Aug 24, 2011
Stephen Fry on swearing
In this clip, Stephen Fry addresses two charges often levied against the use of foul language:
- It’s for ignorant people with limited vocabularies.
- It’s unnecessary.
(Need I say, NSFW language?)
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I am totally guilty of being shocked by swearing because of other people.
It is quite the statement to say: “The people I know who SWEAR THE MOST tend to have the widest vocabularies.”
We don’t know the same people.
I’m glad.
I’d say that his argument is based on his experiences which are influenced by his presuppositions.
Why, or how does swearing bring joy? I’m guessing (based on my experiences which are influenced by my presuppositions) that the joy of swearing comes in the reaction received, perhaps a pride in attempting to be the crudest one in the room, or just relishing in breaking the rules of society and/or decency. A joy perhaps in being ignorant to or ignoring the ways of polite conversation and courteous behavior.
All in all I’d say it might not be ignorant, just selfish. It’s about my own feelings “who cares about treating the people around me with respect.”
I’d put relief/release near the top of that list. Along with “emotional accuracy”–it feels really good to match the strength of a feeling with the strength of a word.
You’re right, KP. The joy in swearing comes from the unmitigated meaning the words often convey.
a sound can do that without the swearing. I always feel guilty after swearing and then the moment is ruined. If I stub my toe and scream then I feel emotional accuracy, relief and release
Well, sure. And sounds can do all the other things on Daniel’s list, too. :) I just thought he missed a couple of the most obvious reasons swearing can feel so satisfying.
You have a point there KP, I probably didn’t think of it because the illustrations given in the vid weren’t really the types of situations where such “emotional release” is necessary.
And matching the strength of a situation with the strength of a word I think is a valid argument. 2 observations – when one uses the word routinely like Amanda describes below, it looses it’s strength, and some words (to paraphrase Inigo Montoya) do not mean what people think they mean…or at least don’t fit the situation…or distract from the situation.
*loses
The line between vulgarity and indecency tends to be pretty easy to find. The line between indecency and foolishness is too, though largely dependent on the your own moral standards (if you have any in regard to vulgarity).
I love how all the nsfw language was in British. Those guys have much more fun swears than us yanks.
I always think it’s funny when someone says swearing is for those that have no other means of expressing themselves. But then they invariably are the ones that use pretend-swear alternatives like “frick,” “shoot” and “dang.”
I will confess to not being personally acquainted with British people who swear, but every American I know who freely swears has a single favorite four-letter-word that stands in interchangeably for any, and all, of the following emotions:
- I’m overjoyed. – I’m furious. – I am in excruciating pain. – That is the best thing I’ve ever seen. – That is the worst thing I’ve ever seen. – I love you so much. – I hate you so much. – I am confused. – I am disappointed. – I am frightened. – I just want a vulgar way to amplify a perfectly good adjective. –
It’s like walking around and indiscriminately shouting “VERY!” at things.
I love this!!! Especially the comparison to “very”. So funny!
Shut the F**k up.
That’s Dr. House at 1:11. Booya.
Fry and Laurie were the best duo ever known to television!
https://vimeo.com/51994545
HUGH LAURIE!!! WE MISS YOU as HOUSE! :(
There are certainly plenty of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a great level to deliver up. I offer the thoughts above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where the most important thing shall be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged around things like that, however I am certain that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impression of only a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.