Cover not available
Part of
Handbook of Pragmatics: 25th Annual Installment
Edited by Frank Brisard, Sigurd D’hondt, Pedro Gras and Mieke Vandenbroucke
[Handbook of Pragmatics 25] 2022
► pp. 129–155

Swearing

| Södertörn University
| Ulster University
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Defining swearing
    • 2.1Criteria
  • 3.Methods of investigating swearing
    • 3.1Frequency of swearing
      • 3.1.1Frequency according to word, gender, age
    • 3.2Offensiveness of swearing
    • 3.3The Swearing Paradox
  • 4.Functions of swearing
    • 4.1Delineations, categories, and taxonomies
    • 4.2Interpersonal and pragmatic functions
      • 4.2.1Expressing emotion
      • 4.2.2Negative interpersonal and pragmatic functions
      • 4.2.3Positive interpersonal and pragmatic functions
        • 4.2.3.1Interpersonal and group relations: Affiliation and bonding
        • 4.2.3.2Message effectiveness and speaker effectiveness (including dynamism, credibility or ability to achieve a task)
        • 4.2.3.3Identity management
  • 5.Further inquiry and future directions
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 18 November 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/hop.25.swe1
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Cited by two other publications

Beers Fägersten, Kristy & Karyn Stapleton
2023. Everybody swears on Only Murders in the Building: The interpersonal functions of scripted television swearing. Journal of Pragmatics 216 ► pp. 93 ff. DOI logo
Stapleton, Karyn & Kristy Beers Fägersten
2023. Editorial: Swearing and interpersonal pragmatics. Journal of Pragmatics 218 ► pp. 147 ff. DOI logo

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