Fuck! Just thought I'd follow the trend of beginning the profanities reading with the most common profanity.
I definetly implement coarse language in the majority of my everyday interactions, excluding family gatherings or professional environments. However I do throw it into casual conversations without a second thought, it really wouldnt register if I exhausted my usage of profound language. In fact it's only occurred to me, as a result of this subject that I'm adopting the word "cunt" more frequently in my social interactions, even greeting a friend with "Hey cunt" or thanking someone with "cheers cunt". But the people I've used the word around don't register to the profanity of language applied to our interactions.
Janet and Daley explained that their case study of workers described their use of language to one another as a "we know each other well thing...no one really takes offense". Janet and Daley evaluate the reasons for usage of "fuck" as, "to have intercourse and to ruin, as well as more overtly expletive functions as an attention-grabbing particle, an insult and an intensifier."(p.949).
So if the reality of the words that I’m referring to are essentially to have sex or do a number two or to have male genitalia on my head would that reduce the usage of coarse language in casual conversation? I know when interacting with someone who is not of the same ethnicity or cultural background as myself I do think twice about the content of my language. So if we recognise the “reality” of coarse language would we decrease the profanities in our social interactions?
References
Daly, Nicola, Janet Holmes, Jonathon Newton, and Maria Stubbe 2004, “Expletives as solidarity signals in FTAs on the factory floor.” Journal of Pragmatics 36: pp.945-964
Hayakawa, S.I., and Alan Hayakawa. 1990.Language in Thought and Action. Orlando: Harcourt Brace: 50
Hello, SOC250 Blogger : )
ReplyDeleteI really engaged with your post and identified with what you're saying.
I am not a 'swearer' myself, but I, like you, have come to realise how more frequently the word 'cunt'is being used. My friends have taken to fare-welling each other with 'catch ya, cunt.' I agree with how you interpreted the reading and the case study. I think that friends use expletives and profanities towards each other because there is a strong relationship, therefore no-one takes offence, like it was noted in the reading. The word is simply not as shocking anymore.
I like how you mention cultural, social, and ethnic differences and I know that I am\and would be more cautious of my choice of words. I know that I don't say 'bitch' or 'shit' in front of my Grandma, but I wouldn't worry about saying it in front my friends. I would like to think that no-matter how often one uses expletives, everyone will be able to know when it's not appropriate to do so, like you said when you are interacting with someone with a different cultural background. It was such a fascinating topic.