Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

by John McWhorter  (read by the author) c. 2020

Library Loan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-04-21

Language: English

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Publisher's Summary

 

One of the preeminent linguists of our  time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and  taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power -  and why we love them so much.

 

Profanity has always been a  deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being  human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the  brain than other parts of speech - the urgency with which we say "f--k!"  is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.

Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words  is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle:  historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly  coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.

Linguistics without all the jargon

Let me make clear up front that I am a John McWhorter junky.  I follow his Lexicon Valley podcast. I have listened to his books and his The Great Courses lectures. I like his irreverent, light-hearted delivery of topics that at times are complicated and even downright boring.  McWhorter has made it his career to make the topics of linguistic study accessible to the masses -- and I approve of his love of the Broadway musical and its use in lectures.

Nine Nasty Words is not the first tome I have read on the topic and probably won't be the last. Let's not be prudes; we all use them to some extent or another. I know that growing up we were taught there were certain words that were taboo and that educated people don't need to use swear word.  Boy, did my parents miss the boat on that one. Scientist now understand that swearing comes from a different part of the brain and has very little to do with one's education.  By the time I was in high school, Mom finally gave up on the battle and started shocking her own children with her accomplished use of a well-placed, "Bullshit!" I'm sure she was just making up for the times she could not use it in the classroom, as in "The dog ate my homework." "Bullshit!" Dad on the other hand has held fast to the use of euphemisms -- even should hammer meet thumb. Still even with Mom's bullshit, there were a whole raft of words that were taboo and remain so to this day -- most of them racial/ethnic epithets.

The book covers a lot of ground in seven hours. He opens by comparing his list to the George Carlin list of the 1960's "The 7 words you can't say on television," explaining why the list has changed since it was first enumerated. Then, one word at a time, he covers the etymology of each word, showing how its usage and acceptability changed over time. He talks about how the word is used in every day speech -- and how it may be different in other English speaking countries. He spices it up with stories and example from literature and song. This is not a scientific tome. It tells you what you need to know in terms you can understand.

If you read only one chapter in the book, read his chapter on the 'n'-word(s). It is enlightening, a level-headed,  explanation of the etymology of the word(s), their uses over time and how they reached the current dual nature of wholly acceptable use by some and complete taboo for others (and the hazards of navigating  the minefield).

Four stars.  Long enough to cover the subject; short enough to be interesting.