Can you define profanity?

[SueJB]

That's my question and I really would like some definitions please

 

[Robinredbreast]

I found this :

Profanities can also be called curse ("cuss") words, dirty words, bad words, foul language, obscenity, obscene language, or expletives. It can be called swearing, although this also has a normal meaning of making a "solemn promise". A profanity usually refers to religion, sex, or bodily functions.

 

[EllieM]

And if your question has come about as a result of having certain words (which you may or may not have considered very mild) edited out of your post by moderators, then that's just the rules of the forums.

I have been considering the creation of some new words instead of recognisable profanities. And I assume that you could get away with "sugar" used as a swear word....

Oh sugary bombustulatence how I hate my blood sugars today!

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Here in Australia, one mans profanity is another mans term of endearment.

I am a life member of the The Australasian Order of Old ******** just to name one instance.

It shows that one is not a profanity in the list...


Edited by moderator

 

[SueJB]

I found this :

Profanities can also be called curse ("cuss") words, dirty words, bad words, foul language, obscenity, obscene language, or expletives. It can be called swearing, although this also has a normal meaning of making a "solemn promise". A profanity usually refers to religion, sex, or bodily functions.

Thanks @Robinredbreast Can you tell me which dictionary this came from?
Chambers gives the definition as "profanity noun (profanities) 1 lack of respect for sacred things. 2 blasphemous language; a blasphemy, swear word, oath, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c."
Note the order of definitions given. The most commonly understood and used come first

 

[SueJB]

And if your question has come about as a result of having certain words (which you may or may not have considered very mild) edited out of your post by moderators, then that's just the rules of the forums.

I have been considering the creation of some new words instead of recognisable profanities. And I assume that you could get away with "sugar" used as a swear word....

Oh sugary bombustulatence how I hate my blood sugars today!

Thanks @Ellie-M The question comes from 2 directions. My interest as a language teacher and secondly the way language is misused. As my whole career has been working with language, I'm intrigued and sometimes annoyed by its use especially when a word's core meaning is misunderstood.
Although you do not explicitly give a definition,you do mention swearing but nothing to do with religion. This is very interesting

 

[SueJB]

Here in Australia, one mans profanity is another mans term of endearment.

I am a life member of the The Australasian Order of Old ******** just to name one instance.

It shows that one is not a profanity in the list...

Thanks @Tipetoo but I don't understand what you mean

Quoted text edited by moderator

 

[Brunneria]

For years I used to think that the word profanity only meant swear words with a religious context. Or something that was not religious. However, language is a living, changing, elbowing thing , and the descriptor profane is now widely used to mean offensive language of any kind. Indeed, that old religious meaning was a change from its original Latin profanus which specifically meant non religious. So by the time people assumed it was all about religious swear words, it had already evolved.

I’m happy to roll with that. I love language and I love its evolution and creativity. I now appreciate communication over precision.

Most dictionaries now cover several uses of the word, setting out the historical context then listing the more modern usages.

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/profane

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profane
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/profane

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/profane
And here, it is ‘vulgar, coarse or blasphemous language’
Of course the key word there is ‘or’.

 

[EllieM]

I remember as a child gleefully reciting a long sentence that was full of "swear words" that were being used in a non naughty way.

There was a ****** axe thrown into the bulrushes by the river next to a blasted dam ….. etc etc....
Some of the words may not even count as swear words any more. It annoys me that I can't remember more of it.

But I agree that the original use of the word profanity had religious connotations, which is probably why I tend to use the looser "swear words".

Post edited by mod for language, and yes, I am aware of the irony (Brunneria)

 

[EllieM]

Post edited by mod for language, and yes, I am aware of the irony (Brunneria)

Yes, that is pretty funny . And I do take @Brunneria 's point. To rephrase, I should have described the word as an adjective that is used to describe a liquid that we might put in a glucometer !

 

[SueJB]

For years I used to think that the word profanity only meant swear words with a religious context. Or something that was not religious. However, language is a living, changing, elbowing thing , and the descriptor profane is now widely used to mean offensive language of any kind. Indeed, that old religious meaning was a change from its original Latin profanus which specifically meant non religious. So by the time people assumed it was all about religious swear words, it had already evolved.

I’m happy to roll with that. I love language and I love its evolution and creativity. I now appreciate communication over precision.

Most dictionaries now cover several uses of the word, setting out the historical context then listing the more modern usages.

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/profane

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profane
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/profane

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/profane
And here, it is ‘vulgar, coarse or blasphemous language’
Of course the key word there is ‘or’.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profane

Thanks for the various quotes @Brunneria "offensive language of any kind". I don't think it's a simple as that. I'm sure that if you asked most people to give an example of profane language, it would be a very strong expletive

 

[SueJB]

I remember as a child gleefully reciting a long sentence that was full of "swear words" that were being used in a non naughty way.

There was a ****** axe thrown into the bulrushes by the river next to a blasted dam ….. etc etc....
Some of the words may not even count as swear words any more. It annoys me that I can't remember more of it.

But I agree that the original use of the word profanity had religious connotations, which is probably why I tend to use the looser "swear words".

Post edited by mod for language, and yes, I am aware of the irony (Brunneria)

I totally agree swear words are not always profane and vice verse. However, profanity does still carry the meaning of relating to religion and is far stronger than swear words

 

[Brunneria]

I totally agree swear words are not always profane and vice verse. However, profanity does still carry the meaning of relating to religion and is far stronger than swear words

Well, it carries a meaning relating to religion, in your opinion.
But the links I provided demonstrate that it has other meanings, in commonly accepted modern parlance.

 

[Jaylee]

Thanks @Robinredbreast Can you tell me which dictionary this came from?
Chambers gives the definition as "profanity noun (profanities) 1 lack of respect for sacred things. 2 blasphemous language; a blasphemy, swear word, oath, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c."
Note the order of definitions given. The most commonly understood and used come first

"Lack of respect for sacred things." One could also "file" sexual expletives into this category.

Regardless of gender or orientation, a sexual act is a form communion. A private spiritual affair.
Words depicting the act or genitalia in with violent or demeaning inference can be seen as offensive degrading & give a negative impact...

 

[SueJB]

Well, it carries a meaning relating to religion, in your opinion.
But the links I provided demonstrate that it has other meanings, in commonly accepted modern parlance.

Thanks @Brunneria It carries meaning related to religion not just in my opinion but in the links you provided for which I am grateful.

 

[SueJB]

"Lack of respect for sacred things." One could also "file" sexual expletives into this category.

Regardless of gender or orientation, a sexual act is a form communion. A private spiritual affair.
Words depicting the act or genitalia in with violent or demeaning inference can be seen as offensive degrading & give a negative impact...

Sorry @Jaylee, I have no idea what this means. What's all this about sex?

 

[Jaylee]

I have been considering the creation of some new words instead of recognisable profanities. And I assume that you could get away with "sugar" used as a swear word....

Oh sugary bombustulatence how I hate my blood sugars today!

Then, in that case. I hope you will not object if I also offer my most enthusiastic contrafibularities...

 

[Deleted member 308541]

However, profanity does still carry the meaning of relating to religion and is far stronger than swear words

From Wikipedia.

Religious profanity is called blasphemy. The verb is to blaspheme and the adjective is 'blasphemous'. Saying “God!” or “Jesus Christ!” as an expression of surprise or annoyance is considered by many to be blasphemy

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity

As I am not religious I use whatever profanity. swear word, comes to mind at the time I want to vent.

My first employer could string a load of swear words together and form a sentence, it impressed me when I was a young apprentice.

 

[SueJB]

From Wikipedia.

As I am not religious I use whatever profanity. swear word, comes to mind at the time I want to vent.

My first employer could string a load of swear words together and form a sentence, it impressed me when I was a young apprentice.

I'm sorry to be pedantic @Tipetoo but I'm trying to get people to clarify what they understand by profanity. From what you say profanity is the same as swear words... right?

 

[Deleted member 308541]

From what you say profanity is the same as swear words... right?

Right.

Called em what you like, profanities, swear words, cuss words, or naughty words if your childish, etc., they are all the same **** and shizzle.