“It might lead them to hard, aggressive behavior.” Other parents may worry about the social consequences of their kids learning to swear. Children are sponges, reflecting what they hear at home. They don't always know the subtleties of the proper time and place for adult language.
In fact, there's no scientific proof that exposure to profanity causes direct harm to children, says Benjamin K. Bergen, a linguist and cognitive scientist at the University of California, San Diego and author of the book What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains and Ourselves.
Science also says that swearing around kids won't harm them. You may not believe this, but kids are not the precious, breakable valuables that we like to think they are.
But verbal abuse doesn't get the attention it deserves in the scope of child welfare compared to more insidious forms like physical abuse. Calling a child names, swearing at them, insulting them, and indirect criticism however well-intended or seemingly warranted can form verbal paper cuts on malleable young minds.
Since swearing is considered taboo, these words are usually judged as shocking, and the swearer may be considered antisocial and offensive. Consequently, swearing can negatively impact how the swearer is perceived by others, which may lead to social isolation and depression.
Accordingly, profanity is language use that is sometimes deemed rude, obscene, or culturally offensive; in certain religions, it constitutes sin. It can show a debasement of someone or something, or be considered an expression of strong feeling towards something. Some words may also be used as intensifiers.
Cursing is sometimes allowed but never to degrade or bully anyone, in or outside of the family. Some parents allow their tweens/teens to curse out of frustration, but forbid profanity-filled name calling. There is a big difference between cursing because you stubbed your toe and cursing at someone in a degrading way.
“Parents often wonder if this behavior is normal and how they should respond to it. Our data show that swearing emerges by age two and becomes adult-like by ages 11 or 12. By the time children enter school, they have a working vocabulary of 30-40 offensive words….
Although there's no hard-lines or consensus on a certain age, the general recommendation will be: Never use the f-word if you are under the age of 13. Strongly avoid using the word if you are under the age of 18.
Yelling at a child can result in both short-term and long-term psychological effects. In the short term, a child who is on the receiving end of yelling may become aggressive, anxious, and withdrawn. In the long term, they may develop anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and a negative view of themselves.
Studies have shown that swearing relieves stress, dulls the sensation of pain, fosters camaraderie among peers and is linked with traits like verbal fluency, openness and honesty.
Children aged 5-11 years might swear to express emotions, get a reaction, or fit in socially. It's good to talk with children about swearing. They can understand that some words hurt or offend others. You can help children find other ways to express emotions.
Schools must have a strong policy to deter students from being profane or obscene primarily because they are often vulgar in nature, the use of these types of words/materials often leads to distractions, and can occasionally lead to fights or altercations.
It's normal for kids to swear at one time or another. Young kids will often repeat something they've heard. Older kids often want to test their parents' reactions. If your child has started using a few choice words, there are several discipline techniques you can use to curb their use of inappropriate language.
A 12 rating on a video-on-demand film also means that the content and tone of the film is likely to be more suitable for a child aged 12 or over to watch at home or on a tablet. In a 12A or 12 rated film you might hear moderate bad language, and sometimes even strong language depending on the context.
Younger people admit to using bad language more often than older people; they also encounter it more and are less bothered by it. The AP-Ipsos poll showed that 62 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds acknowledged swearing in conversation at least a few times a week, compared to 39 percent of those 35 and older.
The word “fart” has been recorded since the 13th century and comes from the Old English word “feortan,” making it the oldest swear word ever recorded. It has been used as a vulgar slang term for flatulence, and its usage has been recorded in various works of literature and poetry throughout history.
They are uttered in intense emotional situations, such as when a speaker is angry and frustrated, under pressure, in sudden pain, or confronted by something unexpected and usually, though not necessarily, undesirable.
Swearing: preschoolers. Young children might swear to get attention, express frustration, try out words, or copy other people. It's often best to ignore swearing in toddlers and preschoolers. When your child is old enough to understand, you can explain why swearing isn't OK.
“My research shows the British and Irish working-class introduced most of the swearing we have in Australia,” Krafzik says. “It was cemented in those early colonial days.” The British officer class tended to rotate in and out of the colonies. The working-class settlers – and convicts – stayed.
Swearing: Swearing is more common in Australia than in many other cultures. Television programmes are less censored and mainstream society is largely desensitised to words that foreigners may find vulgar. It is normal to hear an Australian swear at some point during a conversation.
Cursing countries which swear the most - and the least
The French have 7.59% - or seven in every 100 people - using curse words online per year. A close second was Poland, with 7.31%. Further down the rankings are Australia, New Zealand and Spain.