Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

I Swear! And More and More, in Public

Profanity has moved beyond private discourse, experts say

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2007 2:55 PM CST

(Newser) – Profanity seems to be more and more widespread, but linguists suggest people aren't actually swearing more—they're just swearing more publicly. The tide of athletes and musicians who pepper their language with choice four-letter words is meeting a surge of media avenues that aren't regulated by the government, resulting in a flood of profanity, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Swearing has a key role, said a psychology professor, as an alternative to physical aggression—a strategy Dick Cheney put to the test in 2004 on the Senate floor. TV networks, responsible for salty utterances they broadcast, are appealing to the Supreme Court to remove FCC sanctions in cases when verboten words slip past the censors.

Duane Dog Chapman, star of the reality series Dog, the Bounty Hunter is shown in this 2006 file photo. Chapman on Wednesday apologized for using the N-word repeatedly in a profanity-laced tirade during a private phone conversation with his son that was recorded and posted online.  (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni, FILE)
Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of the reality series "Dog, the Bounty Hunter" is shown in this 2006 file photo. Chapman on Wednesday apologized for using the N-word repeatedly in a profanity-laced tirade during...   (Associated Press)
The Fox network cut off Sally Field when she swore during her Emmy Award acceptance speech in September. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Fox network cut off Sally Field when she swore during her Emmy Award acceptance speech in September. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)   (Associated Press)
Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the World Affairs Council luncheon in Dallas in this Nov. 2, 2007 file photo. Cheney made headlines by shouting an obscenity at Sen. Patrick J. Leahy on the Senate floor. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)
Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the World Affairs Council luncheon in Dallas in this Nov. 2, 2007 file photo. Cheney made headlines by shouting an obscenity at Sen. Patrick J. Leahy on the Senate...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Family Guy Accused of Taunting FCC With Stewie Doo-Doo

Supremes to Weigh On-Air Swearing

Arizona Bill Would Restrict Teachers' Speech

MTV Cancels Skins

Sorry for All That Cussing: MTV


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne