Why We Curse
A neuro-psycho-social theory of speech
Author
Psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, linguists and speech pathologists currently have no coherent theory to explain why we curse and why we choose the words we do when we curse. The Neuro-Psycho-Social Theory of Speech draws together information about cursing from different disciplines and unites them to explain and describe the psychological, neurological, cultural and linguistic factors that underlie this startling phenomenon.
Why We Curse is divided into five parts. Part 1 introduces the dimensions and scope of cursing and outlines the NPS Theory, while Part 2 covers neurological variables and offers evidence for right brain dominance during emotional speech events. Part 3 then focuses on psychological development including language acquisition, personality development, cognition and so forth, while Part 4 covers the wide variety of social and cultural forces that define curse words and restrict their usage. Finally, Part 5 concludes by examining the social and legal implications of cursing, treating misconceptions about cursing, and setting the agenda for future research.
The work draws on new research by Dr. Jay and others and continues the research reported in his groundbreaking 1992 volume Cursing in America. A psycholinguistic study of dirty language in the courts, in the movies, in the schoolyards and on the streets.
Why We Curse is divided into five parts. Part 1 introduces the dimensions and scope of cursing and outlines the NPS Theory, while Part 2 covers neurological variables and offers evidence for right brain dominance during emotional speech events. Part 3 then focuses on psychological development including language acquisition, personality development, cognition and so forth, while Part 4 covers the wide variety of social and cultural forces that define curse words and restrict their usage. Finally, Part 5 concludes by examining the social and legal implications of cursing, treating misconceptions about cursing, and setting the agenda for future research.
The work draws on new research by Dr. Jay and others and continues the research reported in his groundbreaking 1992 volume Cursing in America. A psycholinguistic study of dirty language in the courts, in the movies, in the schoolyards and on the streets.
[Not in series, 91] 2000. xv, 328 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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I. Introduction to the Study of Cursing
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1. Tourette Syndrome and Coprolalia: The Need for a Theory | p. 3
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2. Psycholinguistics and Cursing | p. 9
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3. The Neuro-Psycho-Social (NPS) Theory of Cursing | p. 19
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4. Postulates of the NPS Theory | p. 25
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II. Neurological Factors Underlying Cursing
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5. Propositional Speech, Nonpropositional Speech, and the Right Cerebral Hemisphere | p. 33
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6. Emotional Speech and the Emotional Brain | p. 45
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7. Anger and Verbal Aggression | p. 55
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8. Coprolalia and Mental Disorders | p. 63
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9. Neurological Control of Cursing | p. 73
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III. Psychological Factors Underlying Cursing
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10. Psychological Aspects of Cursing | p. 81
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11. Language, Acquisition and Cognitive Growth | p. 91
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12. Memory and Awareness of Cursing | p. 99
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13. Personality, Religiosity, and Sexual Anxiety | p. 107
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14. Speech Habits and Social Learning | p. 115
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15. The Sexual Lexicon | p. 123
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16. Syntax and Sematics | p. 135
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IV. Social and Cultural Factors Underlying Cursing
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17. Pragmatics and Cultural Contexts | p. 147
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18. Speaker Power | p. 157
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19. Gender Identity | p. 165
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20. Slang | p. 173
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21. Humor Elicitation | p. 181
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22. Religion, Taboo Speech, and Word Magic | p. 189
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23. Scatology and the Language of Disgust | p. 199
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24. Customary Restrictions: From Etiquette to Law | p. 205
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25. Evolving Language Standards | p. 215
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26. Tourette Syndrome: Cross-Cultural Comparisons | p. 235
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V. Why Do We Swear? Why Do We Choose the Words We Do?
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27. Social and Legal Issues Involving Cursing | p. 247
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28. Ignorance, Misinformation, and Fallacies about Cursing | p. 254
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29. Future of Cursing Research | p. 269
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Index | p. 319
“[...] a book which will do much to inspire further investigations into emotional uses and effects of language [...]”
Dr. Francisco Gomes de Matos, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil
“[...] this is an excellent contribution to the study of offensive language, bringing together a variety of perspectives and a vast amount of research.”
Edwin Battistella, Southern Oregon University
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Subjects
Psychology
Main BIC Subject
CF: Linguistics
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General