Good Morning, boys and girls. Welcome to Insomniac Theater! Today we will be discussing profanity. That's right! Profanity. Naughty words. Please take out a pencil and paper, take copious notes and be prepared to particpate in the after-class review. Ready? Let's begin:

The origin of the word profane actually stems from a Latin adjective which basically meant "things that do not belong to the church". It was utilized mostly to describe things outside of the church or things such as buildings that were not churches. As a result, the word has come to be used to describe things which are not socially acceptable or vulgar. What was once considered blasphemous has morphed into a more general definition regarding obscene or irreverent language.


Profanity, or swearing, has been categorized in five types:
Dysphemistic:  which forces the listener to think in a negative manner
Abusive: used to intimidate or insult
Cathartic: meant to describe a personal, negative emotion
Emphatic: used to emphasize a point
Idiomatic: cursing without referring to a matter

Some profanity has original meaning while others carry implied meaning. The actual degree of profanity is really determined by its effect on the listener. Depending on the group or individual being addressed, the actual meaning or its implication will be processed and the listener will decide if it is appropriate for polite conversation or the particular moment in which the word in employed.  Many people use profanity as a way of seeking acceptance among peers. Others seek to use it for "shock value", or the aforementioned intimidation. Most often, the religious connotations are most recognized and, therefore, most understood.

Over time, the effectiveness of certain words changes. Racial slurs and epithets tend to be the most offensive in modern speech, as do words that refer  to gender, creed and sexual orientation. Words that disparage a particular group are often considered highly offensive. Words describing certain parts of the body appear to remain the most popular, again as a result of the religious connection and the "blasphemous" nature of such words.

In closing, polite and decent society have yet to agree on just which words, if any, are completely profane in all circumstances. It is generally understood that language, as with behavior, is subject to interpretation but should most often be tempered by the group that make up the "listening body". One could argue that the user should consider his audience and choose appropriate speech, while still others will say that profanity cheapens the message and is disparaging to the user. In any case, there is clearly a line which must be drawn when conducting an open forum and the rules of decency should always prevail.