An Encyclopedia of Swearing - The Social History Of Oaths, Profanity, Foul Language, And Ethnic Slurs In The English-Speaking World

History of Modern Colloquial English, published in 1920, included a half-page discussion about a slang term without ever mentioning it. The word? Bloody, a term considered so taboo at that time that it couldnt even be mentioned in a book on lexicography. More than 80 years later, one can barely escape hearing more-graphic taboo terms on cable television and in the movies or reading them in highbrow publications such as the New Yorker. Hughes, a South African English professor, has compiled a fascinating reference work on the history, sociology, and literary uses of foul language and profanity. Alphabetically arranged by topic, the work covers, in addition to terms themselves, a wide range of subjects and individuals: Ethnic insults Hollywood Medieval period Political correctness and Twain, Mark--to name only a few. The index provides access to words that are not entry headings. Engagingly written and diligently researched, the entries provide helpful information to both lay readers and scholars and include useful bibliographies. The work also offers superb ready-reference information on hard-to-find arcane information, for example, the first time a slang term for copulation was uttered on British television, major dictionaries that include or dont include profane terms, and the case name and citation number of the FCC decision about George Carlins controversial «Filthy Words» broadcast in 1973. This is the only encyclopedia of the social history of swearing and foul language in the English-speaking world. It covers the various social dynamics that generate swearing, foul language, and insults in the entire range of the English language. While the emphasis is on American and British English, the different major global varieties such as Australian, Canadian, South African, and Caribbean English are also included. This Is The Only Encyclopedia And Social History Of Swearing And Foul Language In The English-speaking World. It Covers The Various Social Dynamics That Generate Swearing, Foul Language, And Insults In The Entire Range Of The English Language. While The Emphasis Is On American And British English, The Different Major Global Varieties, Such As Australian, Canadian, South African, And Caribbean English Are Also Covered. A-z Entries Cover The Full Range Of Swearing And Foul Language In English, Including Fascinating Details On The History And Origins Of Each Term And The Social Context In Which It Found Expression. Categories Include Blasphemy, Obscenity, Profanity, The Categorization Of Women And Races, And Modal Varieties, Such As The Ritual Insults Of Renaissance Flyting And Modern Sounding Or Playing The Dozens. Entries Cover The Historical Dimension Of The Language, From Anglo-saxon Heroic Oaths And The Surprising Power Of Medieval Profanity, To The Strict Censorship Of The Renaissance And The Vibrant, Modern Language Of The Streets. Social Factors, Such As Stereotyping, Xenophobia, And The Dynamics Of Ethnic Slurs, As Well As Age And Gender Differences In Swearing Are Also Addressed, Along With The Major Taboo Words And The Complex And Changing Nature Of Religious, Sexual, And Racial Taboos. ... Publisher Description. Preface -- Introduction -- Abbreviations -- Abjuration -- Aliens -- Alliteration -- Anathema -- Anatomical Insults -- Anglo-saxon Period -- Anglo-saxon Terms -- Animal Terms -- Ass/arse -- Asseveration -- Attestation -- Australia -- Barbarian -- Bastard -- Bawdy -- Beggar -- Berk -- Bible -- Billingsgate -- Bitch -- Blacks -- Blason Populaire -- Blasphemy -- Blast -- Bloody -- Body Language And Gesture -- Bowdler, Dr. Thomas -- Bowdlerization -- Broadcasting -- Bugger -- Bum -- Burns, Robert -- Bywords Of Swearing -- Canada -- Caribbean -- Catholics -- Caxton, William -- Censorship -- Charms -- Chaucer, Geoffrey -- Cherles Termes -- Children, Swearing In -- Chinese, The -- Christ -- Cinema -- Class And Swearing -- Cleland, John -- Cock -- Collier Controversy -- Comics -- Communism -- Comstockery -- Coolie -- Coon -- Coprolalia -- Copulation -- Cowardice -- Crap -- Crimen Injuria -- Cuckoldry -- Cunt -- Curse And Cursing -- Damn -- Devil, The -- Dickens, Charles -- Dictionaries. Disability And Deformity -- Disease -- Disguise Mechanisms -- Dogs -- Dozens, The -- Drat -- Dunbar, William -- Dysphemisms -- English, The -- Ethnic Insults -- Etymologies -- Euphemisms -- Expletives -- Fabliaux, The -- Fanny -- Farmer, John S. And William E. Henley -- Fart -- Fashion In Swearing -- Feminization Of Opprobrious Terms -- Fines And Penalties -- Fishwife -- Flexibility -- Flexner, Stuart Berg -- Flyting -- Folk Etymology -- Formal Oaths -- Formulas In Swearing -- Forswearing -- Foul Language -- Letter Words -- French, The -- Frig, Frigging -- Fuck -- Gender In Swearing -- Genitalia -- Germans -- Git -- God -- God's Wounds -- Goddam/goddamn -- Gook -- Goon -- Gorblimey -- Graffiti -- Graves, Robert -- Grose, Captain Francis -- Grundy, Mrs -- Hate Speech -- Heathen, Infidel, And Pagan -- Hell -- Hollywood -- Homosexuals -- Honky -- Hottentot -- Hun -- Impact -- Imprecation -- Incest, See Mother-fucker -- India, Swearing In Indians, North American -- Innovation. Instability Of Swearing Terms -- Irish, The -- Italians -- Japanese, The -- Jesus -- Jews -- Johnson, Dr Samuel -- Jonson, Ben -- Kaffir -- Knave -- Lady Chatterley's Lover -- Larkin, Philip -- Lawsuits -- Literature -- Lord -- Lord Chamberlain -- Loss Of Intensity, Weakening, Or Verbicide -- Lousy -- Mahomet/mohammed -- Maledicta -- Malediction -- Mamet, David -- Master Of The Revels -- Masturbation -- Medieval Period -- Mencken, H.l. -- Minced Oaths -- Moralization Of Status Words -- Motherfucker -- Nicknames -- Nigger -- Non-jurors -- Obscenity -- Oxford English Dictionary -- Oz Magazine -- Partridge, Eric -- Perjury -- Phonetic Patterns -- Pidgin English -- Piss -- Police -- Political Correctness -- Political Names -- Pom, Pommy -- Popular Culture -- Pornography -- Poverty -- Prat -- Press, The -- Profanity -- Promiscuity -- Prostitutes -- Psychology Of Swearing And Foul Language -- Punk -- Pygmalion -- Quakers And Shakers -- Quean And Queen -- Queer -- Rabelais, François -- Rap. Rascal -- Recantation -- Reclamation Of Opprobrious Terms -- Red -- Reformation, The -- Register -- Religious Oaths -- Renaissance, The -- Renegade -- Restoration, The -- Rhyme -- Rhyming Slang -- Rhythm -- Riddles -- Roarer -- Rochester, The Earl Of Rogue -- Rude Words, Semantic Field Of Rufflers -- Saints' Names -- Sambo -- Scatology -- Scold -- Scots -- Semantic Changes And Trends -- Shakespeare, William -- Shaw, George Bernard, See Pygmalion -- Shit Words -- Shock Jocks -- Shrew -- Slang -- Soldiers Andsailors -- Son Of A Bitch -- South Africa -- Spells -- Sports -- Sterne, Laurence -- Stupidity -- Swift, Jonathan -- Syphilis -- Taboo -- Thou -- Treachery -- Turd -- Twain, Mark -- Twat -- Tynan, Kenneth -- U And Non-u -- Uncle Tom -- Unparliamentary Language -- Victorian Age -- Villain -- Virago -- War -- Webster And His Dictionaries -- Welsh -- Whitehouse, Mrs Mary -- Whore And Whoreson -- Witch -- Wog -- Women, Stereotypes Of Women, Swearing In Word-field Of Swearing -- Word Magic -- Word Of Honor -- Wretch -- Xenophobia -- Yankee -- Zounds -- Chronology. Geoffrey Hughes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 521-522) And Index. s/t: The Social History of Oaths, Profanity, Foul Language & Ethnic Slurs in the English-speaking World This is the only encyclopedia and social history of swearing and foul language in the English-speaking world. It covers the various social dynamics that generate swearing, foul language, and insults in the entire range of the English language. While the emphasis is on American and British English, the different major global varieties, such as Australian, Canadian, South African, and Caribbean English are also covered. A-Z entries cover the full range of swearing and foul language in English, including fascinating details on the history and origins of each term and the social context in which it found expression. Categories include blasphemy, obscenity, profanity, the categorization of women and races, and modal varieties, such as the ritual insults of Renaissance "flyting" and modern "sounding" or "playing the dozens." Entries cover the historical dimension of the language, from Anglo-Saxon heroic oaths and the surprising power of medieval profanity, to the strict censorship of the Renaissance and the vibrant, modern language of the streets. Social factors, such as stereotyping, xenophobia, and the dynamics of ethnic slurs, as well as age and gender differences in swearing are also addressed, along with the major taboo words and the complex and changing nature of religious, sexual, and racial taboos. Covering the various social dynamics that generate swearing, foul language, and insults in the entire range of the English language, this encyclopedia emphasises on American and British English. A-Z entries cover the full range of swearing and foul language in English, including fascinating details on the history and origins of each term