front of people you feel may be offended. Nice post, by the way …
Opher, I am really surprised at you after all you have enough words in your books that would offend and in fact some have but I discretely do not make an issue of them. I used a term used by so many that describes what is going on in this Country every weekend in every City and Town – we are a disgrace in Europe, once we had standards now we do not. Prostitutes sell goods men want and they charge for it, that is honest, I have no problem. But what do you call girls that get drunk on pavements having sex with strangers on the street, you give me just one word for those women Opher and no liberal rubbish please. I will have David send you some pics that appear in our newspapers including the Telegraph and Guardian. I have to say I am shocked you made an issue of what I said when you do not find it offensive with some of the things you have printed, thought better.
Anna, you tell it like it is. I respect that.
Well Anna I think we may be talking at cross purposes. Girls who behave sluttishly in public deserve to be called sluts. I obviously did not make myself clear to you or Andrew.
It wasn’t that particular brand of female that I was referring to.
In the past a lot of very nice, pleasant girls, like my friend Eve, were called sluts, tarts, slappers and the like. They weren’t. There is nothing wrong in enjoying sex and having a healthy sex life. Girls should not be labelled with being called slags because they have sex. I think that is what used to happen.
I suppose I am rather sensitive to those issues.
I am by no means condoning the behaviour I see around town centres – the girls behaving abominably or the boys behaving thuggishly. It’s deplorable.
I obviously did not explain that very well.
I certainly wasn’t taking issue with you. I’m sorry if that is how it appeared.
Cheers Dave.
Andrew, I can’t lie people only have to look in my eyes. Even if the truth hurts I would rather tell it to someone’ face, I could not lie to them. I have been told too many times I am too honest for my own good but I just can’t be any other way, people take advantage and I do get hurt but that is how it is. Thank you for your remark, I appreciate that.
Sometimes a few accurately aimed, pointed swear words work very well. At my work I always had to struggle to keep a sock in it at times. However, that pent up stress was often immediately relieved the very second I walked into the hotel kitchen’s, where although the wall tiles were stark white, the air was a definite shade of royal blue. These guys could swear for their country.
My oldest friend has a son with learning difficulties – quite severe Autism. Thankfully his other younger son is fine. They must be 21 and 19 now. A few weeks back I was asked to tag along to a football match – not my favourite thing to do these days, anyway I did. It was at Glasgow Rangers’ ground against some mickey mouse wee team because that’s the league Rangers are in following demotion for bankruptcy. Anyway, we’re in the half-full stand and the next seat from me is the bloke with a mouth on him that was way beyond reasonable. OK, indeed the standard of football was fairly desperate, but this bloke was effing and ceeing with every breath. The boy with Autism asked us if this bloke was angry and why was he so angry because nobody had scored any goals yet. Too true. It continued and really began to irritate me, so I got his attention and suggested it would be good if he could cool it a bit, the boy had a few difficulties and was becoming anxious because of it. Understandable really. The bloke’s mate was sort of listening, too, but not really. The bloke looked at me, then the boy and turned around to his mate and said “hey Rab, gonnae shut the fuck up, that boy there’s a fuckin’ loony and nearly fuckin’ greetin’ cos we’re fuckin’ swearin’ an that”. Rab, replied “ah fuck the wee c**t, it’s no ma fault he’s a fuckin’ spacker”! With that, we left it.
Who said football was fun for all the family?
When I worked for the council there was a guy who honestly managed to have every second word a swear word. I think it gave him time to think.