Chapter 2: Language of America
Swear words allow people to express feelings, emotions and help release pain. These reasons could be viewed as logical reasonings but is there any existing laws today that helps protect the way we decide to express our feelings? Some might think so because of the Freedom of Speech law but that’s where you’re wrong.
Swearing words is words that are considered offensive and used to express emotions. There are five different types of swearing words: Abusive, Emphatic, Dysphemism, Idiomatic, and Cathartic. Abusive swearing are words that are meant to insult and verbally abusive people. Emphatic swearing are words that focus the attention on something using swearing words. Dysphemism swearing are words that forces a person to think in a negative manner with the use of swear words. Idiomatic swearing are words that is used to exceed interest and to show that the conversation is informal. And Cathartic swearing are words that are used to relieve pain. There are studies that show that swearing words are stored in the limbic system along with feeling and emotions, which embraces all the types of swearing words.
From a video called Why do we Curse?, after analyzing all recorded phones from consumers to businesses, it has been shown that the top 5 states to most likely curse is Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Illinois. And the top 5 states to least likely curse is Washington, Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas, and Virginia. “H*ll, Oh my G*d, Je$u$ Chr!$t, F*$%, S#!&, D*mn, B!tc#, S*ck$, @ss, and G*dd@mn makes up ~0.7% of the average english speakers daily vocabulary.” This shows that socially unacceptable words is used as often as illustrative words.
Swearing words is words that are considered offensive and used to express emotions. There are five different types of swearing words: Abusive, Emphatic, Dysphemism, Idiomatic, and Cathartic. Abusive swearing are words that are meant to insult and verbally abusive people. Emphatic swearing are words that focus the attention on something using swearing words. Dysphemism swearing are words that forces a person to think in a negative manner with the use of swear words. Idiomatic swearing are words that is used to exceed interest and to show that the conversation is informal. And Cathartic swearing are words that are used to relieve pain. There are studies that show that swearing words are stored in the limbic system along with feeling and emotions, which embraces all the types of swearing words.
From a video called Why do we Curse?, after analyzing all recorded phones from consumers to businesses, it has been shown that the top 5 states to most likely curse is Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Illinois. And the top 5 states to least likely curse is Washington, Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas, and Virginia. “H*ll, Oh my G*d, Je$u$ Chr!$t, F*$%, S#!&, D*mn, B!tc#, S*ck$, @ss, and G*dd@mn makes up ~0.7% of the average english speakers daily vocabulary.” This shows that socially unacceptable words is used as often as illustrative words.
There is a law out there that protects the things we want to say, up to a certain limit. The U.S. Courts states that this law is called the freedom of speech. This law is protected by the First Amendment and it helps protect people to say what they need to at a certain time, place, and with the right words. Some things that this law protects is the rights not to speak, to use offensive words for political reasonings, and for emblematic speeches. But some thing that it do not protect is threatful words towards others and to make sexual content substance.
If the Freedom of Speech law was created to allow people to say what they want as long as it’s not a threat then all swearing words should be legal as well. According to The First Amendment School it was stated, “There is no general exception for profanity under the First Amendment unless the profanity qualifies as "fighting words." Fighting words are defined as words that by their very nature incite an immediate breach of the peace.” Today’s profanity could be considered fighting words. This could be proven by fist / verbal fights that start because of the decision of using abusive and dysphemism swearing words. “Freedom of speech was not added to our Bill of Rights to excuse profanity, bad manners, libel, or outright lying.” During the time when the Freedom of speech law was added profanity wasn’t a popular element in the world like it is today. But because it’s being used regularly today then profanity should be included into the Freedom of speech law. But they shouldn’t be accepted in all cases and situations. Only when someone is trying to express their emotions, which is Cathartic swearing. But not when someone is trying to be rude and obnoxious, which is abusive and dysphemism swearing.
“Words like the f-bomb are powerful because they do a particularly good job of expressing strong feelings.” Everyone have their form of relieving stress and maybe throwing out words like Oh my G*d, Je$u$ Chr!$t, F*$%, S#!&, D*mn, B!tc#, and G*dd@mn could probably help put a smile on their face. This plays a huge role in democracy because we the people should have the freedom to say what we want as long as we’re not threatening anyone’s life.
If the Freedom of Speech law was created to allow people to say what they want as long as it’s not a threat then all swearing words should be legal as well. According to The First Amendment School it was stated, “There is no general exception for profanity under the First Amendment unless the profanity qualifies as "fighting words." Fighting words are defined as words that by their very nature incite an immediate breach of the peace.” Today’s profanity could be considered fighting words. This could be proven by fist / verbal fights that start because of the decision of using abusive and dysphemism swearing words. “Freedom of speech was not added to our Bill of Rights to excuse profanity, bad manners, libel, or outright lying.” During the time when the Freedom of speech law was added profanity wasn’t a popular element in the world like it is today. But because it’s being used regularly today then profanity should be included into the Freedom of speech law. But they shouldn’t be accepted in all cases and situations. Only when someone is trying to express their emotions, which is Cathartic swearing. But not when someone is trying to be rude and obnoxious, which is abusive and dysphemism swearing.
“Words like the f-bomb are powerful because they do a particularly good job of expressing strong feelings.” Everyone have their form of relieving stress and maybe throwing out words like Oh my G*d, Je$u$ Chr!$t, F*$%, S#!&, D*mn, B!tc#, and G*dd@mn could probably help put a smile on their face. This plays a huge role in democracy because we the people should have the freedom to say what we want as long as we’re not threatening anyone’s life.