The Art of Cursing

I've only spent three out of my sixteen years that I have been on this earth swearing, only a recent development starting since grade 8.

I can't remember my first swear words, nor my last. But through my use of it, I have made some observations.

Library Day

The first time someone would make me conscious of swearing as a means of communicating would be my grade 5 teacher.

To no one's surprise, there would always be the few kids, particularly the footy boys, who would swear in primary school.

During the morning, when we borrowed library books, after hearing some foul language, my teacher got us to sit down on the carpet floor.

Her tone was authoritative. It was piercing, with a hint of disappointment.

Just hearing the monologue made me feel like I was the one in trouble, let alone the rest of the class.

"Swearing is a lazy of way talking."

As a 10-year-old, I probably didn't know the true meaning behind the sentence said. But it left me an imprint until I could fully comprehend it in high school.

The Basis

Swearing does not mean the person who uses those words is lazy. However, how they present and articulate themselves is presented poorly and lazily.

For example, 'fuck'.

'Fuck' is a very versatile word. This one-syllable word has so many meanings, and with the magic of the English language, even more, using tone and articulation.

'Fuck you, 'fuck me, 'fuck off'', 'get fucked', 'for fuck's sake, 'fucking hell', 'motherfucker', 'fuckface', 'fucktard', do I need to list more?

It can also be used as an amplifier and technically an adverb.

I think.

The connotation that swear words are lazy comes from their use as a filler word. Like 'um', 'you know, 'so', 'yeah'.

It's natural for us to use a filler word to give us time to gather our thoughts mid-conversation.

Yet, if I placed the word 'fuck' between every word of my sentence, I'd justifyingly call it lazy. It is easier to say 'fuck' than to consciously think for a second about what is leaving our mouths.

Now, am I saying you're better than everyone if you don't swear?

No.

It's not the preferable way to articulate your Being but be used correctly in other contexts.

My policy is reservation and moderation.

If it is regarding comedy, then hell yeah.

Most of the funny jokes have crudeness and offensiveness at a level that heightens their humour.

Again, it cannot be overused to a point where the jokes are too crude and are no longer funny.

The whole point of comedy is the subversion of expectations. Overusing swear words loses its punch, thus, making it expected.

Swearing is also a medium.

As kids, we were told, in simple terms, "They are words that hurt other people."

Remember the last time you got angry at someone, to the point you started swearing.

As humans, we interpret this as your response wanting to cause harm. The meaning doesn't matter; it's the fact that you chose to say them.

Like gift-giving, it's not the present; it's the thought that counts.

Who Should Use It?

Anything less than high school, absolutely not. Grade 7-9 I'm iffy. Grade 10 and up, it gets my seal of approval.

From how I see it, swearing is like a right of passage.

Words should match the speaker's mouth, and it doesn't match children's faces.

The kids who usually swear at a young age have no doubt got it from their parents.

Rather than a conscious decision of swearing, it is a subconscious behaviour influenced by their social environment.

That is why I advocate they start swearing at adolescence.

There is more awareness of what they say, allowing them to be conscious of how and when they use it.

It does not seem fitting for a child to swear.

They haven't matured enough to develop an identity that can correctly express itself with the catalogue of words at hand.

Children also have the potential to misuse swear words.

Why are they Bad?

Context matters for 'dirty words' like swear words.

We spout profanity amongst friends, expressing grave anger, frustration or sadness.

Look at each swear word and define them.

The denominator between each of them is their crude meanings.

And in most instances, hearing the words out loud is unpleasant.

Manners are usually associated with a culture's shared agreeance with how we conduct social interactions. To then say them in an inappropriate context violates these norms and customs.

For example, look at the relationship between a student and a teacher.

Why is it, at school, most of the swearing is heard amongst students and not teachers?

From what I understand, it's creating a definitive relationship between the authority and the subordinates.

It should be a black and white difference between a teacher and a student.

For a teacher to start openly swearing in front of students, that line between the established relationship starts to blur.

If a teacher starts to be less conscious of their words, becoming unprofessional, the students' perceptions of them shift to being like a friend rather than a mentor.

The implications of this blur lead to a psychological one where there is no clear distinction; maintaining order becomes a challenge.

Language is Culture

Culture continually develops since our ability as humans to create and comprehend meaning.

Through years of trial and error, our ancestors have created a set of beliefs and values that would, in turn, manifest the best outcome for that society.

A way that culture develops is through language.

We can communicate reality through words, from the polite to the profane.

Each word assigned a meaning: a task to convey all aspects of reality.

Language is profuse: having the ability for change and harm— a double-edged sword.

In some aspects, we can be seen as the by-product of culture, knowing we speak its language, dress its clothing, and participate in its societies.

Cultures, ideas, language ultimately evolve. They are not definite but gradually change with time.

It is not to say we mindlessly criticise without knowing the implications and reasoning behind our culture.

The fact we have taboo words is for a reason.

I still think it's a force for good. A culture that can recognise, acknowledge and set boundaries through its language will influence how we articulate ourselves and reality.

To have agreeance on where those boundaries exist implies a firm set of beliefs and values.

It is up to us, as individuals, to know when we need to cross them whilst still retaining why we enforce them.

Through this process, our language and culture will naturally evolve, in turn, creating the betterment of our being and human civilisation.

Carelessly crossing these set and well defiant limits without conscious thought will only create inarticulation of reality and chaos.

See words as a means of self-expression, all of them.

Understanding the rules before you can effectively break them is detrimental to creating the best outcomes for yourself and the greater society.

And when in doubt, speak freely.