On cursing

What is cursing, and why do we have such a big problem with it? What separates a curse word from any other word? And isn't it true that the tone of voice a person uses to say a word can make just about any word into a curse? By posing these questions I'm not saying that I talk like a sailor; like Alden, I grew up in a home where you couldn't even say "shut up" without having to lick a bar of Jergen's. I don't swear because of the impression it leaves on people, that I'm vulgar and rash and don't think before I speak. But as to why certain words are considered curses and others aren't, it's a learned thing.

In French the word "pisser" is the dictionary term for urinating. There is absolutely nothing vulgar about it. If I piss, though, that's vulgar. I do number one, or, if I'm speaking to a small child, I pee or go potty. Then there's the term for doing number two - I poop. Other, more vulgar people - they take a shit. So we see that two of the most natural human functions are vulgar, as if we want to separate ourselves for them. So how about the term for making love? There's a word for that, too - but I might get in trouble if I put it on here. Actually, I just don't like saying it. Why? I don't know, except for the connotations it carries with it. It isn't the word, the sound at all - it's the cultural baggage that word carries with it that makes it an acceptable or unacceptable word.

I learned in 11th grade that when the French took over the English back in the day, the old English (a Germanic-sounding language) became the vulgar form of saying things, and the French the proper way. That mixture of language became what we know as English today...and it's why we still say "poultry" (from the French word poule) instead of chicken. And why we say beef (boeuf) and pork or ham (porc or jambon) instead of cow and pig. And mutton (mouton) instead of sheep. Doesn't explain the number one, number two thing, but it does serve to generate more questions! Thought I'd share.

I'm going to go eat my sandwich now, made of a processed meat which may contain parts from all the animals mentioned above. With a little mayo and mustard, though, you'd never know. Just don't read the package.