Expletive deleted
Subtitle: a good look at bad language
By: Ruth Wajnryb.
Publisher: Free Press
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 290
ISBN-13: 9780743274340
Subjects: English language -- Obscene words; Taboo, Linguistic; Swearing
Description: Has creative cursing developed because we can't just slug people when they make us angry? Throughout the twentieth century there seems to have been a dramatic escalation in the use and acceptance of offensive language in English, both verbally and in print. Just how have we become such a bunch of cursers and what does it tell us about our language and ourselves? A look at the power of words to shock, offend, insult, amuse, exaggerate, let off steam, establish relationships, and communicate deep-felt emotions, this book seeka to discover how what was once considered unfit-for-company argot has become standard fare. Wajnryb steps outside the confines of English in her search for answers, exploring whether offensive words in English are mirrored in other languages and examining cultural differences in the usage of dirty words.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-274) and index.
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