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A Brief History of Swearing
Oxford University Press
May 2013
On Sale: April 29, 2013
336 pages
ISBN: 0199742677
EAN: 9780199742677
Kindle: B00BQBZ840
Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction
Almost everyone swears, or worries about not swearing, from
the two year-old who has just discovered the power of potty
mouth to the grandma who wonders why every other word she
hears is obscene. Whether they express anger or
exhilaration, are meant to insult or to commend, swear words
perform a crucial role in language. But swearing is also a
uniquely well-suited lens through which to look at history,
offering a fascinating record of what people care about on
the deepest levels of a culture what's divine, what's
terrifying, and what's taboo. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of
swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the
Bible to today. With humor and insight, Melissa Mohr takes
readers on a journey to discover how "swearing" has come to
include both testifying with your hand on the Bible and
calling someone a *#$&!* when they cut you off on the
highway. She explores obscenities in ancient Rome--which
were remarkably similar to our own--and unearths the history
of religious oaths in the Middle Ages, when swearing (or not
swearing) an oath was often a matter of life and death. Holy
Sh*t also explains the advancement of civility and
corresponding censorship of language in the 18th century,
considers the rise of racial slurs after World War II,
examines the physiological effects of swearing (increased
heart rate and greater pain tolerance), and answers a
question that preoccupies the FCC, the US Senate, and anyone
who has recently overheard little kids at a playground: are
we swearing more now than people did in the past? A gem of lexicography and cultural history, Holy Sh*t is a
serious exploration of obscenity--and it also just might
expand your repertoire of words to choose from the next time
you shut your finger in the car door.
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