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

Sally Caves wrote:
> 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
In Hindi the worst insult is to call someone _sálá_ "wife's brother"
because it implies "I've f*cked your sister".  Thus the word has
to be used with discretion even when speaking of one's actual
brothers-in-law!

--

/BP 8^)>
--
Benct Philip Jonsson -- melroch at melroch dot se

         Solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant!
                                             (Tacitus)

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