Expletive Deleted: A Good Look at Bad Language

305 Pages·2005·3.42 MB·English

by  Ruth Wajnryb

deleted
at bad language
nappropriate usage of "bad language" remains
an ongoing point of public interest, as fre
quent media coverage attests .Yet most interest
is in its sensationalist potential. Like the orchestrated
photo opportunity, an attack of the swear words
furnishes a good broadcast moment, a grab on the
viewing public's attention. But this is not the kind
of interest that will advance our knowledge of the
language of swearing, which ... is of itself a valid
and worthwhile pursuit.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-7434-0
ISBN-10: 0-7432-7434-2
U.S. $18.00
Can. $25.00
ave we always "sworn like sailors"?
Has creative cursing developed
because we can't just slug people
when they make us angry? And if such verbal
aggression is universal, why is it that some lan
guages (Japanese, for instance) supposedly do
not contain any nasty words? Throughout the
twentieth century there seems to have been a
dramatic escalation in the use and acceptance
of offensive language in English, both
verbally and in print. Today it seems almost
commonplace to hear the "f" word in casual
conversation, and even on television.Just how
have we become such a bunch of cursers and
what does it tell us about our language and
ourselves?
In Expletive Deleted, linguist Ruth
Wajnryb offers an entertaining yet thoroughly
researched, lighthearted look at this develop
ment, seeking to reveal the etymologies of
various terms and discover how what was
once considered unfit-for-company argot has
become standard fare. Wajnryb steps outside
the confines of English in her search for
answers, exploring whether offensive words
(continued on back flap)
(continued from front flap)
in English are mirrored in other languages and
examining cultural differences in the usage of
dirty words. For instance, why is it that in some
languages you can get away with intimating
that a person and his camel are more than just
good friends, while pouring scorn on a
mother's morals guarantees you a seat on the
next flight out?
An amusing and idiosyncratic look at the
power of words to shock, offend, insult, amuse,
exaggerate, let off steam, establish relationships,
and communicate deep-felt emotions, Expletive
Deleted is a must-read for anyone who loves
language—or has ever stubbed a toe.
Ruth Wajnryb is an applied
linguist, researcher, and writer. She has a
weekly column in The Sydney Morning Herald
in which she explores linguistic topics.
Register online at www.simonsays.com for more
information on this and other great books.
JACKET DESIGN BY ERIC FUENTECILLA
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. COPYRIGHT © 2005 SIMON & SCHUSTER. INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY SIMON & SCHUSTER

Expletive Deleted
$&#@*!
A GOOD LOOK AT BAD LANGUAGE
Ruth Wajnryb
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wajnryb, Ruth.
Expletive deleted : a good look at bad language / Ruth Wajnryb.
p. cm.
The characters $&#@*! appear after the title on the t.p.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
1. English language—Obscene words. 2. Taboo, Linguistic.
3. Swearing. I. Title.
PE3724.03W35 2005
422—dc22 2005043786
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-7434-0
ISBN-10: 0-7432-7434-2
To Mark Cherry and Barbara Lasserre