http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=p&p=32 gives this etymology: "profane (v.) 1382, from L. profanare "to desecrate," from profanus "unholy, not consecrated," from pro fano "not admitted into the temple (with the initiates)," lit. "out in front of the temple," from pro- "before" + fano, abl. of fanum "temple." The adj. is attested from 1483; originally "un-ecclesiastical, secular;" sense of "unholy, polluted" is recorded from c.1500. Profanity is 1607, from L.L. profanitas, from L. profanus. Extended sense of "foul language" is from Old Testament commandment against "profaning" the name of the Lord." The when-to of profanity is a fascinating question. The instinctiveness of wanting to utter something, whatever it is, in response to some external event belies our need to linguistically control the situation, demonstrate to ourselves that we have some explanation or accounting for what just happened, even if to ratify that we don't fully understand it. JWs (e.g. my mom) would use euphemisms like "Oh my word!" (aka oh my god), darnit, heck, all the usual suspects. My discovery of the f-word occurred when I was about 7, and at the Tuesday night book study, and was using the brute force method of attaching each alphabetic letter to the front of "uck". Why not? Now, the upright brother who told my father I had "used the f-word" of course did not bother to explain what this innocent 7-yo was doing, so my dad had to get to the bottom of it while I was utterly bewildered what the (*#^*$(^*&^%*Q# was going on. Anyway- this homo sapien predilection to linguistically seal an unexpected/unfortunate event seem to me the opposite of the predilection of instantaneous belief in god during an instant of danger. I'm perfectly atheistic but in my reality my homo sapien forebears had an evolutionary advantage by believing in god, and if I panic (e.g. child about to get hit by car - something real), it's that evolutionary heritage leaping into active mode.
I like swearing
by Newborn 49 Replies latest jw friends
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Gregor
I learned an interesting fact when my father had a severe stroke. He could not communicate. He couldn't ask for a glass of water, etc. But at times he would cuss a blue streak of his old favorites, GD, SOB. My mother asked the neurologist about it. It said that swear words come from a different area of the brain and was not affected by the stroke. He said it is not uncommon to see stroke victims who can swear but can't talk.
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Awakened at Gilead
Hmm, I've never said God-dammit yet...
Maybe cuz it doesn't sound right for an atheist to be cussin at God?
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Satanus
Gregor
'He said it is not uncommon to see stroke victims who can swear but can't talk.'
That is reassuring;)
S
Ps, perhpas swearers use more of their brains than nonswearers?? -
beksbks
They're just words, not a damn thing wrong with 'em.
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Deputy Dog
...swearers use more of their brains than nonswearers??
That's because they are talking out their a$$
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beksbks
He could not communicate. He couldn't ask for a glass of water, etc. But at times he would cuss a blue streak of his old favorites, GD, SOB.
He could sing too.
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White Dove
There is a place for it. It's an artform that unfortunately not many have mastered. Used correctly, they pack a powerful punch.
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Mary
I've never swore in my life.
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Bumble Bee
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAI've never swore in my life.
