Language is a multifaceted medium and sophisticated system of communication. It has many characteristics and functions - informing, advising, arguing, asking, suggesting or expressing feelings, to name just a few. The last function is, in particular, also the one that is essential and most important here, as the issue of this study is to examine the emotionally charged obscenities, more precisely, anger and aggressiveness that is expressed through the speech. American English, as any other language, contains a number of words that are used for the purpose of insulting people(Aman, 1972: 161). What character swearing has within a certain language depends, however, on the determined sociocultural norms, taboos, cognitions about the world and linguistic conventions of an ethnic group(Jay, 2008: 267). Reinhold Aman, the author of the Bayrisch-österreichisches Schimpfwörterbuch, argues that this is the reason for the unique set of offensive words within each country(Aman, 1972: 161). In terms of English, “there are hundreds of taboo words and phrases [used for swearing]; the semantic range of referents that are considered taboo is [however] limited in scope. Taboos in English are placed primarily on sexual references [...]“ (Jay, 2009: 154). Based on these facts, the purpose of this research is to find out whether several European languages, in this case, German, Spanish and Polish - all belonging to distinct language families, use insults in a sexual manner as well.In doing so, this research is based, in general, on the publications of Timothy Jay, an author, who is the precursor in the area of the speech of violence, and who has edited many scientific works on that specific topic. In order to provide information about the essential concepts and to avoid any disambiguations, first of all, some basic terms and aspects, that are relevant for the comprehension and proper treatment of the issue, will be explained. Following, the method, namely, the procedure and selection criteria of the interviewed subjects, will go more into detail, before at last, the analysis and evaluation of the responses will be demonstrated.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Characteristics of Swearing
- Term definition
- Psychological factors
- Offensiveness/Offendedness
- Awareness of Swearing
- Sexual content in English swearwords
- Method and Selection criteria
- Gender-specific offensiveness
- Gender-specific offendedness
- Gender identity
- Linguistic proficiency
- Results
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This research aims to determine whether German, Spanish, and Polish, representing distinct language families, utilize insults in a sexual manner, similar to English. The study builds upon the work of Timothy Jay, a leading researcher in the field of violent speech.
- The definition and characteristics of swearwords and curses.
- The psychological factors motivating the use of swearwords, including frustration, anger, and the intent to offend.
- The concepts of offensiveness (the inherent negativity of taboo language) and offendedness (the recipient's reaction).
- Cross-linguistic comparison of sexual content in insults across German, Spanish, Polish, and English.
- The methodology employed in the study, including subject selection criteria.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of the study by highlighting the multifaceted nature of language and its use in expressing emotions, particularly anger and aggression. It focuses on the culturally specific nature of swearwords, emphasizing how sociocultural norms and taboos shape the offensiveness of language. The chapter highlights the limited scope of taboo subjects in English, primarily centered on sexual references, and frames the research question: do German, Spanish, and Polish also utilize sexually charged insults?
Characteristics of Swearing: This chapter delves into the nuances of swearwords and curses, differentiating between the terms and exploring their psychological underpinnings. It examines various perspectives on defining these terms, comparing definitions from dictionaries and scholarly sources, including the works of Aman and Jay. The chapter also examines the psychological factors driving the use of swearwords, such as frustration and the intentional infliction of offense, emphasizing the speaker's goal of communicating their emotional state and causing offense in the recipient. The chapter introduces the key concepts of offensiveness (the inherent negativity) and offendedness (the recipient's response) as crucial elements in understanding the impact of swearwords.
Keywords
Swearwords, curses, insults, taboo language, offensiveness, offendedness, psychological factors, verbal aggression, cross-linguistic comparison, German, Spanish, Polish, English, sociocultural norms.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this research?
This research investigates whether German, Spanish, and Polish, like English, utilize insults with sexual connotations. It explores the characteristics of swearwords across these languages, focusing on their psychological underpinnings and sociocultural impact.
What are the key objectives of the study?
The study aims to define and characterize swearwords and curses; examine the psychological factors behind their use (e.g., frustration, anger); analyze the concepts of offensiveness and offendedness; compare the sexual content of insults across German, Spanish, Polish, and English; and describe the methodology and subject selection criteria.
What are the key themes explored in the research?
Key themes include the definition and characteristics of swearwords, the psychological motivations for using them, the concepts of offensiveness and offendedness, a cross-linguistic comparison of sexual content in insults, and the methodology of the study.
What languages are compared in this study?
The study compares German, Spanish, Polish, and English, representing distinct language families.
How does the study define "swearwords" and "curses"?
The study examines various perspectives on defining these terms, comparing definitions from dictionaries and scholarly sources, including the works of Aman and Jay. It differentiates between the terms and explores their psychological underpinnings.
What psychological factors are considered in the study?
The study considers psychological factors such as frustration, anger, and the intention to offend as motivations for using swearwords. It emphasizes the speaker's goal of communicating their emotional state and causing offense in the recipient.
How does the study address "offensiveness" and "offendedness"?
The study introduces "offensiveness" (the inherent negativity of taboo language) and "offendedness" (the recipient's reaction) as crucial elements in understanding the impact of swearwords.
What is the methodology of this study?
The methodology section details the subject selection criteria, including considerations of gender-specific offensiveness and offendedness, gender identity, and linguistic proficiency.
What are the chapter summaries provided?
The provided summaries detail the introduction's focus on the cultural specificity of swearwords and the research question; the chapter on the characteristics of swearing, which explores the nuances of swearwords and their psychological underpinnings; and further chapters on methodology and results (though the results summary is not provided in the preview).
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include swearwords, curses, insults, taboo language, offensiveness, offendedness, psychological factors, verbal aggression, cross-linguistic comparison, German, Spanish, Polish, English, and sociocultural norms.
What is the significance of Timothy Jay's work?
The study builds upon the work of Timothy Jay, a leading researcher in the field of violent speech, providing a foundation for the research.
What is the overall scope of the research?
The research aims to understand the use of sexually charged insults across different languages, expanding on existing research focusing primarily on English.
- Citation du texte
- Zaneta Nowak (Auteur), 2010, Sexual Language Usage in German, Polish and Spanish Swearwords, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/274264
