What is the purpose of swearing and how do words become swear words?

Answer 1

Broadly speaking "swear words" are used to "STRENGTHEN" language -- to make it clear that you really mean something, to express strong emotion, esp. anger/displeasure, and to offend.

The answers so far seem to assume "swear words" is identical to a particular set of "four-letter words" which are considered to be socially unacceptable. There are actually several related categories of words here that are, at times, closely related. But originally they are different, and it might help to see that

In fact, the term you used -- "swear words"-- does NOT strictly (originally) refer to 'dirty words' related to sexual activity, bodily exretions and the like.

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Here's a sketch of the bigger picture

In most lanaguages there is certain language that is to be used with the utmost care, if at all.

Sociologists sometimes use the expression "taboo words" to express the idea that this is language that one is not allowed to use, or only to use within carefully circumscribed circumstances. Sometimes it includes the idea that the language is "dangerous". This may be because speaking it wrongly or carelessly is thought to cause something bad to happen, esp. to stir up supernatural forces to do something. Or it may simply be that there will be strong SOCIAL consequences of misusing the language. Or both.

At any rate, this special "strong language" may be of various sorts and sources, but it may 'fall together' at times. That's a bit of what has happened with "swear words" in English.

One good starting place is to note two groups of words/types of language, that may be closely related:
a) "swear words" --used to take an oath -- such as "[I swear] in God's name"
b) "curse words" -- used IN a curse, to call down judgment on one's self --as when TAKING an oath --or on others.

In some cultures there a sense that these words are almost magical, that they have power in and of themselves to cause things to happen. Others believe that God, or other divine powers, listen and respond. But in many cases it may be primarily a SOCIAL-LEGAL thing. That is, when one speaks these words in public,esp. in a formally recognized way, it is considered a binding act, that is a legally-binding act, in that society.

So we start with one set of words that is sacred and POSITIVE (e.g. God's name), and another that is very negative (describing the curse). . . all of which are used to make a very STRONG statement (declaration or promise). And note that many of these are solemn and "sacred" terms that are NOT considered wrong to use in themselves, but which it is considered very wrong to MIS-use, including by using the language LIGHTLY or disrespectfully.

These features of the language help explain how 'four-letter words' came to be included and called 'swear words', though this is, strictly speaking, inaccurate, since they are NOT used to swear an oath. Note that this sort of language is often called VULGARITY or PROFANITY.

The idea is something like this. To profane is to misuse something considered sacred or special... dishonoring something that is supposed to be honored. "Profanity" refers to language that --at least in certain contexts-- dishonors, treat lightly or as "profane" --that is common or 'vulgar'-- things that are supposed to be honored as sacred.

Note that THIS language is not necessarily considered wrong in ALL contexts (though the view of that depends on the society or social group one belongs to). But to use "profane" language when talking about something that is supposed to be honored is very much frowned on.

In more recent times, certain 'common' ways of speaking about 'private' bodily functions -- mainly 'elimination of waste' [defecation, urination] and sexual acts -- have fallen into this category of "profanity". . . and so loosely called "swear words" or "curse words". They are considered at best 'impolite' ways of speaking. (How a number of those words, at one point apparently 'everyday' words, took on this negative overtone is a complicated story, in part of the clash betwen different social classes. The fact that many of the offensive words were simple Anglo-Saxon ones, while the formal, socially acceptable terms are often Latin-based, shows that the distinctions were partly between the ordinary people and the courtly language of the Norman conquerors who had become the upper class.)

Note that this does NOT mean the thing spoken about necessarily considered a negative thing in itself. In fact, the idea of 'profanity' is simply that it is to spoken of with care and RESPECT, because it is private and/or it is considered very GOOD and worthy of respect. That, in fact, is the case for words related to sexual acts. In short, four-letter words concerning sex are NOT necessarily considered 'dirty', 'vulgar', 'swear words', etc. because the acts themselves are thought of in this way. It may be precisely the opposite -- that these are considered as things that are as GOOD in their proper place, and SPECIAL, and so to be spoken of with care and respect. Thus the 'swear words' themselves are the ones that are regarded as expressing an improperly negative or low view of sex.

DO note that one typical use of such language is to express very strong NEGATIVE emotions or attitudes --anger/outrage, disgust, etc., -- and esp. in a way INTENDED to strongly offend or at least to shock or underline how strongly the speaker feels. That is, people use the language precisely BECAUSE it is considered offensive or "taboo". (So the defense "they're just words/sounds" or "that's just how society definesit" misses the point. In most cases the speaker chose to USE those particular sounds precisely BECAUSE they knew people in society understood it that way, and they INTENDED to convey that idea. In fact, at bottom this is how ALL human language works.)

Eventually such language may simply be used to express great surprise, or even simply to 'strengthen' or intensify a statement, without necessarily intending to offend.

Answer 2

There's theories that it serves a psychological purpose. Swear words are a way to express the gravity of the subject which is being talked about and are used as a release of sorts. All cultures at all times have had swear words. The words themselves are arbitrary, but it appears every language needs to assign some words the role of "bad" to serve this psychological purpose.

Answer 3

I think swearing can have all sorts of purposes, from venting anger or frustration to intimidating an interlocutor, adapting to the linguistic behaviour of a peer group or even being amused by the sound or effect of some swear words.

Usually, words become swear words when they are perceivged as breaking a taboo. In most human societies, the strongest taboos exist around religion, sex and defecation. So it is no coincidence that you find swearwords from those lexical fields in all sorts of cultures and languages.

Answer 4

Swearing is usually an attempt to accentuate the language and gestures that you are using to communicate your feelings to someone. Swear words tend to be derived from things that people regard as distasteful or derogatory. Hence a lot of Anglo Saxon words for various parts of human anatomy come into this category. Descriptions of products of bodily functions also tend to figure quite high in the "Swear list".

Answer 5

They started out normal everyday words, but were repressed by supposedly more respectable people. F*ck was an Anglo Saxon word. The nobility (who all spoke French) suppressed its use because of its association with the peasants who were Saxon not Norman.
In the past words had different meanings. During the age of sail sh1t was written on barrels of dung (Ship high in transit) because of the risk of explosion. Eventually the word sh1t became assocaited with the dung, in a similar way whores were known as stews because they were found at bath houses.
Ar5e was at one time a polite word but was replaced first by bum in the 18th century then bottom in the 19th
Many swear words were of religious origins (damn, goddammit, Christ, Bloody). Other former swear words have become obsolete and fallen out of use (Odsplut means God's blood)

Answer 6

Swearing is way to buck current trends and upset people outside your cultural/age/gender group, it's a way to rebel. In Austen's times to say bum was a swear word, in my gran's time it was ar5e now we have adopted other words to make people feel offense and stand out.

Words become swear words if they offend, and the more people they offend the longer they stay a swear word - but eventually they become part of normal speech

Answer 7

I wonder if its an expression of frustration and anger, when directed at you personally they seem to hit the mark, right into your heart unless you remain cognitive and are not given to violence one can normally shrug it off as an immature use of language sociolinguistically speaking. I often hear the word **** where I live, it may refer to part of the female anatomy but I'm not sure, it may be used because a person hasn't the mental capacity to use language to communicate thoughts and feelings, therefore resorting to blaming a woman which we all know has been a typical response from Neanderthal man toward women until the recent era of the emancipation of women.

Answer 8

They originate and are used when people use a certain word to make fun of something or someone for a trait or action. Usually the words have different meanings which they were originally suppose to hace

Answer 9

all the swear words in the uk were anglo saxon in origin but they werent swear words at the time .they only became swear words when the english language became more sophisticated.

Answer 10

swear words are used by people with no education, there is always a way to respond to a situation. think before you speak!

Answer 11

That's a great question and I'm not sure where they came up with them, but they probably all derived from "Damn" which is basically cursing something or saying something is bad. I also think that cussing is healthy because if we didn't use cuss words sometimes, like towards people, violence would come out of people.