Diese Arbeit untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen Schimpfwörter und Dialekten am Beispiel englischer Dialekte Großbritanniens. Es wird die These aufgestellt, Dialekte böten einen nahrhaften Boden für eine Vielfalt an Schimpfwörtern, die so in der Standardsprache nicht vorzufinden sei.
Als Beleg dieser These wird zunächst näher auf die Natur des Fluchens und somit dem Enstehen von Schimpfwörtern eingegangen. Im Folgenden wird mit Hilfe einer Korpusanalyse das Vorkommen der häufigsten englischen Schimpfworte im gesprochenen wie schriftlichen Diskurs verglichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen einen deutlichen Trend zum Fluchen im mündlichen Diskurs. Da die gesprochenen Sprache für die Mehrheit aller Sprecher vielmehr ein Dialekt als die Standardsprache ist, deutet dieser Befund auf eine größere Bandbreite an Dialektschimpwörtern im Kontrast zur Standardsprache hin. Dies wird anhand konkreter Beispiele dialektaler Schimpfwörter aus diversen englischen Dialektvarianten illustriert.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- What is a Taboo?
- Definition
- Taboos and swearing
- Euphemisms
- When do we swear?
- Emotions
- Written Versus Spoken Discourse
- Situational Context
- Location
- Company
- Register
- Swearing and Dialect
- Dialect
- Implications of Dialect for Swearing
- Examples of dialect swear words in Great Britain
- Sociolect
- Social Rank
- Level of Education
- Age
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the relationship between swearing and dialectal variation in British English. The main objective is to demonstrate that the contexts conducive to swearing also favor the use of dialect, resulting in a greater variety of taboo words within regional and social dialects compared to Standard British English. This is based on the premise that dialects are typically used in informal settings where swearing is more acceptable, while Standard English is favored in formal settings where swearing is considered inappropriate. * The definition and nature of taboo words and swearing. * The emotional triggers and contextual factors influencing the use of swear words. * The connection between dialectal variation and the prevalence of taboo words. * The role of social factors (social rank, education, age) in shaping swear word usage. * The comparison of taboo word usage in dialects versus Standard British English.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central research question: whether dialects in Great Britain exhibit a greater variety of taboo words than Standard British English. The author posits that the informal contexts where dialects are typically used are also the contexts where swearing is more common. The chapter outlines the paper's structure and methodology, which involves defining taboo words, exploring the contexts in which swearing occurs, and comparing taboo word usage across different dialects and Standard British English. The author's aim is to demonstrate the strong correlation between dialect usage and the creative use and generation of taboo vocabulary. What is a Taboo?: This chapter provides a comprehensive definition of "taboo" drawing on the *Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English*, highlighting the three main aspects: offensiveness/embarrassment, social incorrectness, and religious/sacred connotations. It then links taboo words to the concept of swearing, emphasizing the social dimension of taboo words as conveyed through communication. The chapter also delves into the acquisition of taboo words, contrasting them with the unconscious acquisition of non-taboo words and illustrating how different levels of severity exist in taboos. The chapter finishes by introducing euphemisms as a related phenomenon, highlighting their use as replacements for taboo words in situations where the direct use of taboo words might be deemed inappropriate. When do we swear?: This chapter explores the strong connection between swearing and emotion. It introduces two types of swearing: propositional (deliberate) and unpropositional (emotional outbursts). The neurological processes involved in swearing are discussed, linking them to the brain regions associated with emotional processing. The chapter emphasizes the link between emotional states and the contexts in which people swear, hinting that familiarity and comfort are key factors. The chapter paves the way for a further exploration of contextual factors influencing swear word usage in the next chapter. Swearing and Dialect: This chapter directly addresses the core argument of the paper. It begins by defining dialect, then explores the implications of dialectal variation for swearing, providing examples of dialect swear words in Great Britain. The role of sociolect (social dialect) is examined, focusing on the influence of social rank, education level, and age on swear word usage. This chapter directly compares the usage of taboo words within different dialects and standard British English, furthering the argument of a direct correlation. The chapter aims to provide concrete examples supporting the thesis that dialects possess a richer vocabulary of swear words.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Swearing, taboo words, dialect, sociolect, British English, regional variation, social variation, euphemisms, emotions, situational context, Standard English, taboo acquisition.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Study of Swearing and Dialect in British English
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
The paper examines the relationship between swearing and dialectal variation in British English. Its core argument is that dialects in Great Britain exhibit a greater variety of taboo words than Standard British English due to the informal contexts where both dialects and swearing are more commonly used.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The main objective is to demonstrate a correlation between the contexts conducive to swearing and the use of dialect, leading to a greater variety of taboo words in regional and social dialects compared to Standard British English. This involves defining taboo words, exploring contextual factors influencing swearing, and comparing taboo word usage across dialects and Standard British English.
How does the paper define "taboo words"?
The paper defines "taboo" based on the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, highlighting offensiveness/embarrassment, social incorrectness, and religious/sacred connotations. It connects taboo words to swearing, emphasizing their social dimension in communication. The paper also discusses the acquisition of taboo words and the existence of varying levels of severity within taboos.
What contextual factors influence the use of swear words?
The paper explores emotional triggers as a primary factor, differentiating between propositional (deliberate) and unpropositional (emotional) swearing. It also examines contextual factors such as location, company, register, and the overall situational context, emphasizing the role of familiarity and comfort levels.
How does the paper connect dialect to swearing?
The paper argues that dialects, often used in informal settings where swearing is more acceptable, contain a richer vocabulary of swear words than Standard British English, which is typically used in formal settings. It examines the implications of dialectal variation for swearing, providing examples of dialect swear words in Great Britain and analyzing the influence of sociolect (social dialect) based on social rank, education, and age.
What is the role of sociolect in swear word usage?
The paper investigates how social factors such as social rank, level of education, and age influence the use of swear words. It explores how these factors contribute to variations in taboo language usage within different sociolects and compares this to the usage in Standard British English.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a chapter defining taboo words, a chapter on contextual factors influencing swearing, a chapter focusing on the relationship between swearing and dialect (including sociolect), and a conclusion. The paper also features a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key findings or arguments presented in the paper?
The central argument is that dialects in Great Britain exhibit a greater variety of taboo words than Standard British English due to the informal contexts where both are commonly used. The paper supports this by comparing taboo word usage across different dialects and Standard British English and by analyzing the influence of various social and contextual factors.
What are some examples of the topics covered within the chapters?
The chapters cover definitions of taboo words, the link between swearing and emotions, the influence of situational context on swearing, the implications of dialectal variation for swearing, the role of sociolect (social dialect) factors like social rank, education and age on swear word usage, and examples of dialect swear words in Great Britain.
Where can I find the keywords related to this research?
The keywords include: Swearing, taboo words, dialect, sociolect, British English, regional variation, social variation, euphemisms, emotions, situational context, Standard English, taboo acquisition.
- Quote paper
- Karin Wiecha (Author), 2009, Swearing and Dialect , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/143976
