22°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
The value of foul language
Profane language has its virtues, new studies show.
Profanity has been almost universal in human cultures since time immemorial. Colourful swearing and cursing have persisted in virtually all civilizations and scientists have concluded the conspicuousness of verbal obscenities throughout history is due to outstanding health and survival benefits.
According to anthropologist Ashley Montagu, the use of derogatory, malicious, spiteful and blasphemous words and expressions is a time-honoured tradition of ancient origin. Vulgar language dates to at least the time of Ramses III (ca. 1170 BC) in ancient Egypt, the early Greeks and Romans and in early Chinese dynasties. Some individual curse words are thousands of years old.
Researcher Timothy Jay at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has suggested profane language persists because it is passed along from generation to generation from the culture's past.
According to Jay, "dirty" language includes: swearing, obscenities, profanity, blasphemy, name-calling, verbal aggression, taboo speech, vulgarity and slang, most of which are frowned upon in polite society.
But, recent research shows that uttering profanity has huge health and other benefits.
"Cursing definitely helps alleviate pain," concluded Richard Stevens at Keele University, adding swearing makes injured people feel better. His research shows people perceive less pain while cursing.
Unsavoury language, particularly certain four-letter words, not only increase pain tolerance but also ease emotional stresses.
According to Jay, cursing is "offensive speech" that is usually controlled by the brain. But, certain emotional states impact on the brain's ability to inhibit the uttering of curse words.
Colourful epithets are often blurted out when people are confronted by rude objectionable intrusive behaviour in others: discourteous operation of a motor vehicle by another, pushy behaviour; people who muscle ahead of others in a lineup. Under such circumstances, conflicting urges are generated. Offended individuals vacillate between polite toleration or interceding with overt physical aggression (not only to end the offensive behaviour, but to punish it as well). Road rage is a typical result when drivers perceive intolerable conduct by other motorists.
According to researcher Peter Marler, when an individual is confronted with a conflict situation, in which physical attack or backing-off politely are possible alternatives, "displacement" behaviour often occurs. As an example, consider a heated conversation between two individuals; when anger is generated by displeasure, one of the two, instead of striking the other, instead slams a hand down on a nearby table. Anger is vented, not against a human, but against another object. The likelihood of overt striking of blows is thereby lowered.
So it is with profane language, researchers suggest. Emotionally powerful words or emotionally harmful expressions mitigate and alleviate the urge to strike people who are deemed to be behaviourally offensive. In that way, physical force and possible injury are averted. Anthropologists postulate that the uttering of obscenities under "fight-or-flight" circumstances avoids physical confrontation; emotionally satisfying language eases the urge to physically punish intrusive offensive conduct. This mitigating influences has survival value in human societies, researchers suggest.
People, when offended by rude intrusive behaviour in others, experience a decrease in their own self-image. Researchers explain that in order to elevate a deflated self-image it is necessary to counteract the offensive act in some way. Unsavoury language achieves restoration of the former self-image without resorting to physical force.
Researchers confirm that although the use of profanity spans most cultures, there is not a great deal of uniformity in actual curse words or expressions among different cultures.
Some researchers have suggested the topic of profanity in human cultures is not fully understood, because there is a research taboo that has precluded extensive research up until now.
Robert Alison is a Victoria-based wildlife biologist and writer with a PhD in zoology.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 29, 2011 A13
More Analysis
- Back to Top
- Return to Analysis
More Analysis
(1 of 33 articles for this week)
Don't let flood-evacuee problems kill the vision
1:00 AM 0It was the best of opportunities. It was the worst of nightmares.
Let's go back in time to when the Manitoba ...
Poll
Most Popular Analysis
- Electronic footprints in a Google age
- Iran’s president-elect a glimmer of hope
- Pimachiowin Aki is exceptional heritage
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Firm sues governments over intellectual property
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Hike to PST will bite Manitobans hard
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Beauty and the (mortgage) Beast
- Hidden no more
- Too rural, too white, too male
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Beauty and the (mortgage) Beast
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Expense scandal dogs Nova Scotia's fading NDP government
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Appalling rates of public-sector absenteeism must be addressed
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Key of Bart: Video Killed The Mayor Who Hates The Toronto Star
- Too rural, too white, too male
- A sorry fact -- Katz finds it hard to apologize
- Ford puts Toronto on the map at last
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- The key of Bart
- Ford can't resign as mayor soon enough
- Obama gets ‘revenge’ with Rice appointment
- Shed more light on JTF2 secrets
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Hidden no more
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Shed more light on JTF2 secrets
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Erdogan — a Chavez-style strongman who gets results
- Aging makes women proud — and loud
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- No bailouts required for Pollock's
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Teachers should fast-track inclusive plan
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- Shocking exclusion
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Gadgets in classrooms are gimmicks
- ‘Stand your ground’ case not what it seemed
- Hydro plans will be scrutinized in public
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.