hi everyone!

 

I would like to ask native speakers of American English if the use of taboo expressions is a usual thing in the daily life in the USA. Almost every conversation in social networks where an American is involved, there will be such a language is used. I �m not trying to offend our dear friends the Americans but it is a phenomenon that we can easily notice. Amazingly, I tried to translate these expressions into my native dialect and what did I find out? it is the only case where you can translate from one language into another and you don �t betray the original expression.

 

Bruce 

hi Bruce!

 

our societies are morally decaying, which is directly reflected on language use. I �m afraid that one day future teachers may be obliged to teach these expressions in classes. Should they or shouldn �t they? Actually, I have no answer.

Have a nice weekend

Gharbi

I suspect that every generation believes that morals are declining and we tend to be more sure about it as we ourselves grow older, but that doesn �t necessarily mean it is true and it �s a hard thing to measure anyway.

 

I think that what is different now is that, as a result of the internet and social media, it’s much easier for us to ‘sample’ language and opinions from a wider range of places and social groups and that the more sensationalist or the more extreme is likely to be more salient. Isn’t it possible that swearing and whatever we consider to be ‘immoral behaviour’ has always been there, but now it’s much easier to witness? In a similar way, contrast how people viewed wars a century ago with how they are seen today - because they ARE seen, on TV and on the internet, in every gruesome detail and we have a much better idea of what happens in an armed conflict.

Tap

 

 

@Moody - that �s a very good point. It is very noticeable in Western societies how racist terminology has become much more taboo. Has a similar thing happened in your own mother tongue Gharbi?

 

I am somewhat saddened that the American �birdie � has widely replaced the traditional British two-fingered salute in the UK.

Hi Tap:

With the current events, specially the issue of terrorism and major world events are taking place in our region, insults about race have become quite widespread. Very often, I find such insults written on the blackboard or more significant on students � desks. I even had a discussion  with some of my students about American culture. They thought I was trying to manipulate them because I talked a lot about the "American Dream". Anyway, I think, Tap, in British and American histories, we find great people, men and women who left huge heritage which made English such an amazing language. It is true that to quote "  Some English swearwords  have been around since at least Shakespeare �s time" but how influencial people like Shakespeare are nowadays among generations. What really amazes, and I mentioned this in an earlier post, is the similarity between swearwords in American English and Tunisian dialects. Sometimes, certain expressions can be translated word for word. I think young generations are learning from one another a lot via the internet and other technological devices

 

 Have a nice weekend