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The Advent Of Abusive/swearing Words

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by HariLakhera, Mar 14, 2021.

  1. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Advent of abusive/swearing words

    I was just wondering when and who might have started abusive words. Tried but google was of no great help. As far as I know Darwin did not even mentioned in any of his books, though he might have used some of these words. It looks it all started from the very beginning of the creation. Humans started showing their anger or dislike in resentful tones and words for each other.
    Then, I came across a book, with a list of insulting words Shakespeare used in his plays. Some of them are here.
    Shakespearean Insults
    Bald plated - Bald man
    Artless -Foolish
    Baggage- Characterless woman
    Bed pressure- Lazy
    Boiled brains- Hot headed
    Blockhead- Dumb
    Coldblooded- Heartless
    Deceptions- Deceitful
    Fawning- Sycophant
    Plumpy- Fat
    Reeky- Foul smelling
    Eye offending- Eye sore

    It is not clear if these words were coined by Shakespeare or were in use already. In any case, I guess no one would like to take the ownership of such words. However, with time, more words were invented, with still more wickedness and hatred and punch. It somehow turned into a competition sort as to who could come up with new and more abusive word. Our stand up comedians, film script writers and me too groups in different languages added their own.

    It did not stop with dogs, asses, or pigs. It went on and on and started including mothers, sisters and daughters.

    Some guys, and best friends at that, use them to tease each other.
     
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  2. Balajee

    Balajee IL Hall of Fame

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    "Get thee to a nunnery," Hamlet in his foul mood tells Ophelia. No, he didn't want her to become a nun, but "Nunnery" in Shakespeare's time is slang for a brothel. But why are we bothered about abuses in English? Our own Punjabi and Tamil (Particularly the Chennai variety) are super-rich in abuses.
     
  3. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Agreed in toto. Every language is 'rich' with abusive and swear words. My search showed that English words were used sometimes in 1800 and there after new words were added depending upon the fertile minds of street urchins and established writers.
    Punjabis are famous for their love for such words.
    The only point when and why such words came into circulation.
     
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  4. GregoriaBoul

    GregoriaBoul Silver IL'ite

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    It is hard to stop people from swearing.
     
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  5. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:what usEd to be considered abusive or unparliamentary turns normal with passage of time and usage. Hare ullu, hare Pahgal, xxxx, ( in sub titles) all turned normal. For some it is difficult to speak for a while without uttering these so called abusive words. Sometimes it comes handy especially when they are loss for words.

    Kind words may need work of few nerves while abusive ones takes use more nerves.

    It is interesting to trace the origins of some of the abusive words.

    It is said in england there was a time that the couple need king's permission for coitus and such permission abbreviated and displayed on the closed doors of the couple's home. Search in google yields more info. FORNIFICATION UNDER CONSULTATION OF KING - make out the acronym - you got it. That acronym was on the closed doors of entrance!
    Thanks and regards.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2021
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  6. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Great discovery. And whose permission the King was taking?
     
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  7. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:Hi. Please substitute.
    It is commandment not consultation.
     
  8. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Yes YOUR EXcellency.
     
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  9. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    LOL:innocent:
     
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