Why do people use profanity?

Question

As I travel much, I am constantly submerged in many cultures and socities -many more so witnessed here in America. I have found that in the majority of the states, when people speak to each other (especially moreso in groups) they tend to use much profanity in their speech. Some I have even observed that they tend to use the same profane words repeateably from sentence to sentence.
Typically, a word by itself (without true context) should have no ill attention, however - I notice that many people use the profanity against each other with un-interrupted consistancy.

Why do they do this?
Thank you for your answers.

(I am asking this question with the intention that I ask with all my questions. Not to judge, but to understand. I plead that no-one who may answer this should take offense)

Answer 1

In my opinion the use of profanity indicates a lack of intelligence or education. Certain profane words seem to be used in the place of adjectives and adverbs as well as the nouns and verbs of a sentence. Among groups of people who use profanity against each other, each is trying to impress their friends by all the profanity they know as if it is something to be proud of. The more a person is in the vicinity of people who use profanity, the more likely they are to start using it themselves. Others may have been raised in homes where profanity is the norm and don't know any other way of expressing themselves. Once in the habit of using profanity, the person isn't even aware of how much they use it.

Answer 2

It all depends on the person. There are many "reasons" profanity is used.

1. It may simply be an expression of extreme, sudden emotion, especially pain. Drop a brick on somebody's foot, and a few choice words will probably come out! It is just "their way" of expressing pain and outrage.

2. It may be an uneducated way to express passion as an adverb or adjective. I have known many people who used profanity this way: as simple modifiers. Sadly, it shows the weakness of their vocabulary.

3. It may be actually intended as a curse--the original intent! This usage is getting smaller and smaller, as "cuss words" become more prevalent, their actual MEANING is forgotten. It is like a callousness of the brain. Familiarity breeds numbness.

There may be other reasons to use profanity, IDK. Those are the big 3 that I can imagine right now.

Answer 3

Many use profanity to punch up a sentence to keep the listeners attention. Some use these words as others use "ummm" or "ahhh". A thought pause.
Many use profanity as part of the bonding and friendship sentences of groups every society has. (Teens, athletes, nerds, the forgotten, quilting bees, etc.) "What's up mother@#$%^&" is a long standing way of saying "hello" for example.
I started and used it often because I was a sailor.
Also it takes the pain awayfaster when you hurt yourself (i.e. - hit your thumb with hammer. Hit head on low hanging light fixture, in fan room.) Need to say something! That hurt!

Answer 4

Answering your interesting question: I ain't no edjucated guy, ma'am, but here is what I think: Profanity IS profanity. The four letter words are used in some poems, but when I come think of it, I find it doesn't relate to the original meaning of poetry. Those great poets and writers were masters of English that they used words/expressions which enriched the intended meaning away from the F-words. They had full respect for English, English literature, the field of poetry, and the reader.. and their poetry could be read by any (age). There ain't no censorship involved here, no limitation on freedom of expressing one's feeling, and none of that crap... Its just hard for me to read a poem written in a gutter language. How many in this section 'd put up with the crappy language of rap songs, or its attached KINETIC education, or the IQ level of its teenage fans. The bottom line is: when the poet uses the FwordK, that means he is out of words, vocabulary, alternative expressions, you name it.. or else he ain't having no respect for his reader.. when poets are suppose to make the world more beautiful!!! This poem is a perfect form for bringin' out such genuine question.

Answer 5

It's just language. Rich, earthy, visceral, emotional, evocative language. Some cultures and groups are just more comfortable with it than others.

Using it has nothing to do with education levels or intelligence. THE MOST intelligent person I know swears like anything and uses it very effectively for both communication and group-bonding. I'm well-educated and am more comfortable in situations where I can use my full range of vocabulary. When I have to adapt for etiquette reasons, I feel sort of like I do when I come back from another country -- deprived of those extra words, the choice and flexibility they provide. I don't like being limited to English and I don't like being limited to 'polite' language.

Answer 6

There is an interesting disease that is called torettets syndrome. It is where people suddenly spew out profanity many times relating to the person they are talking to. They will call a black person a ****** as an example. They have no control over it profanity just spews out. It is interesting that it is profanity, not just normal words. Some how the brain decides what is profanity and people use it. Can't really answer your question, but that is some info to think about.

Answer 7

Sometimes the expressions are not profanity.

Some people actually have words that sound like English profanities.

While many people find the scene, they are cussing about or at, can find no words to describe the scene, they fill the gap in their sentences with profanity.

I met a woman who used a profanity in between every word in a sentence and when she was finished a friend and I shook our heads. "She said the same word 20 times." I said.
He said, "And I still understood what she was saying."

Answer 8

watch an un-edited Rap Video.

media has made Profane language a cool thing to do. and the feeling of it being cool does not wear off untill the late 20's to early 30's.

it is simply a cultural thing in young america right now.
most do not see any word as profane. it requires a deragatory context fro a word to be a bad word to use in any given situation.

Answer 9

Lack of a better vocabulary - a better way to express one's self.

OR

Lack of self esteem. The feeling that one has to use shocking language to catch other's attention or to not appear week. Also to fit in with the crowd.

OR

A lack of respect for others and a lack of respect for a standard of morals, and to rebel against others and moral standards.

OR all of the above.

Answer 10

Because of anger, or because sometimes once a "bad word" has been spoken the other person feels intimidated so they use a stronger word and so on. I think they think they are in control of the moment when they use forceful words. Make sense?