Recent studies show Americans are opting to use profane language more than in years past.
According to an Associate Press-Ipsos poll, 74 percent of the Americans questioned in the poll said they hear curse words frequently or occasionally in public. Sixty-six percent said more people curse today than people 20 years ago, and 64 percent admitted to occasionally using the f-word.
“I would say, and this is just a guess based on what I have heard over the years, that young persons may be using more curse words today than in years past, but such a trend likely would not be observed among middle-aged to older adults,” said Ronald Garay, a University mass communication professor.
And politicians have been caught joining in the game.
In a Sept. 2 2005 interview, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin responded to bungled federal government relief with a litany of curses words.
“Get every doggone Greyhound bus line in the country and get their asses moving to New Orleans,” Nagin said in the interview.
Another notable politician caught cursing in a public forum is the University’s speaker for the Spring 2006 Commencement ceremony. Vice President Dick Cheney cursed at U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in 2004 on the floor of the Senate.
Even many University students admitted to cursing, and most said they do not feel it is bad to curse among other college-aged people.
According to the study, younger people said they cursed more than adults.
Kayla Morrison, political science freshman, said she hears curse words quite frequently at bars and among her friends, especially when they are drinking.
Andrea Hall, mathematics senior, said she curses more often when among her peers.
“I curse a lot,” Hall said. “I don’t pay attention to it when I am by people my own age.”
But Hall said she never curses in the presence of her mother or children and said other adults should not swear in front their children either.
“I notice when parents curse in front of their kids,” Hall said. “I don’t think it’s right.”
Morrison said she is only offended when a curse word is used too strongly.
“I get offended when it is used in a negative way,” Morrison said. “The b-word is used too often and has a bad meaning.”
While students are cursing more frequently, some said they think their professors should not curse. And some students said their professors use little or no profanity during their classes.
Morrison said her professors usually do not curse in class.
“My professors curse but not very often,” Morrison said. “[They curse] when they quote someone or to get the point across.”
Some blame the media. Hall said he agrees the media are one reason for the increase in profanity.
“In general, [cursing] is being more accepted,” Hall said. “They do it in radio, TV and cartoons. You hear it especially on the radio.”
While Garay said curse-word frequency may not have increased, TV channels have begun using profanity more often.
“I’m not certain that curse words have entered day-to-day language today any more than 10 or 20 years ago,” Garay said. “We certainly hear more of them because pay cable channels like HBO and Showtime seem to carry more programming that incorporates curse words, and movies are doing the same.”
Eric St. Pierre, political science and English junior, said the increased frequency of curse words has diminished their shock value.
“Everybody is desensitized to words and their meanings,” St. Pierre said.
Nolde Alexius, English instructor, said the strength of a curse word sometimes depends on the person who executes it.
“People who routinely curse can make the words almost meaningless,” Alexius said. “But a curse word can take on more purity of meaning coming from a person who isn’t known to curse.”
Alexius said each generation modifies their own words.
“At a young age we become interested in customizing the English language to fit our lives,” Alexius said. “For example, kids go home after a day at school and use words in front of their parents that they have never heard.”
Alexius said words can take on bad meanings for several reasons.
“I think the sound of a word has a lot to do with its connotation,” Alexius said. “I think a developing connotation is sometimes an accident. And, of course, context of the conversation has everything to do with the connotations of words.”
Hall said the media are permitting more and more curse words in their content, and this could have a negative effect in the future.
“They [the media] get away with saying more and more,” Hall said. “I think that’s crazy.”
 
 
Contact Justin Fritscher at [email protected]