What makes a swear word a swear word?

Question

Isn't to swear meant to mean like promising upon your honour? How can a word be dirty..? I don't see any dirt on it!

Answer 1

There is one possible explanation: it's the fault of the French.

Prior to 1066, only germanic tribal languages and celtic were spoken in the British islands (the Scots would argue with that, I suppose, but their language was a mix of celtic and germanic languages. When the French-speaking Normans invaded, they imposed French on the educated peoples of the land. Only the poor and rural peoples continued to speak the other languages. Many of the words of those other languages became forbidden in the cities, universities, and in the royal court. They were considered "vulgar" (from the Latin - of the people or masses). Educated people didn't use them. Eventually, the French were thrown out, but the effect of the French language overlaying the Saxon, Angle, Welch, Celtic and other dialects stuck. It's largely how latin words got into the "Angle-ish" (English) language. The attitude toward many "vulgar" words also stuck and so "swear words" (phrases with lower class oaths attached to them) and "curse words" (same) became socially unacceptable, especially with the rise of the middle class, all of whom wanted to be considered "educated" and "noble", even if they weren't. The "F" word is said to have been associated with the Old English/Middle High German word "to strike or hit sharply or with great force" (ficken), a perfectly acceptable word prior to the French domination. Other "four letter words" may have similar roots and levels of unacceptability, depending on the age. The word "nice", for instance, is perfectly acceptable now, but a "nice girl" in the 16th century was a young woman of ill repute(!)

Of course, all of this is theory only, and it doesn't always hold up for all words that we consider socially inappropriate today. But, at least some of the words that we don't want our kids to run around saying may have, at one time, been OK for everyone to use.

Ain't language fun?

Answer 2

Exactly. When such a word is used out of context.....

'Swear' does not only relate to 'honour', it also can mean a curse... used as profanity, if you like.

Ex: "Jesus Christ was the son of God." vs "Jesus Christ, you are an idiot." The second use is hardly honourable!

Answer 3

In English a minimum of, various that's a results of sophistication differences. long, before there have been various language variations between uneducated, decrease training, and the knowledgeable larger training. lots of this replaced into meditated in be conscious selection. lots of it is going back to the Norman Conquest, whilst the Latin(ish) conversing Normans conquered Anglo-Saxon England. The Normans have been a minority, and favoring their Latin-based language over the close by Anglo-Saxon varieties replaced right into a diffused yet useful way of exterting dominance. See, English is (in all probability) unique in that it has 2 diverse words for almost each and everything: one is of Latin/Greek beginning, and the different is of Anglo-Saxon beginning. The decrease training used in maximum cases Anglo-Saxon words, the better training could desire to tutor superiority by utilising utilising Latin/Greek words. over the years the Anglo-Saxon words grew to grow to be refrained from, and theory-approximately vulgar. because of the fact, properly, because of the fact eveyone desires to be linked with potential. in case you're able to try this basically by utilising utilising a particular set of words, the cost is decrease priced. that's the place the excellence lies. those differences are embedded in English conversing societies. that's no longer lots conversing with regard to the physique or intercourse it relatively is seen vulgar - that's identifying on the Anglo-Saxon words that makes it sound vulgar to society. working example.... a million) The sexual act - intercourse (latin) = reliable /// f*@ok (anglo-saxon) = undesirable 2) Male genitalia - penis (latin) = ok /// c**ok (anglo-saxon) = undesirable 3) lady genitalia - vagina (latin) = ok /// c**t = undesirable. 4) That element you're sitting on = buttocks (latin, properly, no longer precisely) = reliable /// ***/ar$e (anglo-saxon) = undesirable See.

Answer 4

It's the peoples interpretation of a word that makes it dirty. We choose it to be dirty.

Answer 5

Culture.

What may be offensive to some is not for others, depending on their culture and how a word is perceived by society.

Answer 6

The correct terminology for what I believe you are trying to say is "profanity". Another thought on that same subject: Profanity is a crutch for conversational cripples.

Answer 7

I know when i was in 3rd grade I said I swear and my freind she said ohh your not supose to swear

Answer 8

Public openion.

Answer 9

That's why there is also "curse word".

It's only dirty because other people cringe at it.

Answer 10

if other people feel it's a wrong word to answer