What makes swear words so offensive?

Answer 1

One simple (almost simplistic) answer, is that swear words are offensive (to people) because they are INTENDED to be. That is, people generally use them with the INTENSION of insulting or giving offense (often because of anger). So it should not be surprising if listeners TAKE offense when it is intended. (Some try to say it's all about "how people take it", but that's a bit silly. If you used some other harmless word they would not take offense -- they do so with these words because that was usually the speaker's POINT in using the words.)

So. . . how did these words come to be understood as offensive? (I take it that is your question)

This is a little tricky to answer, because what we tend to call "swear words" or "curse words" is actually a collection of different sorts of words originally used for a variety of purposes.

What they all share is that they are "STRONG language". In some cultures that may carry the almost magical idea that speaking the word automatically causes something (usually negative) to happen. But more commonly, much of this is a special type of "legal language" which the community recognizes as "the way to do something", and which has its power BECAUSE the community agrees to it.

(For example, a judge may declare a person guilty or acquitted, or an individual may solemnly declare to another, 'With this ring I the wed". Spoken in the proper context these words --sometimes combined with symbolic actions-- are recognized by society as LEGALLY accomplishing something.)
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The different types:

(1) FORMAL/LEGAL Language

Some are *original* "curse" words -- used to express a very strong negative wish against someone. Example: "Damn you" (that is, "May you be damned/condemned to hell"). These words are the easiest to understand the offensiveness of -- you are wishing the listener a grave ill! If you are speaking these words literally you MEAN to offend!

Others are original "swearing" words, that is, words used to swear an oath.

a) This may include the solemn calling on ("invocation") of God or reference to some holy person or object (which may even by symbolically touched) -- to witness the oath, and to judge the speaker who breaks the oath.

The point here is that the speaker is guaranteeing the oath by that deity who is dishonored by a lying or broken oath. It is as if the oath-taker speaks as the representative ("in the name of") the deity,etc., suggesting that the one BY whom they swear stands behind their oath. . . AND is guilty. (The idea naturally follows that God is expected tol judge --to vindicate his own honor-- when someone uses his name to support a solemn LIE.)

b) The oath may also include "curse" language -- usually, a sort of "self-curse", that is, a wish that some great evil will befall the person taking the oath if they are lying or go on to break their solemn oath-promise.

(Note that there are two basic types of oath -- one accompanying testimony, solemnly declaring that he is telling the truth; one while making a solemn promise [or 'vow', which is, more narrowly, a promise to carry out some religious duty])

You can see that the oath is an example of special formal-legal language recognized by society as having special binding force to actually DO something (legally).

Thus, to swear an oath lightly/carelessly is to misuse the intent of the language, and considered an offense -- often especially an offense against the deity whose name is used cavalierly and so dishonored.

All this explains why some sacred terms (divine names, for example) and "curse language" may be considered perfectly find in SOME contexts and not in others. It is not the words themselves, but their being used (especially used LIGHTLY) against another person or to make a casual or dishonest oath.

(2) "VULGAR" LANGUAGE

This is what people more often mean by "swear words", "curse words" and "offensive language" these days, even though --as the last section shows-- cursing and swearing, strictly speaking are something different.

"Vulgar" and "profane" originally refer to "common"/ordinary language. "Profane", in particular, is distinguished from something "holy". In fact, to "profane" something is to take something that is regarded as holy -- or at least "very special"-- and to treat it lightly, to cheapen it. In the strictest sense it may be used for something like using the name of God lightly (as, in the examples, above, to take a formal oath lightly). But it also is used more loosely for 'disrespectful' sorts of speech. "Vulgar" has taken on a similar meaning.

Nowadays we especially use these terms for "foul" language, for "four-letter" words, particularly those regarding bodily functions, with the "dirtiest" or most offensive being certain sexual terms, for certain sexual activities OR to refer to people that engage in them.

Note that these terms are often used --and INTENDED-- to INSULT... to speak negatively or disrespectfully about an action of person.

Here is something much misunderstood -- one of the reasons such "vulgar" terms came to be regarded as offensive is NOT that people thought sex itself was a bad thing. On the contrary, it was regarded as something very good and SPECIAL -- to be guarded, not to be treated or indulged in lightly (in traditional morality, to be reserved only for people married to each other). So to treat it lightly was to "profane" it.

Of course, when hearing such language we should keep in mind that it has, for some, become simply a way of expressing strong emotions (such as anger), but without thinking much about the actual MEANING of the terms they use. That does not mean the words are 'no big deal' -- words have some meaning and they affect others, so they do matter-- but in these situations they may not be QUITE so offensive as when clearly used with the INTENSION of offending.

Answer 2

Society accepting the context of a word in a certain tone and/or within phrase is not the in done thing. The fact that a word less strong could be used instead doesn't always show a high interlect. It depends how the word is used, ie every few seconds or because you banged your head.

Answer 3

Most times it isn't so much the words themselves as it is the way they are spoken. Most people use foul language when they are really angry, and that anger adds a bite to them that makes them sound vulgar and unappealing. Oddly enough when whispered softly in your partner's ear during love making those exact same words can be a real turn on.

Answer 4

your own thoughts. Words are just that, words. When you chose to let someone offend you by not having the brains to speak without using profanity, then you allow it to be offensive.

Answer 5

They way that they are said and sometimes the tone that they are said in can contribute to it.