a child should be able to speak just as freely as adults..

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to assume that you meant children should have complete freedom of speech, including any use of language typically deemed vulgar as they see fit. Here is why I do not believe that is the case: As human beings, one of the things that distinguishes us from other animals is our highly developed skills of communication. And while this ability allows us to flourish, it can also be the cause of conflicts. As we all know, words do not carry only meaning. Depending on various factors such as the situation, intonation, and how that particular word is perceived in that culture, the intent behind the words can be delivered anywhere between subtly to blatantly. Even if two phrases have the same meaning, how the listener perceives it can be greatly different from what the original speaker intended it to be. This is why when we communicate with others, it is considered "appropriate" or "considerate" to be relatively careful with your words, so as not to offend, insult, or hurt others unintentionally. The vocabulary a person uses can also be a standard that observers utilize to judge that individual's personality. When someone uses aggressive language with a high ratio of profanity, the average person will typically deduce that this individual has an aggressive personality that could be difficult to deal with. Remember, profanity is "profanity" only if that society considers it to be such. By using vocabulary that society has agreed upon is inappropriate, one can give the impression that one does not approve of culturally imposed societal norms, which is quite likely what is most alluring to children and teenagers who hyper-engage in profanity use. Such displays of disdain for societal norms and socially accepted behavior might be considered "cool" in certain circles, but if one is to be a productive and active participant in society, meaning if one would like to have a job, a family, and be socially approachable, one must show others through their behavior and speech that they are nice people, or at least someone others can work with. Knowing what we do about the power of language and words, should we allow children to speak freely as we would allow adults? It is true that here in the US, we believe independence, freedom of choice and personal accountability as more important than many other cultures do. This applies not only to adults, but also in how we treat and raise children as well. Here in the US, we believe that this leads to more creativity in children and therefore more innovative ideas that help propel the economy and science. However, we also believe in the importance of education. And part of that education that we wish to provide to our children is appropriate use of language, not only for their own sake but for the sake of society overall. Adults are given free reign over their behavior, since they will be required to face the consequences if necessary. But the same rule does not apply to children; we as a society have agreed that because children are not adults, they are not fully responsible for the consequences of their actions. But with that agreement comes the idea that we as adults have an obligation to provide children with the education which will give them the ability to distinguish between what's appropriate behavior and what is not. Of course, once they become adults, no one can dictate what they decided to do. Now, in the US, "adult" is defined as being over 18. That is quite arbitrary, and I am well aware of that. There are many other countries where the definition is different, but in most cultures that have adopted the western educational system of 12 years of primary, secondary, and tertiary education, 18 is normally the age considered to be when a teenager become an adult. So in all honesty, it is a bit strange to say that 17 year olds shouldn't be allowed to swear but when they turn 18 it's all of a sudden considered acceptable. But that is what we have decided as a society, and if one does not find it favorable, then one should actively engage in politics and attempt to change the social attitude towards underage profanity use. And of course, we can't really control what children say. I myself remember a time when I was in middle school/high school, and it was cool to act tough and use profanity all the time. And I still do use profanity, but only when I know it's okay to do so. I will not be talking with business associates or clients and dropping the "f-word", but I will also not be talking business-like when I'm talking to my friends. This applies to not just myself but to most people; everyone speaks differently to others depending on their relationship, and the settings in which the conversation is taking place. And once children have learned enough to be able to distinguish this, or at least are expected to have learned, which is considered to be when they are 18, they will be socially free to speak as adults like the rest of us.