I was hoping he'd say something about his opinion on bleeping, since this always seemed a silly practice to me, and Pinker is a man who always has a well-reasoned perspective on things.

Interesting that he was bleeped himself, though. I'd have thought that Canadians had less fear of "bad words" than their Southern neighbors.

It depends on the context. In the evening on cable networks, swearing is allowed. We're more likely to see violence edit out of movie shown on television than sexual content or vulgar language.

Frakkin'-A.

fp

I live in Toronto and yes, we have to deal with trivial censorship here too. I don't know their stupid rules, such as radio stations having to bleep these so called "bad words" from songs that play before 8pm. It disgusts me when I listen to the song "What it's Like" by the group Everlast and hear a stupid sound effect over lapping a "bad word" in it's lyrics. I mean, seriously, play the song like it was ment to be heard or don't play the fucking song at all.

I always thought it was much cooler the way we in the Scandinavian countries swear. We haven't had that developement he's speaking of, so we still have religious swearing. Our F-word is Faen, which is another name for Satan. Its really cool how the old norse-culture is still a part of our modern lives.

Interesting that he was bleeped himself, though. I'd have thought that Canadians had less fear of "bad words" than their Southern neighbors.

Haha, normally I suppose that's true: this is the CBC though, our "national public broadcaster", and they tend to be pretty careful. Also, The Hour is generally broadcast in the afternoon, and Canada has similar rules to the US when it comes to censorship before late-night television.

I've always found it interesting how swear words are either religious or sexual in nature.

The wikipedia article on censorship in Canada is pretty interesting.

The Hour is broadcast at 8pm and 11pm. They probably bleeped the swearing because running a "viewer discretion" warning before the show might scare off some of their target audience.

I think as adults in 2008 we need to grow out of the idea that a word can be offensive. I don't use swear words to put a negative emotion onto a person, I do it to emphasize a thought or an idea, and to punctuate a thought or idea. There's usually nothing negative about it, it's just the way I talk.

I think as adults in 2008 we need to grow out of the idea that a word can be offensive

I approach this discussion from a different angle. I just don't understand why calling someone a 'prick' is a bad thing. Isn't a penis a good thing? Well, in my mind it's a good thing, and the same thing goes for "cunts".

I will never understand why people use sexual organs (something we all love in ourselves and purportedly others) as a way to put each other down. I just don't get it. ;/

Not that I haven't used such terms myself from to to time though! red face

I will never understand why people use sexual organs (something we all love in ourselves and purportedly others) as a way to put each other down. I just don't get it. ;/

I always assumed that you are classiflying the person as nothing more then the sexual organs they possess, removing any "individual" reference to that person. Just just my opinion, not sure if anyone else has more insight into it, or if there is any there to begin with.

I think as adults in 2008 we need to grow out of the idea that a word can be offensive

I had this view once, but then I realized that swears are half the fun of language, when used for emphasis, and not as wallpaper. What adults in 2008 need to realize, that censoring such words only enhances their allure and draw for people, and the FCC shouldn't be the parent of the American Family.

I should be able to swear on adult shows, and consumers have the right not to watch the show if swearing offends, that's what that "TV-MA" stands for. Any sort of Censorship should not be tolerated.

I always assumed that you are classiflying the person as nothing more then the sexual organs they possess, removing any "individual" reference to that person.

Well, there's that, and the Christian belief that your sexual organ is only for making babies, so it's a "dirty" word, and shouldn't be said in public. Sex is a sin 99% of the time, so talking about it or anything related to it is sinning too, perhaps?

Swear words add a few things to our language:

1. release of tension: many start with fricative (ex: "f" - fuck) or sybillant ("s" - suck or "sh" - shit) consonants. These can be said with a lot of force, and tension is released physically as well as psychologically - in the utterance of something taboo (sexual connotations and religious epithets).

2. adding color to the language. I think they're fine if used with some restraint. I've mentioned before that they loose their emphasis if something such as "fuck" and "fucking" simply become the word "um."

"Gosh darn it all" and "fiddle dee dee"just don't have the same effect as "God damn it all to Hell" and "fuck you asshole" now do they?

Kristian Z, I agree that it was interesting that he was bleeped...only for one word though!

gypsy sister:

Good point. The "S-word" was allowed, but the "F-word" was bleeped. To me, that's just silly.

Any 6 year old can show you why censorship is doomed. As soon as they know what "not" to say, they sing curses at the top of their lungs whenever they need some quick attention.

I also find it interesting that "cunt" is the worst of the worst, even worse that "fuck". Does this reveal some sort of sexism, or any sexism? I dunno, but I've always though the subject to be rather good, and unable to understand why the slang should be so bad.

in Quebec, the french swear words are still religious in origin; let's see if you can recognize them:

hostie tabernacle (pronounced tabarnak) calisse sacrement

in france, however, the swear words have fully switched over to sexual terms, the most common of which is putain (whore) and enculé (sodomite)

I wonder what his take is on the phrase "black baby". I can't find the origin.

In looking just a little into the future, I would expect to be able to hear a conversation something like this:

You're wrong about that, and you can kiss my big fat Cheney.

Oh yeah? Well suck on my stiff Bush, you piece of Rove.

... and so on.

Hmm, maybe the Bush word will need to be withdrawn from current usage.

http://boskolives.wordpress.com/

I feel compelled to comment on this one as a budding linguist. Pinker is spot on with all of his observations.

• "we need to grow out of the idea that a word can be offensive"

Words need not be swear words to be offensive, but usually are. The acknowledged meaning in a particular speech community is what makes it offensive. If I call someone an 'asshole' or a 'cunt', they will perceive it, rightly, as an attack on them and an insult. That the word carries that meaning is what makes it offensive, as much so as if the meaning were spelled out ("I hate you. You disgust me" etc).

• "The "S-word" was allowed, but the "F-word" was bleeped. To me, that's just silly"

This is a clear cut example of language change. When a swear word is used openly (for example, by being allowed to be said on TV and radio during the day) it gradually loses its stigmatism. The decision to allow one word and not another isn't really silly because it reflects the attitudes of the speech community. One has lost its status while the other has not. As the Magnolia Electric Co. noted, the 'fun' of using swear words disappears when they are no longer swear words. Allowing all words at all times in all situations is not only never going to happen, but it would remove the ability to swear at all! In Australia, 'shit' is hardly considered a swear word anymore, and more recently 'fuck' has been going in the same direction. When these words lose their potency, people will find others to allow the same creativity of expression.

• '"cunt" is the worst of the worst ... does this reveal some sort of sexism?'

I argued until blue in the face with my ex who had done gender studies that this is not gender related. Just as Pinker showed that the meaning of "holy shit" is rather obscure and based mostly on a history of language use, the same goes for 'cunt'. An agreed meaning is created by people. When used to describe a person it is an insult, pure and simple, and no longer a reference to the female sexual organs . In my dialect, while 'cunt' is the stand-out for 'most offensive' word, I can't help but think that if I called a guy at the pub a 'cunt' or a 'cock' I'd get the same response, and it would be painful!

Al DeZ: Words need not be swear words to be offensive

True! "Panties" has offended me for decades.

The casual use of "Bugger" interests me. Having watched a lot of British TV & seen it's use.

The literal meaning seems pretty strong, but it's used about the same or even more lightly than shit is in the USA.

"oh, bugger off" means get lost, but literally your saying "go get fucked up the ass". fairly harsh.

Pleasant experience for many, but has a bad reputation.

In my dialect, while 'cunt' is the stand-out for 'most offensive' word, I can't help but think that if I called a guy at the pub a 'cunt' or a 'cock' I'd get the same response, and it would be painful!

I've had a fair number of Brits tell me that "cunt" is an accepted swearword in England and is not considered all that offensive?

here in israel, where all real swear words are in arabic (the holy tongue won't stand for it), it has been my pleasure to hear " your mothers'/sisters' cunt" upon the stubbing of many a toe. doesn't leave much for, say, having a gun pointed at your head.

How do Arabs say "fucktard"? (peace be upon them!)