Swearing

People used to swear by the things they held most dear
“upon my honour”, “ upon my life ” “on my granny’s/mother’s grave”, or respected “Christ, ” Jesus” “Zounds (God’s wounds) “ “Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey” or feared “Hell and damnation”
Now it seems to be based on body parts or sexual activity.
I won’t bother with examples!

Ilovecheese

That is very interesting Doodledog. Whether or not I swear depends on who I am talking to a lot of the time. I told my granddaughter that I had sworn at "Alexa" and she said that she had never heard me swear so I think I must censor myself without thinking.

I, too, find language interesting.

Swearing can be used as a bonding mechanism. As you say, we tend to self-censor, and swearing in front of someone can show that you see them as in your 'inner circle', if you get it right - obviously it can sometimes backfire.

Occasionally I will say the F word especially if I'm angry but I don't swear publicly. I absolutely hate it if I'm around loud foul mouth people or if with my granchildren . I am offended by its use every other word . My sister swears all the time and says its normal speak ! It's awful the use of F every few words . I've given up asking her not to say it .
I am not snobby or stuck up I could swear like a trooper if I chose to but I don't unless I am fed up , bang my toe , or just feel like expressing my exasperation in private

Doodledog
"Swearing can be used as a bonding mechanism." Yes, I agree with that. I will swear when I am with my husband, very close friends and now that my daughters are middle aged, with them, but not when they are with their children.

RosiesMaw was talking about how swear words have changed over the years. I believe it was Oliver Cromwell's puritans that changed "God blind me" to "Gorblimey" and "God's blood" to just "bloody".

BigMamma

I have always said that anyone who swears when having a conversation has a lack of the English language. They swear because they cannot think of a word to use.

Absolute tosh!
Kenneth Tynan was the first person to use the word fuck on tv.
He was a graduate of Oxford and the literary manager of the National Theatre.

Ilovecheese

Doodledog
"Swearing can be used as a bonding mechanism." Yes, I agree with that. I will swear when I am with my husband, very close friends and now that my daughters are middle aged, with them, but not when they are with their children.

RosiesMaw was talking about how swear words have changed over the years. I believe it was Oliver Cromwell's puritans that changed "God blind me" to "Gorblimey" and "God's blood" to just "bloody".

Strewth is from God's Truth.

Language, and the way it changes, is most interesting

F**k ( will asterisk so as not to offend sensibilities ) 😄is an AngloSaxon word I always thought, so massively predates any swearing such as zounds and so on.

When I fell off a small step ladder at work , painful! I yelled ‘f***y f**k f**k! At the top of my voice.Nobody turned a hair fortunately.

I am not proud of it, but I admit to swearing if I trip or in temper.

I have been known to say F**k F**k F**kitty F**k when hurting myself, dropping something, forgetting something important, it is very helpful.

The England team are causing me to swear right now! ⚽️

I didn't swear in front of my children, and still moderate when we are together, as they do. I sometimes find myself saying F-f-fiddlesticks, even now

Jaxjacky

The England team are causing me to swear right now! ⚽️

I have just come into the sitting room, cannot watch the penalties 🙈

I do swear but out of frustration. Saying that if a film or TV programme has lots of F words in the script, then I can't watch it. I believe that many films could be shortened by around 30 minutes if the F word was removed.

I’m no pearl clutcher but I hate hearing swear words used in public. It appals me that so many seem unable to utter a sentence without including several expletives. In anger I might use the F word at home but only with my husband. I wouldn’t dream of swearing in public. My parents didn’t swear and I didn’t swear in front of my son until he was an adult.

Phew GG13, no swearing 😃

Jaxjacky

Phew GG13, no swearing 😃

🏆?

I don't like swearing and I hardly ever swear - well maybe "bloody" in an extreme situation.

Having said that I can understand someone swearing when the need arises, but I think it is absurd to swear constantly.

Prolific swearing is maybe more noticeable these days but it's not new.

As a student in the 1960's, I once spent a summer working in a whisky bond in the centre of Glasgow.

Many of the workers, most of whom were women from the most deprived parts of the city were such habitual swearers that they not only put swear words in virtually every sentence, but actually in the middle of words - eg "abso- fucking -lutely"

If you are always swearing how do you express yourself when something shocking occurs ?

We won!⚽️ hooray 😃

In some situations no other word will do.

Last year I went to an complimentary therapist for Crystal Healing and every second word was 'F'. I did not find the experience uplifting and was glad to leave.

never used to swear but if on my own in the house if I drop or spill something I am shocked as the f word exits my mouth!

Bumface

In some situations no other word will do.

I know of course that your name is a book title but how can you suggest that your face looks like that!

I agree with Dame Judy