No one can deny that the verbal vulgarity of swearing, cursing, or what used to be called profanity has become accepted and even standardised in the modern world. Whether in films, novels, music CDs, or stand-up comedians, dropping the f-word is always guaranteed to raise a laugh.
I grew up in household where I never heard any these objectionable words. Without ever making a big deal out of it. I never heard my father swear, and my mother was so punctilious, she wouldn’t even utter the word ‘God’ except in a reverent sense. Consequently, when I arrived in Ireland, 50 years ago, I was surprised and, yes, shocked the casual profanity that surrounded me, and grated on my ear.
My chief objection to this kind of language is it expresses a poverty of language and expression. I must say I prefer the older comedians, like Neil Tobin, who never felt the need to descend intro vulgarity. My other objection is a question of manners and politeness. I find it offensive to the ear to hear so often words used in company that seem designed simply to shock for shock's sake. I don’t regard myself as a prude but I just think the use of offensive words crude and cheapening and above all nearly always unnecessary.
Experts say people swear for impact, but the widespread use of strong language may in fact lessen that impact, as well as lessen society's ability to set apart certain ideas and words as sacred. "Expressing everything that is within you is a dangerous cultural idea," said Rabbi David Wolpe, spiritual leader of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. "Discipline and restraint are as important to the shaping of personal character as is full expression. But the late 17th century saw the beginning of a rise in profane and vulgar language, according to historian Melissa Moher, author of the 2013 book “Holy (Expletive ): A Brief History of Swearing”.
"Profanity is something that has become so widespread in its acceptance that it doesn't carry the weight that it did 20 or 30 years ago. Wolpe likewise asserts the widespread use of so-called swear words have lessened their impact: "Its purpose is to be shocking and powerful in speech at exceptional times," Wolpe explained. "Now that we've made it normal, even our profanity doesn't have the force that it should have
Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, in a blog about workers cleaning up their language, cited a 2012 Career Builder survey in which 57 percent of employers say they wouldn't hire a candidate who used profanity. Gottsman partly concurred: "I can definitely see that the times have changed. And we are exposed far more than in the past, in the good old days. One of the reasons it hurts us in business is that we come across as not having command of our language. That's why it's very important to use our words for power, and we lose our power when we start substituting strong words with profanity."
She added, "It all comes down to respect: if you wouldn't say it to your grandmother, you shouldn't say it to your client, your boss, your girlfriend or your wife.
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