Profanity has a purpose, but so does censorship
Sarah Cheung
Staff Writer
May 2017
Staff Writer
May 2017
You're walking down the hallway to your first class when you hear an f-bomb drop from a passerby.
You barely notice.
Only three feet away, you catch another person complaining about how much they can't stand their calculus class — their similar word choice begging to make everyone understand just how unbearable it must be.
But you don't even blink, much less question why you're surrounded by vulgarities so early in the morning.
We are immersed in a culture where swear words are heard on a daily basis. They are used by our peers, are casually heard on the street, and appear in books, music, and other popular forms of media.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to be profane is to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt.
All swear words fit this description at various levels, with the more commonly used and accepted ones considered the least crude. Through repeated use, it's possible that society has become desensitized to certain words over time. This indicates that what we get offended by, and at what degree, has evolved.
Philip Gooden, an author of books about language, said to Business Insider, "What makes swear words offensive is that people are ready to be offended by them… The kind of language that you can fairly regularly hear now… is quite standard; it's available and accessible to pretty well anybody. But there would have been a fantastic fuss about some of these terms three or four decades back."
Obscenities can express a wide array of emotions, including anger, frustration, passion, and joy.
For instance, a study done by Keele University in the U.K.found that lacing curse words into our speech can help relieve pain. Seventy-one participants were asked to submerge their hands into ice water for as long as they could endure, and 73 percent performed the task longer when they could repeat a swear word rather than a non-swear word.
Beyond conveying our everyday sentiments, profanity has played a role in shaping political issues throughout history and today.
In the 1971 court case of Cohen vs. California, Robert Cohen held a jacket with the phrase "F--- the Draft" in regards to the Vietnam War and faced conviction for disturbing the peace with offensive conduct. Eventually, the Supreme Court's decision was overturned because the freedom of expression is protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Since then, the U.S. has seen numerous occurrences where profanity has been used to make political statements, both verbally and on social media.
Mass media also influences how we perceive so-called "bad" words. The literature taught at Carlmont exemplifies one way that students are exposed to the effects of such language.
"Board policy and approvals are run by the district. We have an approved list of books to read," said Denise Steward, an English teacher. "So then, obviously, the reason we are teaching it is more important than having the f-word in it."
Included in Carlmont's curriculum is "The Catcher in the Rye," a novel that includes the recurrent use of swear words that were deemed forbidden during the 1950s. Its purpose was to shock the readers of its time and convey the main character's restrictive environment and mental health.
"Authors will do something to get the attention of the society in which they write," Steward said.
As previously stated, modern-day comfort with obscene language can be attributed to its increased frequency. The normality of its presence may pressure people to be more accepting of it, and in turn, use it in their own language.
"The constant use of profanity from my peers and some family members made me feel like it’s okay to use," said Srikar Bevara, a sophomore.
However, swearing often becomes disrespectful or annoying when used gratuitously. Amy Fullerton, a junior, said, "I think it's rude to use profane language when there are so many other words in our vocabulary that communicate the same ideas. It should be used in moderation."
At the same time, the mere existence of swearing suggests that human beings desire a linguistic outlet to express themselves.
Gooden said, "It's almost as if in language there has to be a part which is a kind of dark and sinister area where people are wary about treading, but at the same time, they want to go there."
This could explain why adolescents find it thrilling to swear amongst their peers, or why it may feel rebellious to use curse words in the presence of authority.
TIME writer Katy Steinmetz said, "There’s reason to believe that the more kids are sheltered from these words, the more impressive they become. Use it all the time and you habituate; the words lose their oomph."
While society collectively discerns which words are considered acceptable in given situations, individuals can make their own choices — but should be conscious of how their language can affect how others perceive them.
Steward said, "I encourage students to use academic language because in college that's what they're going to need to do; there's a time and a place for profanity. And you need to know the difference of when it is and when it's not appropriate. You need to know your audience."
You barely notice.
Only three feet away, you catch another person complaining about how much they can't stand their calculus class — their similar word choice begging to make everyone understand just how unbearable it must be.
But you don't even blink, much less question why you're surrounded by vulgarities so early in the morning.
We are immersed in a culture where swear words are heard on a daily basis. They are used by our peers, are casually heard on the street, and appear in books, music, and other popular forms of media.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to be profane is to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt.
All swear words fit this description at various levels, with the more commonly used and accepted ones considered the least crude. Through repeated use, it's possible that society has become desensitized to certain words over time. This indicates that what we get offended by, and at what degree, has evolved.
Philip Gooden, an author of books about language, said to Business Insider, "What makes swear words offensive is that people are ready to be offended by them… The kind of language that you can fairly regularly hear now… is quite standard; it's available and accessible to pretty well anybody. But there would have been a fantastic fuss about some of these terms three or four decades back."
Obscenities can express a wide array of emotions, including anger, frustration, passion, and joy.
For instance, a study done by Keele University in the U.K.found that lacing curse words into our speech can help relieve pain. Seventy-one participants were asked to submerge their hands into ice water for as long as they could endure, and 73 percent performed the task longer when they could repeat a swear word rather than a non-swear word.
Beyond conveying our everyday sentiments, profanity has played a role in shaping political issues throughout history and today.
In the 1971 court case of Cohen vs. California, Robert Cohen held a jacket with the phrase "F--- the Draft" in regards to the Vietnam War and faced conviction for disturbing the peace with offensive conduct. Eventually, the Supreme Court's decision was overturned because the freedom of expression is protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Since then, the U.S. has seen numerous occurrences where profanity has been used to make political statements, both verbally and on social media.
Mass media also influences how we perceive so-called "bad" words. The literature taught at Carlmont exemplifies one way that students are exposed to the effects of such language.
"Board policy and approvals are run by the district. We have an approved list of books to read," said Denise Steward, an English teacher. "So then, obviously, the reason we are teaching it is more important than having the f-word in it."
Included in Carlmont's curriculum is "The Catcher in the Rye," a novel that includes the recurrent use of swear words that were deemed forbidden during the 1950s. Its purpose was to shock the readers of its time and convey the main character's restrictive environment and mental health.
"Authors will do something to get the attention of the society in which they write," Steward said.
As previously stated, modern-day comfort with obscene language can be attributed to its increased frequency. The normality of its presence may pressure people to be more accepting of it, and in turn, use it in their own language.
"The constant use of profanity from my peers and some family members made me feel like it’s okay to use," said Srikar Bevara, a sophomore.
However, swearing often becomes disrespectful or annoying when used gratuitously. Amy Fullerton, a junior, said, "I think it's rude to use profane language when there are so many other words in our vocabulary that communicate the same ideas. It should be used in moderation."
At the same time, the mere existence of swearing suggests that human beings desire a linguistic outlet to express themselves.
Gooden said, "It's almost as if in language there has to be a part which is a kind of dark and sinister area where people are wary about treading, but at the same time, they want to go there."
This could explain why adolescents find it thrilling to swear amongst their peers, or why it may feel rebellious to use curse words in the presence of authority.
TIME writer Katy Steinmetz said, "There’s reason to believe that the more kids are sheltered from these words, the more impressive they become. Use it all the time and you habituate; the words lose their oomph."
While society collectively discerns which words are considered acceptable in given situations, individuals can make their own choices — but should be conscious of how their language can affect how others perceive them.
Steward said, "I encourage students to use academic language because in college that's what they're going to need to do; there's a time and a place for profanity. And you need to know the difference of when it is and when it's not appropriate. You need to know your audience."