The DU Lounge

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts) Tue Dec 15, 2015, 12:30 AM Dec 2015

No Shit!?. I have a superior vocabulary.

People who curse have a better vocabulary, according to a new study that looked at the theory that people swear only because they don't have the words to express themselves otherwise.

Not true, as it turns out, say U.S. psychologists Kristin Jay and Timothy Jay in the Language Sciences journal.

Cursers tend to understand "nuanced distinctions" in their language, which indicates increased vocabulary overall, the study concluded.

The researchers asked participants to cuss a blue streak, using as many different swear words they could think of in 60 seconds. They were also asked to name off as many animals as they could beginning with a specific letter. The stronger the swearers, the more animals they could name.

"The ability to generate taboo language is not an index of overall language poverty," the researchers concluded.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/14/no-s----people-who-swear-have-bigger-vocabularies-study-finds

Fuck yeah!

7 replies

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Highlight:

No Shit!?. I have a superior vocabulary. (Original Post) Joe Shlabotnik Dec 2015 OP

I've never bought into that idea that "don't have the words to express themselves otherwise" BlueJazz Dec 2015 #1

strange test surrealAmerican Dec 2015 #2

I admire those who can curse creatively panader0 Dec 2015 #3

Give you a gift...... dixiegrrrrl Dec 2015 #7

So what is my vocabulary like when I can swear in 5 languages. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #4

The hell you say. Thor_MN Dec 2015 #5

That Joe Shlabotnik, he's a bad mother ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2015 #6

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)

1. I've never bought into that idea that "don't have the words to express themselves otherwise"

Reply to Joe Shlabotnik (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:23 AM

Dec 2015

Some people use harsh words to emphasize their point of view. No big deal.

I use Republican, right-wing as cuss words.

surrealAmerican

(11,362 posts)

2. strange test

Reply to Joe Shlabotnik (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:33 AM

Dec 2015

This is not how you would usually determine how large a vocabulary a person has.

panader0

(25,816 posts)

3. I admire those who can curse creatively

Reply to Joe Shlabotnik (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:50 AM

Dec 2015

not necessarily coarsely.
Consider some Shakespeare:
"Thy tongue outvenoms all the worms of the Nile." Cymbeline
"You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe!" Henry IV
It's cool to be able to insult someone without their even understanding.
I do it with my friends all the time.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

7. Give you a gift......

Reply to panader0 (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:22 PM

Dec 2015

Years ago someone taught me the word..."insigrievious"

Used mainly as an adjective or adverb....

as in "that is very insigrievious of you"
or
"you are being insigrievious."

Stops people dead in their tracks.

"What did you call me?"

"go look it up" I smile.

Some have done so and come back at me angrily..." I looked it up and there is no such word"

to which I reply. sweetly, " then you prove my point" and walk away through the ensuing clouds of confusion.