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fuck as F.U.C.K.?
Where did the term fuck originate? It was definitely here in the United States, but it's exact origins are murky. Here is one explanation. In the 19th century, sensual and sometimes extreme sexual acts between couples in public were an offense. Probably comparable to today's lewd conduct, these public offenses yielded a term from law enforcement agencies. "Fornification (sex) Under Carnal (sensual) Knowledge" was the name of the offense. Why or how this charge became one of America's most defining words is not clearly known. But then again, who the "fuck" cares?
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No matter how soft-spoken you are, no matter how strictly you've been raised, profanity has probably found your mouth a number of times. Ever drop something on your foot? Ever bang your head on something inadvertently? Four letter variations have probably expressed your emotions in those situations. In prose speak with your buddies, you've probably expressed discontent, awe, contempt, or just plain information with various words not found in the standard English dictionaries. They are often referred to as "curses," but that's only a fraction of their uses. These "vulgar" terms, known as profanity, have become mainstream in teen communication, either through daily dialogue, the music they listen to, or the media they read and see.
The use of profanity in a teen's vocabulary seems to vary by what type of lifestyle the teen employs. Those of the hip-hop genre may be accustomed to using the words motherfucker or nigga (a racial slur that is commonly used among blacks to refer to each other). Rap, hip-hop's main music, has been one of the most creative arts in terms of employing profanity. Though blocked out by sound effects in music videos, albums contain explicit lyrics that sometimes have 5 or more variations in the use of the word fuck. Uses include the popular "fuck you (this or that)" expressing anger or hatred, "got fucked" goes along the line of being messed up either sexually or violently, and "Imma fuck you up" is synonymous with "I'm going to do something bad to you." Teens have picked up these meanings quickly and employ it in their daily language: "Yo, I forgot to do my homework! I'm fucked!"
Those using a subtler vocabulary may find it irresistible to blurt out some type of profanity at a necessary situation. Finding out that someone has stolen your lunch money will probably yield a "shit!" or at a PG level, a "damn!" Profanity is hard to avoid because it carries an attraction. Though commonly known as vulgar, mean-spirited, and not even "real" words found in dictionaries, profanity sometimes convey messages that ordinary SAT-style words cannot. Would you characterize a nasty, mean girl as "that invidious girl" or "that crazy bitch?" Profanity is at its best in hateful situations, especially when one person wants to express extreme displeasure at another person or situation. However, profanity can even replace times of excitement. "Holy shit! Did you see that catch?" seems to emphasize disbelief better than the banal "wow!"
Profanity has also been intertwined with sexual slang. Reproductive organs have been given terms that can also describe a person's parts. Take the word pussy for example. This word is slang for the female organ vagina. "Don't be a pussy! I dare you to do it." Guys who would be characterized as jerks can also be called dicks. The slang for buttocks and also the name of an animal is ass. This three-lettered word is mildly profane but add -hole to it and the word asshole steps up a notch in terms of offensiveness. Even sexuality has been used as profanity. It used to be a huge grievance to be called a "homo," but with more and more people declaring themselves gay and being open about it, the word "faggat" seems to sound more potent. Gay men often call themselves faggat like black people would call themselves niggaz but among heterosexuals, the use of the word faggat is just as lethal as calling some an asshole.
Teens use profanity to poke fun, express high emotions, show contempt, or use just as another part of speech. There should be no concern for such language because it is as engraved in this culture as the word God. How else would you explain the common phrase "I swear to God?" Taken out of context, these words seem foul and evil, but observed in everyday speech, profanity is as normal as any word. For teens, using tougher, more scholarly vocabulary is more likely to be seen as an oddity.
How many swear words are there? If prejudicial terms, out-of-date curses, all sexual slang, and others are counted, the profanity vocabulary may number more than a hundred. Even then, only a handful would actually convey an offensive sense if ever directed towards an individual. Profanity is just another literary device, but one that couldn't find its way into textbooks because of its extreme negativity. However, teens and even younger children have found ways to tune their ears for these impact terms. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before profanity finds itself in the classroom as a component in everyday speech.
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