www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall If this is an example of evolving language...

I'd prefer to return to the ancient days where this would produce instant ostracism..


Surprise! Why the F-Word Is OK to Say

The f-word may be considered one of the English language's most offensive swearwords, but researchers from Victoria University in New Zealand report it may be okay to say it at work--under certain circumstances.

According to these daring researchers, saying the f-word within the confines of your own work team helps to build and reinforce team morale, reports New Zealand's Dominion Post. They came to this startling conclusion after analyzing the conversation patterns of a work team laboring in an unidentified soap factory.

The eye-popping findings:

* The f-word was easily the most commonly used swearword.
* When it was said within the context of this close-knit work team, it was not considered offensive.
* Since the basic attitude in the group was one of friendliness where the workers genuinely liked and respected one another, they could use such oaths without being rude or insulting.

"Forms of f*** occur frequently in certain contexts and serve a range of functions, including the role of positive politeness strategy," wrote study leader and linguistics professor Janet Holmes in the international Journal of Pragmatics. "F*** is regularly associated with expressions of solidarity, including friendly terms of address."

And there's also good news for work whiners! The study found that complaining to a sympathetic colleague can help build solidarity among co-workers. The researchers defined whining as a "long or repeated expression of discontent not necessarily intended to change or improve the unsatisfactory situation." Complaining is an emotional release that can build rapport. "Teammates regularly have a moan to each other," Holmes wrote in the journal. "Whining to a sympathetic co-worker both reflects and constructs the close relationship between team members, thus consolidating the team's solidarity."

A word of caution: Swearwords, especially the f-word, must only be said in the appropriate context.

But the fact that it can be said at all at work and be acceptable is proof positive that our language is constantly evolving.

+++++++

Gaudior, who is not amused

In Spanish, what currently are considered swearwords were actually invented by very pious clerics and monks who wanted to use them to replace the blasphemies people used to utter when exceedingly angry, surprised, saddened, excited, etc.

The usage of the new words was considered a noble and praiseworthy effort to refrain from the common practice of blasphemy.

The Lord did not appreciate the efforts of people being overtly scrupulous with little matters, while disregarding grave matters.

Given the current state of affairs in our world, spicy language is the least of my concerns (and yet, here I am replying to your post!).

Among my social circles I am well know for many things, but avoinding spicy language is not one of them. It is not a rare occassion in which I find the Spanish equivalent of the "f" word (the "ch" word, for those who know) conveying the precise emotion I wish to express, and therefore using it without giving it a second thought.

But that's just me.

Shalom,
Memo.

Memo, somehow I just sensed that you are a bad influence - LOL

Hi,

No doubt.

But don't tell the ladies who run the pre-/early teen group at St. Paschal.

Let them find out for themselves tomorrow night ater my presentation about "our relationship with our parents".

I'm off to my "Prayer and Life Workshop" session. For a change, this is something I am taking, instead of giving or overseen or coordinating, so no much chance for "f"s and "ch"s there!

Shalom,
Memo.

Opps! I feel like I walked into the men's room by accident.

Memo, it doesn't surprise me that spanish priests would intorduce such saltiness. I've noticed that the Catholic countries in europe (I'm thinking here of Spain and Italy)come up with curse words so crude they'd make an American marine blush.

I find when Idon't pray and I'm tired curse words are my only release valve. But, I think they're one of thos passions we're supposed to be trying to transcend. when I'm spiritually rejuvenated (not as often as I'd like)my tolerance level for them is pretty low becaue it's strikes me as verbal polllution.

And yet, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I do find some of them amusing at times.I think what amuses me is the way they're said sometimes.

Gaudior the Unamused(I love the way you sign off), I'm with you though. If folks started cursing at work it would quickly sound like the backroom of a bookstore or a restaurant kitchen.I've been in both and I swear I saw demons flying out of folks mouths after a while!

Peace

Indigo,

Salty speech from the mouths of bookish folk , aw pshaw , go on with ya ...

Many years,

Neil, who was both unamused and more than a tad salty tonight, when he found that his other half had lost his entire file of "favorites" (a 1000+ links) when she restored the computer

Salty unamused Neil, If you only knew!!Folks with photographic memories that could cite chapter and verse of every book they ever read would steam your ears off!yes sir!

May you find one of those computer whizzes to help you retrieve and restore your favorites.I'll bet you could get a high school kid to do it for you for peanuts.(Oh, I couldn't resist!)

Peace

I have a friend, a very traditional RC, who defends the use of the "f word" and other Anglo Saxon terms for bodily functions, if used to describe those functions. Why is a Latinate term acceptable, but the Germanic term "bad"?

Hello to all:

Well Memo, you know the "ch" word in Spanish is one of the softest, if we start remembering the "c" and "p" words we would never end! In Mexico is happening something a bit weird... usually in the street and in various other places we usually swear a lot, and now the "new" Mexican movies use this language an people start feeling offended by such language in a movie... I believe we should start not only talking but in general behanving in a more charitable way in our dayly life.

As for Spaniards... well my father, God bless his soul, was from Spain and he could have written a quite large dictionary of swearings he used every day (without intention of offending our Lord, but boy were they spicy!)

God bless

(Memo, I think my mom should have washed my mouth with real strong sope, Zote if you remember)

Something for y'all to think about:

(and not that I am a prude, I have uttered a curse word in anger here or there)...

(This is from the article of a very 'with it' young priest in my Archdiocese that addresses teens in our Archdiocese newspaper)

The same mouth that utters profanities and vulgar words also takes the most precious and most Holy Eucharist, the very body and blood of our Lord, into it.

Alice

I can see the humor in it sometimes, but I thought that swearing was a sin against charity, and against modesty. I've long thought it was kind of aggressive too.

Manuel, who would always get in trouble with mom if he uttered the "chi*****" word or the "cab***" word.

I have (well, had) quite a bad habit of taking the Lord's name in vain when frustrated on sports fields/courts. I always confess this in Confession, and only recently have been improving on it.

In my family (a family in which my mother calls words like crap and freakin' "so common" (add a disapproving/disgusted motherly look)), nothing is worse than saying J.C.

Logos Teen

Dear Manuel, Memo and Bernardo,

Now, now, you Spanish speakers, you are going to bring out the seven year old in all of us who are wondering what those naughty words are which you guys are alluding to, and how cool it would be to know naughty words in another language!

HEHEHEHE! :p

Alice

Living on a college campus, swearing is de rigueur.

A lot of the Spanish-speakers in this thread have referred to swear words as "spicy." In my opinion, this is incredibly apt. Swear words should not be the main course of a vocabulary, but rather the accenting spices, and only in certain social settings.

A lot of my peers, though, seem to have a steady verbal diet of "f***." Honestly, they need to learn new adjectives. Practically every other word out of their mouths is "f***" or some form of it. I confess that my language is not always clean, but their overuse of swearing (and such extreme vulgarities to boot!) is just totally unnecessary.

Dave

Memo and Bernardo, I was talking to a Guajanatano,(is that right?)today and he mentioned the exact same thing Bernardo did about the influence of movies on everyday speech. He said that what really gets him , and he's under 30, is that women are cursing now too.

Do any of you here react differently to hearing a woman curse as opposed to a man?

Peace