The study of language is an interesting one as words themselves have no meaning. The meaning given to a word is based upon our interpretation of the word based up both its context and the prior learning knowledge and relationships that we have learned to associate with the word (Austin 1962).
However anyone with a basic understanding of a language has come to associate certain words with certain meanings. Due to this there are many words that are considered offensive or impolite. That said it is also important to notice how a word is used. Some words are much more offensive to some people or in certain social groups or conditions then others. (refer Appendix 1.)
Due to this there are some words that are considered rude or offensive in some aspects that are either acceptable within certain socio-cultural groups or in ways in which a word is used in an entirely different way, without its normal meaning or even to show a relationship between people. Such as in the case of some young males where they insult each other in a friendly manner to show the close relationship between them.
It is also important to consider the original meaning of a word as some words that are considered rude may have originally had a very different meaning to the commonly perceived meaning in modern society while other words that are perfectly acceptable can be considered rude when used in a particular context. The word 'Black' is perfectly acceptable when referring to a colour however if it is used when referring to a person then it is generally considered rather offensive in sections of modern society (Paine, 2012).
I recently asked some friends to post their opinions on words, phrases ect that uses swearing, abusive language, rudeness ect and what is the worst thing that they can think of that will not actually offend someone. Or if it might offend someone then to put it in a context where you would use it where it would be acceptable. (refer Appendix 1 and 2)
Tales of Symphonia Quote: Lloyd: [After seeing what the Desians have done] "Damn Desian Bastards!"
http://shirindemirdag.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/freedom-online.html
Appendix
Appendix 2.
A quote on offensive language and rudeness by Gregory Blaxell. "Offensive language is a matter of context and register and the trick in using certain language terms depends on your understanding of these paramaters. In Australia, for example, you can call a person a bastard and this is almost a term of intimacy. If you used the same phrase in the USA there would be stunned silence and instant withdrawal or aggression. Bloody no longer has any negative connotations but should be used sparingly and not as a filler.Then it becomes infinitely boring. There are some terms from the USA that have received some acceptance in Oz. A term like 'motherfucker' I believe to be still totally unacceptable but that is a personal view. which brings up the point about what is 'offensive language. 'Fuck' that often used term can have a multitude of meanings and is often used as a filler. 'Fuck' has evolved from an absolutely taboo word, when I was growing up, to an almost everyday expression. A difficult word is 'cuint'. Again it has acquired many connotational meanings. If it refers to female genitalia, I know it goes back to its original meaning (OE) and I have no complaint. But it's not the word or its original meaning that is offensive but one must be conscious of the context in which it can be used. It is still not a publicly acceptable word, especially for women. Privately, it may be totally appropriate but then it is not offensive and could be loving. However, when the word is used to describe an unpleasant act or an unpleasant person, eg 'you stupid fucking cunt' then it is explosive and very derogatory towards women - the nexus being that a 'cunt' is (according to some sections of society) offensive by its very utterance and the phrase just used takes on that patina of being a stronger version of the unacceptable."
Bibliography:
Austin, J. L. (1962) How to Do Things With Words. Oxford University Press.
Paine, C. (2012,
September 28). The dirty word tweeted 2.5 million times since July.
Retrieved October 05, 2012, from news.com.au:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/the-dirty-word-tweeted-25-million-times-since-july/story-e6frfro0-1226483166589
I thoroughly enjoyed Nicholas' post this weeks reading Expletives as Solidarity Signals in FTAs on the Factory Floor, hence my third and final comment [woohoo!]. I don't know whether it is the namesake but the post bears striking similarities to my own life, with my own socio-cultural group of young males [aka mates] often insulting each other in a friendly manner to show the close relationship.
ReplyDeleteI have written this comment late after the Monday night tradition of pasta with the mates at the local Fraternity Club - an all male interaction where the use of expletives would rival that of the factory floor [being the considerate guys we are, we choose the table furthest from other patrons]. In this circumstance, the 'face' introduced by Goffman and the subsequent aspects of the 'face' introduced by Brown and Levinson in the Politeness Theory is most likely to be the positive face, which includes an individual's need to be approved of and liked by others and to have their wishes and desires shared and respected'.
As Nicholas also introduced - the original meaning of the expletives must be considered. We use both expletives in a friendly manner [most commonly fuck, closely followed by the 'c-bomb' - cunt], and words that are perfectly acceptable that can be considered rude when used in a particular context [most commonly sexual].
So all in all - kudos to Nicholas on a potentially biographical insight into my life and the extra work that went into the appendices provided also provided insight into his own life.
First of all, if anyone is interested, the '...' is called an ellipsis. Bam, there's English for you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your text, though one main problem I have is, though it may seem weird, not all people do use expletives or epithets as discourse markers, just as a note.
To add to your commentary about 'words no longer being offensive', one of the definitions of a swear that I have identified with says that 'swears are mainly words that either insult or degrade the object they refer to', hence being that 'shit' is not a technical swear, while 'fuck' should be horrendously abhorrent - and it is! However, with modern definitions changing, we can see a modern swing towards open sexual acts as well as the change of use in the swear as a result.
Overall, good post Nick.