0
Vivica Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Swearing

Hi, I'm not sure if this goes in this board or not, so please move it if it is in the wrong place.

Could anyone tell me if there is a standard rating for english swear words? I've tried to find a list on the internet but I can't find one at all. I need to know for my schoolwork. If anyone can help me and direct me to one that would be brilliant.

Thankyou.
  

Top answer

Rating swearwords or taboo words is not easy as long as the degree of "offence" may vary from person to person or from town to town. " may seem offensive to someone, believe it or not. Keep in mind that a word can be considered taboo in one culture but not in other, especially slang and swearwords.

— Raul

  • Rating swearwords or taboo words is not easy as long as the degree of "offence" may vary from person to person or from town to town.
  • " may seem offensive to someone, believe it or not.
  • Keep in mind that a word can be considered taboo in one culture but not in other, especially slang and swearwords.
  • As I don't want to reproduce such words here, I advise you to take a look upon Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage".
  • He wrote a very daring chapter on this type of words and I think he kind of rated them.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
Rating swearwords or taboo words is not easy as long as the degree of "offence" may vary from person to person or from town to town. Even an exclamation like "Jesus!" may seem offensive to someone, believe it or not. Keep in mind that a word can be considered taboo in one culture but not in other, especially slang and swearwords.

As I don't want to reproduce such words here, I advise
0
0
George Carlin, the comedian, did a very funny routine on the seven swear words you can't say on TV. It's on tape, but I'd be happy to email you the list.
0
0
ooh please - that would help immensely!
0
0
Yes, and where would I send that?
0
0
Vivica: Just to help you to be really picky, you might want to note that, properly, swearing is blasphemy (so that's where the "Jesus!" exclamation becomes a swearword). And lots of the words that people wouldn't normally consider swearwords are actually blasphemies -- like "Darn!" is a stand-in for "****!" and is offensive to some of a most particular nature. Lots of the words that are commonly
0
0
[Personal contact removed by a mod. Please add it to your profile only.]
if that's okEmotion: smile
0

Related Questions