Sunday Snippet: The My Language Is Deteriorating Edition
My language is deteriorating. No s#*t—it really is! I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I have a good vocabulary. My mom insisted we have extensive vocabularies and use them appropriately. We played word games voraciously when I was kid—Scrabble, Boggle, Probe—and to this day, family gatherings include word games. I’m a whiz at spelling, and usually if someone asks me what a word means, I can come up with the correct definition without running to a dictionary. My grasp of language and its appropriate use is part of why I’m a damn good copy editor (I have clients who’ll testify, honest!). I adore discovering new words and finding ways to use them in my writing.
So it surprises me to find that I’m using expletives more frequently as I get older. And I’m not talking about the occasional crap or damn. I’m talking the real words—the ones that would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap when I was a kid. You know, the words from George Carlin’s infamous list. (Google it!) I’ve never really been a language prude, but I’ve always been someone who disdained “bad words” as the language of the uneducated. For years, I believed that profanity demonstrated a lack of creativity and a poor vocabulary.
Lately though, what with current events being what they are, our country going to hell in the proverbial handbasket (where is the damn handbasket anyway?), and aging coming into play, I’ve discovered that often the best word, the very best word I can use in some situations is a bad one. Sometimes people behave like ass-hats and that’s the only suitable word to use to describe them, so I use it—but always appropriately. I’ve developed serious post-menopausal short-term memory loss, so s#*t! pretty much takes care of the frustration of not remembering where I put my damn reading glasses or my phone.
And sometimes, in the throes of a particularly gnarly hot flash (Yes, even at age 71, I’m still flashing like a freaking lightning bug! Either that or freezing my butt off, there’s no in-between), or when I’m restless and my emotions are in a confused knot, or when I just can’t take another moment of listening to the news, I just want to scream the F-bomb. So I do and it makes me feel better.
As a writer, I’m not proud of this, but as a woman, I’m kind of intrigued with the relief that one good loud F-bomb can bring. You know, maybe my language isn’t really deteriorating at all, maybe it’s just getting more colorful—yeah, that’s it! I like that! I’m colorful!
How about it, mes amis? Where are you on the topic of profanity? Do you use it? Does it bother you when other people do? Talk to me and feel free to use whatever word fits your current mood.
Gratitude for This Week: my warm cozy house, book release went well, I tossed the last of the chocolate and felt freed, I’ve walked on the treadmill and lifted weights for seven days in row, steamed carrots with butter and a touch of brown sugar.
Stay well, stay safe (since we’re no longer going to be receiving CDC or NIH bulletins *sigh*, I’m filling in–respiratory illnesses are on the rise, get your vaccines and put on a freakin’ mask when you’re in a crowd–it could save your life), and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful.
8 Comments
Kimberly Field
I am finding more colorful language has become part of my life, but always appropriately used. I am very considerate of the company around me too. My mom has always used cuss words, but always told me that I was not allowed until I was 18. I believed her for many years.
Latesha B.
I use swear words less than I did when I was younger. I stopped so I could be a better role model for my younger siblings. I only use it when no other word fits the bill. I am not crazy about hearing others using swear words or the overuse of them in my reading.
Roseann McGrath Brooks
Although I tend not to use those words myself, I understand that sometimes people just need to say them in frustration. However, if a book or movie uses them incessantly, without justification, I move on.
Roseann McGrath Brooks
I’m going to amend my comment. I realize that I have a lot more trouble with the Lord’s name as a curse than the big F and S words. I’m reading a book from an author I love, but her characters use “J.C.,” and I don’t know if I can finish it!
Valri Western
I don’t use profanity, never have. It really bothers me when other people use it. I was thinking about this recently because I judge a lot of book contests and right now it’s the “season” of book contest judging. I’ve been judging book contests for many years. I do about 5 contests right so I read a lot of books. It seems the profanity is increasing a lot and I recently told one of the coordinators that starting next year, I will be dropping out of that specific contest. The books this year were just too much – profanity on about every page and I couldn’t concentrate on the story itself. It wasn’t necessary! To me it takes away from the story completely and I’m not going to read it.
Germaine Corbitt
I use profanity sometimes. Sometimes I catch myself. Things are changing rapidly,, so I say something before I can stop it
Maria Guglielmo
Wow, I feel seen! I’m always swearing under my breath these days.
Liz Flaherty
As we have talked about this, nothing new here. No, I don’t use it much–only when the subject calls for it (in my estimation). I feel as if it’s wasted otherwise because it has no oomph. It doesn’t bother me when others use it a lot, but they don’t keep my attention in the conversation. I stop listening just as I’ll stop reading a book if it’s full of profanity. Doesn’t mean I think people shouldn’t write it or say it. I’m just not going to read it or listen to it.