Only 16 Taboo Words Left

The Daily Telegraph ^ | July 8, 2003 | Neil Tweedie

[bruinbirdman]

Everyday conversation is now so foul-mouthed that only a handful of words can be considered truly taboo, according to the authors of the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary.

"Bollocks" and "gangbang" are among 70 words described in earlier editions of the dictionary as "taboo" that have now been downgraded to "slang".

There are now, it appears, only 16 taboo words in use in English, including the f-word and c-word.

According to Collins, the use of asterisks to soften the effects of industrial Anglo-Saxon may soon become a historical nicety as modern discourse sinks ever deeper into the mire.

Collins examined hundreds of millions of words of conversation used in the media to decide what is now acceptable in day-to-day language. According to the publishers, many of those considered taboo in 2000 have been used with such frequency in the intervening years that they have ceased to have "shock value".

Some have skipped the slang category altogether to become mere "informal" expressions.

Jeremy Butterfield, the dictionary's editor, explained: "There is a certain amount of subjectivity about this. It is not automatically the case that repeated use 'de-taboos' words."

So, what gives the taboos their tabooness?

"It's to do with the majority view that such and such a word is not acceptable. There can be new taboo words, not ones to do with body parts, but ones addressing race or sexuality."

Of course, the whole thing could be a ploy to gain a few column inches and sell a few more dictionaries.

A load of *!@!**@!, to be exact.

[Malesherbes]

In the U.S. of A. there are none - just listen to rap out of the ghetto. Everything goes,including the N word.

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[Don W]

A wise man once told me that profanity is proof of ignorance. Surely, with the immense vocabulary available to anyone who can read, one could express reactions more profoundly than "Holey F***".

[Dr Warmoose]

one could express reactions more profoundly than "Holey F***

Wouldn't the F*** be rather difficult without the Hole?

[Michael Barnes]

one could express reactions more profoundly than "Holey F***".

Biblical "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"

Better??? ;-)

[M. Peach]

So what are they? The article doesn't say. I'll bet George Carlin knows...

[A.J.Armitage]

I would think that in some situations "Oh dear. I seem to have hurt myself, and am now in a great deal of pain" would be less profound than an old-fashioned Anglo-Saxon word.

[DAnconia55]

Bluehairs offended at words - give the words power over themselves.

A word is a collection of sound. There's nothing wrong with any word, unless you make it so.

[AD from SpringBay]

You sound so sophisticated.

[gcruse]

You got your 'F' word, your 'N' word, and your 'C' word.
We're well on our way to spelling 'France.'

[FourPeas]

LOL

[gcruse]

:)

[Dr Warmoose]

You got your 'F' word, your 'N' word, and your 'C' word. We're well on our way to spelling 'France.'

Comments like this are why I love FR.