profanity

profanity, language that is considered socially offensive due to being vulgar, obscene, or irreverent. The term profanity is often used in a religious sense to refer to language that is blasphemous, sacrilegious, or sometimes merely secular. In a broader sense, profanity is often referred to as expletives, swearing, oaths, cursing, or cussing and by a variety of euphemisms, including four-letter words and foul language. Profanity is often used to offend or insult, but it can also be used to express strong feelings of all kinds and as a general intensifier. Profanity is a significant subject in the study of law, particularly law related to freedom of speech.

(Editor’s Note: This article is about profanity and, as such, contains profanity. It may not be suitable for all audiences.)

In its more general sense, profanity is language that violates norms of social decency. Profanity may be considered sacrilegious, vulgar, or obscene, but not all sacrilegious, vulgar, or obscene language is profanity. The words considered profane are not merely offensive due to their meaning but are considered taboo in and of themselves. A small child who uses the word shit in a classroom is likely to cause offense, even if they are using the word as a synonym for stuff rather than as a reference to excrement. Due to the taboo nature of certain profane words, use or even mention of the word may be considered offensive, regardless of whether its contextual meaning is offensive. In some cases, a profane word may have a specific context in which it is appropriate, even though it may be considered offensive in other contexts.

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Synonyms may be substituted for profane words to reduce or eliminate their offensiveness. This has led to the phenomenon of “minced oaths,” which are words used in place of profanities, generally having such similar sounds and structures that the original swear word is unambiguous. For example, someone may substitute gosh for God or fudge for fuck, or they may employ more creative options, such as cheese and rice for Jesus Christ. For example, in the sentence, “I lost my damn keys,” the word damn might be considered profanity. However, substituting the word darn, a minced oath of damn, is typically viewed as inoffensive.

Profane words can become taboo in various ways. Some words, such as damn, are considered profane in the literal sense, being sacrilegious or blasphemous. In some religions, there is a particularly strong taboo against using the names of religious figures, particularly in a way that could be deemed trivial or insulting. Other words, such as shit, develop a taboo because of their association with concepts considered obscene, generally sexual or scatological subjects. Still others, such as bastard, become taboo as a result of their use as insults or slurs.

While not all obscenities, slurs, or blasphemous words develop strong taboos around them, those that do become a uniquely powerful kind of language. Some theorists define such swear words not only by their relationship to a taboo domain, but by their ability to create a cathartic effect in the user. The act of swearing is often tied to the expression of negative emotions, helping to manage stress and provide emotional relief. Neurological studies have shown that swearing can have physiological effects on a speaker not shared by other expressions. Swearing need not be tied to negative emotions. It can also serve to intensify positive ones.

Swearing can also have social impacts. Profanity is by definition offensive and can make a communicator appear more hostile, angry, or negative. Swearing can intensify either the semantic or emotional stakes of a statement, often by including insulting or abusive statements. But, paradoxically, because profanity is taboo, use of swear words can also build trust. A demonstrated willingness to swear casually in front of someone can imply a more friendly, less formal relationship or can simply diffuse social tensions, and swearing is strongly associated with expression of honest feelings. Properly applied profanity can increase the user’s social standing. However, when norms around the use of profanity are not observed, the reverse effect can occur, and opinions of the user can fall. People who swear in situations where it is not expected, such as in formal settings, are often perceived as less intelligent or trustworthy. Some researchers have even suggested that the concept of profanity is used by upper classes to delegitimize or even criminalize the views of common people.

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Because of its power to cause offense, profanity has often been restricted or regulated by governments and other organizations. Many countries have laws defining blasphemy, obscenity, or hate speech, all of which may have impacts on common profanities. In the U.S., legal regulation of profanity has been the subject of debate. In 1971’s Cohen v. California decision, the Supreme Court ruled that profane words could not be broadly banned. Otherwise, Justice John Marshall Harlan suggested, “governments might soon seize upon the censorship of particular words as a convenient guise for banning the expression of unpopular views.” However, the Supreme Court has determined that profane words can be banned in certain circumstances, such as when such language threatens or incites violence.