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Thursday, January 18, 2007

Is CNUT better than FCUK for dramatic effect


From The Age

The BBC is planning a documentary on the history and use of the C-word.

The program, to be titled The History of the C-word or I Love the C-word, depending on which newspaper you read, will examine why the rudest word in the English language has become more mainstream in recent years.

So are we witnessing the end of the last truly, wonderfully offensive swear word? And, if so, where do we go from here? Do we need to start creating new swear words? Will it continue to be considered a swear word, now that it is mainstream? Is this the descent into crudeness and vulgarity that we all crave (just a little bit)?

Mr Eugenides is set to host.

The Englishman has all the background that you could possibly need and more.

And if that doesn't work, you could always send a card.

13 comments:

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

A matter of linguistic training. If I tell my children "DOOR is a taboo word", then they will believe that until someone enlightens them [which is likely to be quite early on, these days]. Language is just a series of arbitrary signals and those you believe to be offensive are just a matter of your time and place.

Colin Campbell said...

Interesting insight. Our children are way beyond this stage. They know which words pass the taste test. They get that from listening to us and their friends and the reaction they get from using them. My interest was more to do with what value there is in doing a programme like this. I am no prude, but I am not sure what there is to analyse. Those kinds of words used cleverly and at the right time are very powerful. Used in other ways, they are just crude.

puddlejumper said...

Interesting. I've often wondered what makes c*nt more offensive than other swearwords. I have a twenty-one year old female friend who hates the term being used by anyone in her company but is quite happy to say f*ck or sh*t or whatever. Sorry for the stars. I swear freely on my own blog but only where I think it's required to express the full range of emotions.

I think there's a big difference between swearing to add emphasis to language and swearing AT someone, which to me is offensive.

Will be interesting to watch the show.

Bill Haydon said...

I agree with Puddlejumper, though I do think that percussively and grammatically, the f word is better. You can use it in so many different ways; it is one of the great words of the language.

I don't like the other one: can't explain it, just don't like it.

We do have other taboo words, of course. And they will be staying taboo.

Jeremy Jacobs said...

I think profanity is vulgar. A bit like Jade Nogoody in da Celebrity Big Bruvver House

Not Saussure said...

A different generation, but my late wife was very like Puddlejumper's friend; she would swear like a Hull fish-wife (well, she was from Hull and had worked -- admittedly as a secretary -- on the fish-dock) but hated anyone using the C-word in her presence.

This is maybe a generational and background thing, but she also very much disliked men swearing in front of her, and I'm certainly from the sort of background and generation where you just don't swear when there are ladies present (other than in circumstances of dire provocation).

queenminx said...

I'm with tin drummer on this. I think the eff word is far more superior, as well as being incredibly versatile ...

eff you
eff me
eff this
eff that
eff off
effin hell
eff a duck
what the eff
eff me sideways
go eff your Mother
I've effed your Mother

I could go on, but for eff's sake, I don't think I need to.

So, cnut. It's ugly, but it just doesn't cut the effin mustard.

In my opinion, cnut isn't as universally liked as the eff word, and is probably more universally disliked, not only because of it's lack of versatility, but also because it is synonymous with a woman's vagina. So, when you call someone a cnut, you are basically saying 'You are a fanny!' ... it's really not that offensive when you look at it like that, it just doesn't seem as 'tough'!

Right, I'm off for me effing tea.

wink!

xx

Shades said...

Its not big and its not clever...

unless done with impeccable timing!

Bill Haydon said...

to follow up my post:

*swearing* - Colin my comment only works with the real words, feel free to delete if you don't want them -


I have posted this elsewhere but I love the probably apocryphal National Service Sgt Major to the raw recruit who's messed up his new gun: (prob. Alan Bennett)

"Fuck! You've fucking fucked the fucking fucker!"

Colin Campbell said...

Tin Drummer

Please fucking relax. Now I have to go and pay the virtual swear jar.

I am very happy to host the occasional swearing on this site.

Bill Haydon said...

Sorry. I just liked the story!!

Colin Campbell said...

Tin Drummer

You are hereby absolved of any guilt associated with the posting of swear words on my site.

Now go out and play.

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