“Watch your tongue.”
I’ve heard rebuttals like this more times than I can count, whether from a parent or vehemently portrayed by characters in a TV show. Like many others, I’ve come to recognize such responses as a common deterrent to profanity.
Like many other teenagers, I associate swearing with conversations that, frankly, probably shouldn’t be overheard by my parents. Words said as jokes and conveyed through laughter are often met with these sharp responses by parents, teachers, or caregivers who are driven by, as I’m reminded daily, a very relevant and legitimate responsibility to protect their children.
And it’s not for nothing. These profane comments can quickly turn sour. Friendly conversations can ignite when profanity exaggerates the message; a harmless comment can be quickly misinterpreted. The harshness of these words’ exclamation and often equally crude meanings creates a hazy swath where differentiating between jest and offense is murky at best.
Fear of these comments was also born from a fear of legislative repercussions. Historically, using profane language was considered both blasphemous and grounds for punishment, according to The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.
But individual swear words don’t have a strictly negative history. Through contextual shifts, even polite, neutral or otherwise non-extreme words can become associated with the expression of negative emotions, including a typical display of frustration. This shift redefines words as swear words, according to a study published in ScienceDirect. Confusion around the significance of current terms may lead to an individual viewing a display of profanity as vituperation, which refers to bitter and abusive language. However, profanity refers to language that is considered taboo or offensive – but is not necessarily negative in use, unlike vituperation’s definitively negative characteristics.
People often use the terms interchangeably. This is evident in many workplace responses, which often discourage profanity to maintain a respectful atmosphere, thereby treating the language as vituperation. Yet, according to a statement issued by the National Labor Relations Board in 2023, profanity usage in the workplace is acceptable, thus reducing the necessity for those limitations and underscoring the needlessness of any misinterpretations.
This, however, does not address the population with the most visceral language. I will not be the first to admit that teenagers are known for using profanity. Nevertheless, school, where most teenagers spend a significant portion of their time, is an environment that operates slightly differently when responding to profane language.
While the Carlmont High School Dress Code Policy no longer explicitly prohibits the display of profanity on clothing, previous variations of the Dress Code did. Now, I actually find this part of the policy reasonable, since clothing conveys a much stronger message than verbal exclamations do, and it is tricky to provide the necessary context for the language visually.
But this only creates more confusion: If the act of swearing is OK, then isn’t it contradictory to claim that displays of those words are bad?
I disagree. There are many factors that are obsolete in the written word, such as inflection. For instance, take sarcasm. When I’m texting a friend, I type cautiously, considering the many ways my words could be misinterpreted and maybe even hurt someone’s feelings in the process. Sometimes, I will not realize how dramatically misunderstood my comment could be until I send the text. Yet, ask any of my friends, and they will say that sarcasm is a significant part of my daily vocabulary. When you are speaking, tone is an immediate indicator of intention. Therefore, it is unnecessary to behave with the same level of caution as with the written word.
In the same vein, profanity is not always perceived as negative when its application is used appropriately. I have always found profanity to be empowering. It portrays my feelings in a much more descriptive and precise way than more polite language would. It allows me to express my opinions. It is an outlet for my thoughts, and, most importantly, it works perfectly in a sarcastic comment.
My proclivity for swearing is affirmed by an article published in the SM Journal of Depression Research and Treatment, which found that the use of profanity can be both a self-defense mechanism and a powerful form of emotional catharsis, involving the conscious expression of typically suppressed emotions.
And I’m not the only person who finds profanity to be a significant part of their vocabulary. According to a study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, swearing is extremely common and is only marginally influenced by factors such as age and gender.
Profanity is not likely to become a marginal part of the average person’s vocabulary anytime soon. Perhaps the words themselves may appear tricky to navigate, but avoiding profanity entirely will never be effective.
We do, however, have the power to redefine profanity. By choosing to use swear words in a positive context – to uplift ourselves or someone else – we can turn them into something beneficial.
Yes, profanity can be harmful, but it also has the cathartic potential to empower.
