Swearing

Can you swear in all languages? Can you swear in American Sign Language. What
about biblical Hebrew? Surely you can swear in Israeli Hebrew? What about
classical Latin? What about Church Latin? What about Esperanto?

In English, with the exception of the British "bloody", all swearing involves
reference to God, sex, or human excrement. Is that true of other languages?

How do children learn to swear?

Have linguists studied swearing?


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: USA and the M-F Word.
    ... > I found that swearing was endemic in the well heeled social strata. ... quite vociferously ...and in several languages, ... But I don't, as a general rule, swear during normal ... The thing I find disturbing is the age at which I ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)
  • Re: Regarding Jane B and Gem
    ... Daddy taught us girls to swear in several languages. ... Mother could ... have but felt it was a father's duty to teach his offspring how to ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.yarn)
  • Re: Hardest ever Olympic road race in 2008?
    ... "You fucking turtle's egg! ... Can you translate 'dumbass'? ... "Learn to swear in several different languages. ...
    (rec.bicycles.racing)
  • Re: Hardest ever Olympic road race in 2008?
    ... "You fucking turtle's egg! ... "Learn to swear in several different languages. ... Other riders ...
    (rec.bicycles.racing)