Fuck, well where do I start
Swearing can have both positive or negative effects on interactions, a lot of this difference comes down to context.
Social identity can resonate through the language used in interactions in social situations, it is evident that class, race and gender can be identified through language use in particular interactions. Therefore using bad language, profanities and expletives can be detrimental to an individuals social identity. If an individual was to swear and use bad language in a job application they would not get hired.. the same goes for constantly swearing in day to day social interactions.
I also believe (probably because I do it) that using profanities whist hanging out with friends in relaxed social settings, like going out for a few drinks, or hanging down at the beach, is acceptable. I mean you can throw a few words around in a conversation with your friends and the connotations do not necessarily have to be the same as when using the same word in another context. The most versatile word - 'Fuck' can be used so many different ways that in some cases its harshness or disrespectable connotations can be dropped. The same word can mean two extremely different things, but in context the prescribed meaning can be identified.
I found an interesting article that outlined the use of 'fuck' and 'cunt' in the Australian trade work place. It was interesting that it outlined why these words lost their connotations of being abusive and offensive nature. Instead they had a rapport-building function within their contexts. They (the tradies) also use these words to differentiate themselves from the rest of society, which i thought was quite interesting as I work at Bunnings and do see a lot of tradies using this type of language... now i know why (Mcleod, L 2011).
References
Link to the above article - http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/384041/McLeod-swearing.pdf
Mcleod, L (2011) Swearing in the 'tradie' environment as a tool for solidarity. Griffith working papers in pragmatics and intercultural communication.
Hi Josh, I agree with your theme of context and really like the simplicity of it. I enjoyed that you used examples that I was able to relate to. Especially when you were talking about hanging out with friends and using the word “fuck.” I could not agree with you more that “fuck” is extremely versatile and context dependent. “Fuck” contains a variety of meanings; however, it also posses different degrees within those meanings. Right? Is that kind of what you were saying? For example, someone could say, “fuck!” or “that is fucking awesome!” I suppose here intonation is an important factor as well. Anyhow, I think you really nailed it! Congratufuckinglations! (Sorry could not help myself).
ReplyDeleteLike Brittany I agree, the context and simplicity of this post makes it very easy to read and follow! Although personally I do not swear (it doesn't matter where I am or what social setting I am in I just don't do it) I couldn't agree with you more, profanities really can be used in a variety of contexts and in some it is socially acceptable. What you found with relation to the tradies is very interesting, however it makes sense. Imagine a little 'goody goody' non-swearer hanging out with tradies?! He would stand out like a sore thumb.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You raise some great points!
I agree with your assertion that swear words vary in meaning dependent on the context and group in which the word is being used. It’s so fascinating how the same word can produce so many different meanings dependent on the setting and the audience. I found a newspaper article in the Chicago Tribune that discusses the use of swearing in the movie “Bridesmaids.” The article cites how the film is taking a stab against traditional female roles in movies by allowing the characters to swear and take on the more “raunchy” behavior normally attributed to male leads in comedies. The success of the movie has stirred up some publicity as this dimension of female behavior is not normally encouraged or portrayed in film. So I would definitely agree with your argument that gender can impact the meaning of certain words. If the leads of this film had been male and used the same dialect no one would have batted an eye lash at the content of the film, but because they are female it is seen as an avant garde development in the genre of female comedic leads. Examples such as these show just how much the dimensions you stated like race, gender, educational level, socioeconomic level, social setting, etc., can impact the social acceptability of certain words given the dimensions of the particular individual engaged in the interaction. There seems to be a hierarchical correlation as to who has the power to use certain words. For example, it’d be more acceptable for a wealthy man to swear at a poor man than the other way around. However, swearing language is often given a negative connotation and attached to subservient populations rather than dominant ones, but subservient populations are not allowed to swear in social interactions with dominant populations unless the dominant population first gives them permission to do so. Like in our tutorial where we would have not felt comfortable to swear had our tutor not given us permission on the first day. Perhaps power may be an interesting dimension to explore in relation to swearing acceptability.
ReplyDeleteReference:
Swearing by 'Bridesmaids' success 2011, , Chicago, Ill., United States, Chicago, Ill.
Swearing is something that has unfortunately become a part of many day to day interactions between many different people across vast social situations, although I admit, I do myself at times swear, as Josh has mentioned in his blog, it boils down to context and the situation I am in.
ReplyDeleteWorking in a call centre, on a day to day basis I interact with countless people, some of whom at times may be frustrated or angry during these interactions and choose to release their frustration through the use of profanity. This is a situation where it clearly would not be appropriate to swear back regardless of the ‘lovely’ names I am being called, this would need to be dealt with in a professional manner. Just as in my workplace swearing at someone or in a meeting and so on would not be acceptable. Josh also brought up the use of profanity in Australian trade workplaces and I found this point thought-provoking as there are evidently vast differences between my office work environment and the trade work environment.
I also agree that when you are in a situation where you are surrounded by friends swear words such as “f**k”, “di**h**d” and so on come up, yet in most cases these words do not have the same meanings and undertones that they would in another social setting, at times these may even be used by friends as an endearing term, although in my experience it is the males who seem to talk like this more than females.
I agree that swearing can have both positive and negative effects on interactions, based on context, but that doesn't mean I don't cringe every time I hear it! I suppose this could be due to the way I was brought up, my religion, the people I spend time with and my job (English tutor). My identity is produced through these things and I wouldn't want to lose faith by swearing.
ReplyDeleteDespite my reaction to profanities, I do understand that there are different meanings for each of the words and that they might not all be so negative. The group presenters in my tutorial (Thursday 8.30am) did a great job at expressing this.
The use of profanity does definitely come down to context to the point where it becomes a part of a particular society. In my presentation on Online Gaming I analysed the use of profanity. I found that the majority of people who interact socially in online games and MMO's (Massive Multiplayer Online Games) use extensive coarse language that is specifically sexually and racially oriented. What is particularly interesting is that this is the norm of verbal and expressive communication is in almost all online gaming variants. As you outlined in your posting with the use of profanity in the Australian Trade workplace profanity has essentially become part of the discourse of verbal communication. The same occurs in the online gaming industry in my data presentation I have naturally occurring data that identifies the use of excessive profanity in different games as well as different ages. I know from personal experience that I have never played an online game without hearing some sort of profanity.
ReplyDeleteAlso in associating with profanity in different contexts and societies I also compared the use of 'bloody' and juxtaposed it against the maltese word 'lustja' they have different formal meanings to each other but they both have representation of the word dam or dammit. Both words depending on the context they are used have different meanings but both have are a part of the everyday communication for both languages.
Also here is a funny video from the movie 'Ted' about the use of profanity in the workplace just for shits and giggles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew0h3xnwyR4
I think you're spot on with your idea about swearing. Context is everything. I think you can relate it to how you present yourself as well, like you were saying with being able to swear around friends, and the negative connotations being dropped because of the relaxed and colloquial way its being used (I swear a bunch around my friends, also) but the difference that makes when you're talking about a job interview- or chatting with your mother. There's a significant difference there between who you're talking to (obviously) but how you need to think about what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much what you're saying- but how you're saying it, and who you're saying it to. That's how I'd sum it up, and I think your overall point is pretty much exactly the same.
Thanks!