who created the idea of profanity and "bad language"?

Question

the bad words we were punished for saying when growing up...the f word, b word, d word ect. are profane language. but according to my insight i believe these words are only bad b/c society has put it into our head that these words are not to be said in public and especially in front of children. granted, most religions tell you not to say cuss words, or to not speak blasphemy, but how are the common cuss words blasphemy? now, i am not a fan of cussing and rarely do it in fact, but why is it wrong? i feel all it does is put more emphasis on what you are trying to get across. ie. instead of saying "i am really mad at you" you could say "i am f*&^%$# mad at you"....same point coming across but just more emphasis i feel. if you have any insight on this topic i would love to hear it. i would also love to hear what authority says that the common cuss words we say are actually profanity. thanks.

Answer 1

First, when you say "these words are only bad because SOCIETY. . . " that's not anything unusual. ALL language is a social thing--a shared medium (for communication)-- so it's precisely society that DOES decide what words mean, including negative overtones and what is or isn't acceptable.

I notice that you used a variety of terms to refer to the words you're asking about, though it seems your main concern is with the so-called "four-letter words". It helps to see how these terms ORIGINALLY (and even now in their stricter senses) referred to DIFFERENT types of offensive language, What unites them is that they ARE considered offensive (some of them generally, some only in specific contexts).

In everyday speech the distinctions can become blurred, esp. when the words end up being used to be express strong emotion (esp. anger) or 'emphasis'. When this happens, the different types of words might all end up being lumped under the same terms.
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Consider the following categories, in their stricter senses:

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. Example, May I be damned, if I am lying."
("cuss" words comes from this, but it is often used much more loosely to refer to offensive words.)

c) "blasphemy" -- language against something holy (most serious would be uttering a curse against God)

d) "profanity" -- treating something holy as common and cheap, not honoring it (weaker than blasphemy), including misusing the name of God; more loosely in the same sense as (e)
e) "vulgarity" or 'common' speech -- treating what is 'special' in a way that dishonors it or treats it too lightly.

Note that (a) and (b) have PROPER uses in formal settings, such as in a solemn oath in court (as opposed to "blasphemy" which would NEVER be considered acceptable.) But because these concern solemn things they are NOT to be MISUSED or spoken lightly. When used in that way they become very much like "profanity".
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This idea may be helpful for your specific question -- "Profanity" refers to language that dishonors, treats lightly or as "profane" --meaning 'common' or 'vulgar'-- things that are supposed to be honored as sacred.

Note that THIS language is not necessarily considered wrong in ALL contexts. And it does NOT mean that ALL ways of talking about the subject are unacceptable. But to use "profane" language when talking about something that is supposed to be honored is frowned on.

Now, in more recent times, certain 'common' ways of speaking about 'private' bodily functions -- mainly 'elimination of waste' [defecation, urination] and sexual acts (the latter being considered more serious) -- have fallen into this category of "profanity". . . and so loosely called "swear words" or "curse [cuss] words". They are considered at best 'impolite' ways of speaking.

Answer 2

You're right that it's a purely a societal convention to consider certain words taboo - but it's necessary to enable the emphasis you mention. If the f-word was considered a totally normal, fine word to use, then everyone would use it all the time and it wouldn't be emphatic anymore.

Is because these words are not supposed to be said that they have the power to add emphasis - you're showing that you're so angry that you're willing to break the rules (or can't control yourself anymore and are breaking them involuntarily). The effect is stronger the more rule-observing the speaker is normally perceived as - if, for example, an alcoholic bum uses the f-word it'll have much less impact on the listeners than if a priest says it.

The "forbiddeness" of those words and their power to add emphasis are really two sides of the same coin.

(Oh, and to the other poster: cuss words existed long before the Mayflower - in Old English, in Ancient Greek - all indications are that they always existed in all languages.)

Answer 3

Why "bad"... when kids are little, they don't really understand the complexities of appropriate vs. inappropriate and all that other good stuff, so you put things into 1 of 2 categories "good" and "bad". Most people don't want their kids growing up screaming profanity, so they explain that the words shouldn't be used. Some things just aren't appropriate. The infamous "4 letter words" have no real purpose other than to offend.

Answer 4

Unfortunately there is reseach showing that such ideas are prehistorical, that even in Proto-Indo-European times people avoided certain words to do with sex for example and used euphemisms. But you do have a point that there is an important difference between several kinds of offensive language. One is anything to do with sex or elimination (obscenity). Another is saying bad things about other people (like racial or ethnic slurs). A third is cursing, i.e., wishing people ill by invoking god or other supernatural powers.

Answer 5

There are indications that what we all "bad words" are processed in the area of the brain that also processes cries that we make when we are hurt, and not solely in the areas which process language. Since the pain cries are largely involuntary, it is possible that "bad language" shares an involuntary component as well.

Answer 6

Well the idea that they are "Profanity" comes from the early American Puritans. They took the commandment of not profaning God's name and applied it to all curse words, so saying the f word (if they had that back then) was known as "profanity". True the f word does not really profane the name of God, but somehow that is how they saw it.