Re: Swearing in other cultures (was Langmaker.com and...)

Some of the most interesting swear words come from right across our border,
here in Upstate.  I never thought that the words for "host" or "tabernacle"
could be so injurious in French-Canadian sectors when used out of their
contexts.

But I can understand it: in Middle English, the worst swear words were
religious: 'zounds, coming from "God's wounds," "'sblood," etc.  To refer
lightly to Christ's torment on the cross was to add to it, and commit
blasphemy.

Sally

----- Original Message -----
From: "Damian Yerrick" <tepples@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 5:14 PM
Subject: Swearing in other cultures (was Langmaker.com and...)


> "Roger Mills" <rfmilly@...> wrote:
>
>> Someone commented that what's obscene (or just merely insulting) would
>> depend on the conculture. And I suspect many of of have overlooked that--
> I
>> know I have, in many cases, and ought to devote more thought to getting
> away
>> from the defecatory/sexual obscenities that _we_ consider so horrible. I
>> wonder if it's a Judaeo-Christian (+Islamic) thing...:-))
>>
>> Any comments about other cultures/traditions? nat- as well as con-??
>
> A lot of Dutch swearing is reportedly based on diseases such as pox,
> TB, cancer, pleurisy, and the like, rather than religion, reproduction,
> or elimination of waste.
>
> I too would like to know what other cultures consider profane/obscene.
>
> --
> Damian
>

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