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Swearing

1/18/2013

1 Comment

 
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Link is for Ebook UK.
Swearing, or bad language has become increasingly common these days. Language that was once unknown to many people has become commonplace, with people using the F word and the SH word in everyday language.

What exactly is swearing? When you think about it, all language is learned from our parents and those around us by hearing it, and then using it. So if we hear a foul-mouthed five-year-old we have to wonder what the language is like in that child's home. So what makes a swear word a swear word. Well simply put it has to be in the eye of the beholder, or rather the ear of the listener. In other words, it is a matter of opinion. 

Does that give us licence to use profanity whenever we wish? No. Simply because good manners cause us to consider how what we say will be viewed by anyone listening - or reading. We need to ask, will the reader, or listener be offended? Often what will be considered a swear word in one part of Britain, will be viewed as innocuous elsewhere. And what is commonplace in America may be viewed badly in England.

When writing, therefore, we need to consider the audience. True, a character may be under extreme provocation, and it would be ridiculous to have them saying: 'Oh, golly gosh!'  But a writer skilled with words ought to be able to find ways of expressing anger, or hurt to get the message across without necessarily offending the reader. And of course, one has to consider the genre. In a gritty, warts and all story, the reader may expect a few expletives, in which case, one assumes the reader will not necessarily be a maiden aunt! 

Of course history affects what is bad language. Writers of historical fiction would find it helpful to consult a dictionary on historical slang. The F word, for example, dates from around late 19th century or early 20th century, so one would not include it in a book set in, say, the 18th century, such as in Gentleman of Fortune, even if one is dealing with ruthless pirates. It would not be historically accurate. It is a matter of doing one's research. Happily, I found that eighteenth century swearing is often considered innocuous by today's standards, so one can get the message across without resorting to offensive language. 

And while we are on the subject of offensive language, what about blasphemy. It is so commonplace now to say 'Oh God!' or 'Oh my God', often shortened to omg. and even avowed atheists say it! In actual fact it is a meaningless phrase, meant to convey surprise, or shock etc., and it can offend some readers. In history, looking at the phrases people used then, God comes into it a great deal. Examples may be ''struth', or ''sblood', which mean 'God's truth' or 'God's blood' respectively. There are many others, so the writer would be wise to research first. Even if you do not know what a phrase means, your reader might!

As writers, we do not want to offend our readers. If we are certain that in the genre in which we are writing our reader will not be offended, then we do as conscience dictates. 

Personally, I do not like bad language at all. I do not like to see it on Twitter, or Facebook. And there are others like me.

And that is my opinion.

1 Comment
Steve Denton link
1/18/2013 12:40:37 am

I'm English, I live in Denmark.
Danes use the 'f-word' a fair bit. Dropping it into their Danish sentences. I'm not sure if it is now officially in the Danish dictionary, though it wouldn't surprise me.
I don't read many books in Danish, so I can't comment on it being in Danish authors' lexicons. Newspapers have no problems in using the 'f-word' whenever necessary. They don't get all squeamish and replace a letter with a symbol, or use 'the f-word', they come right out and print it. TV as well. Films aren't bleeped and (all English-speaking) films are subtitled with the subtitle translating the sentence to Danish, or the equivalent obviously, with the swearing left in place. TV programmes will also have it wherever necessary, at whatever time the programme is shown. Trailers for the Die Hard series of films repeated over Christmas for instance, featured 'John MacLaine's (presumably) famous outburst. Including the 'mother...' part. Before the 18.00 news. At lunchtime, whenever.
Danes find using English phrases in their everyday Danish 'cool'. They drop the 'f-word' frequently, but it is seen as 'cool' rather than offensive. If they need to emphasise something, they'll use a Danish swear phrase (they don't really have single swear-words, they are phrases that are considered offensive). However, for me, Danish swearing doesn't cut it. They'll consider 'for the Devil's sake', to be offensive and will replace 'satan', with 'Søren', to tone it down. Translating the others back to English does absolutely nothing for me, so I still use good old Anglo Saxon when I hit my thumb with a hammer.
I read English books and am not concerned in the slightest with swearing. Though I was a little surprised when starting my latest Harry Sidebottom ('The Caspian Gates'), to find his Roman General using the 'f-word' rather frequently. It wasn't that I was offended, just that I was surprised at him using it where otherwise he (Harry Sidebottom) liberally sprinkles his text with undiluted Latin words. I guess it is in place of whatever expletive a Roman of the period would actually have used, and to show Ballista's earthiness around his soldier comrades. There is a Latin word which translates as the 'f-word' (and is suggested as a possible origin), just spelled differently. If used in this story, it wouldn't have the effect, so he's used something we understand now, if you ask me.
I remember a Ben Elton routine where he said if you don't like hearing him swear, then don't go outside your front door without stuffing your ears with cotton wool. Or similar. I also learned when I was young, that swearing (apart from the satisfaction it gives when you hit your thumb with a hammer) is really reflecting the fact that you don't actually have the ability to express yourself properly.
If the story and character needs it, fine, I say. You know what you're getting into when you hand over your money, you can't claim innocence later.

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    Evelyn Tidman, the author of REBELLION, Roger L'Estrange and the Kent Petition, the second in the Roger L'Estrange series; FOR THE KING, Roger L'Estrange and the Siege of King's Lynn, the first in the Roger L'Estrange series based on a true story of the English Civil War, GENTLEMAN OF FORTUNE, The Adventures of Bartholomew Roberts, Pirate. a historical swashbuckling romance; and ONE SMALL CANDLE The Story of William Bradford and the Pilgrim Fathers.  All based on true stories.

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