The history of swear words - SHIT

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, mavo
• Leerjaar 1-4

The history of 

swear words 

Why do people swear?

What are some of the good things and bad thing about swearing?

Which English swear
words do you know?

Why is it useful to know
about English swear words?

• Swearing is not inherently "bad" but we need to be careful when we use it. 

• It is important to know swear words because they are common. 
• 0,7% of words used daily are swear words (that's the same percent as we, us, our, ours) 

Swearing in English

- People swear for many different reasons:

• social bonds
  
• pain relief
  
• stress relief
  
• expression
  
• to offend/shock 

- Swear words can be: 

• verbs (werkwoorden)
• nouns (zelfstandige nw)
• adjectives (bijv. nw)
• adverbs (bijwoorden)
• interjections (tussenwerpsel) 

Swearing in English

- People who swear are often: 

• more intelligent;
• more creative

- Some scientists believe all language evolved from swearing 

- Swearing acts as a release of emotion - the same as crying or laughing 

Swearing in English

- Not all swearing intended to be offensive. Sometimes it is for fun. Sometimes it is expressive; 

- You will hear swear words often when you travel, as well as in movies, music and books: 

• Even classic works contain profanity (godslastering) 

Swearing in English

- However, sometimes it is not acceptable: - 

• In formal situations 
• Near children 
• With people you don't know

- It is useful to know English swear words, but be careful when you use them! 

Swearing in English

- There is a definite hierarchy of swear words: - 

• almost always inappropriate 
• usually inappropriate
• occasionally inappropriate 
• rarely inappropriate 

- Swear words rank from very strong to very mild 

• This changes over time as they become more or less offensive

Swearing in English

- There is a definite hierarchy of swear words: -

• almost always inappropriate (bijna altijd)
• usually inappropriate (meestal)  
• occasionally inappropriate (soms) 
• rarely inappropriate (bijna nooit)

- Swear words rank from very strong to very mild

• This changes over time as they become more or less offensive

- Generally, it is unacceptable to use words that are intended to denigrate a group of people: - 

• Racial slurs 
• Sexist terms 
• Homophobic words

- If you are unsure of these words, don't use them. 

• It can hurt people and sometimes it's even illegal 

Swearing in English

Who do you think swears most?

Younger people

Older peole

How do you feel about swearing in popular culture (movies, TV, books)?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

How do you think swearing is different in your culture compared with other cultures?

• Etymology - woordafleiding
  
• (in)offensive - (niet)beledigend 
• Manure - mest/bemesten 
• High brow jokes - grappen met dubbelzinnigheid 
• Low brow jokes - grappen die makkelijk te begrijpen zijn
• Parental advisory  - ouderlijk toezicht 

Before watching

Watch the SHIT-episode of The History of Swear Words (Netflix). 

- Get a piece of paper & a pencil/pen; 

- You get 10 minutes to answer the following question in Dutch (klas 1) and in English (klas 2 & 3): 

• What is the difference between being shitty and being the shit?
  
• What does ‘getting your shit together’ mean?
  
• Do you think ‘shit’ is an offensive swear word? Why (not)?
  
• What did you think of this documentary?

After watching

• Some words are unacceptable because they are used to denigrate a group of people.
  
• If you are unsure of these words, don’t use them.
  

Some thoughts