First published 2021
Linguist John McWhorter examines the forbidden corners of language to reveal what gives profanity its extraordinary power. He investigates curse words from multiple perspectives: their historical origins, their social functions, their political implications, and their unique neurological pathways. McWhorter shows that swearing activates different brain regions than regular speech, connecting to our fight-or-flight responses rather than our standard language centers. He traces how taboo language shifts over time, reflecting changing social values and power structures. The book dissects nine specific curse words, revealing how each gained its shocking status and why some retain their punch while others fade. McWhorter argues that profanity serves vital human functions, offering emotional release and social bonding. Writing during an era when formerly taboo words pepper public discourse, he provides readers with a scientific understanding of why we curse and why these supposedly crude expressions remain such a vibrant part of human communication.
Genres: language, non-fiction, linguistics, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
276 pages · Hardcover · Avery
Content warnings: explicit-sexual-content