Wiekes weetjes: 10 facts about swearing
When I write, I always politely say ‘pardon my French’ when I go off the rails, but in real life, that's a bit different. Seriously, I don't think an hour goes by without a swear word from me. It actually sounds quite vulgar, but I promise you that's not the case. Sometimes a bit of swearing is just really delightful, right? Especially when complaining. Or when you're angry. When you're in pain. Then it's just allowed, I think. So it was high time to come up with some fun facts about swearing.
1. The Dutch are the only ones who swear with diseases
Oh, how special we are, huh? Yes, we have the only language that uses diseases as a standard go-to for swearing. Other countries find that quite strange, by the way.
2. Some languages have no swear words at all
Um, excuuuuse me? How are you supposed to express yourself then? Japanese, for example, has no explicit words that are considered swear words. That's why baseball player Ichiro Suzuki, who learned English and Spanish during his career, said he likes that ‘Western languages allow me to say things I otherwise couldn't.’.
3. The English word for ‘rooster’ was invented when ‘cock’ became something entirely different
Ehh yes, because a cock originally means a rooster, but is now mainly used for the male genitalia. That's why the English came up with a new word, ‘rooster’, for a rooster. Quite nice for that poor creature.
4. Swear words have existed for a very long time
Some words have existed for over 1000 years, like ‘shit’. Quite funny, right, that they were already cursing and raging back then? However, the first real obscene word in the English language was ‘fart’, which appeared for the first time in 1250. ‘Fuck’ came around in 1568, ‘dick’ in 1891, and ‘cunt’ (which was already said in 1325) was replaced by 'vagina' in 1682. 5. We looooove shit‘.
According to Facebook, we swear the most with 'shit' on their site. Sorry, Facebook. But honestly: that's still not too bad, right? The top five is completed by 'fuck', 'damn', 'bitch', and 'crap'.
Pretty decent still. 6. You can't just swear everywhere.
No, no. In the American state of Virginia, it's even illegal. How ridiculous is it to get a ticket for swearing and then get angry again and start swearing again, landing you in a never-ending negative spiral of fines and swear words?
7. Swearing can be good for you
If you're in pain, that is. Because swearing relieves
real pain. This was researched in a study where one group had to put their hands in ice water and were allowed to swear, while the other group was not allowed to. The group that couldn't use swear words lasted an average of 40 seconds less.. 8. Learn young, do old.
Kids learn their first swear words around their first and second year of life. Yes, you read that right: they can swear earlier than they can recite the alphabet. That's parenting.
9. Swearing without words: raising the middle finger goes way back.
How funny: it was already mentioned in 419 BC in the play
The Clouds by Aristophanes. 10. Wanting to swear can be a condition.
Coprolalia is a condition where someone involuntarily swears continuously.
It is seen as a tic, which is sometimes considered part of Tourette's Syndrome. facts about swearing. Sometimes a bit of swearing is just really delightful, right? Especially when complaining. Or when you're angry. When you're in pain. Then it's just allowed, I think. So it was high time to come up with some.
