Speech pattern and typographical variations across Canada

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by jamincan

Listening to This American Life, the most recent episode has a guest who starts to say "Yeah, it's not like a maybe. I have proof out the ass--", and then apologizes, "sorry for language. I have a lot of fucking proof."

Is there actually an inversion where ass is considered more profane than fuck by some people?

An attempt at comedy, maybe?

Ass is actually a proper English word, so in the proper context, it is more acceptable.

The f-word is by far the most universally known curse word. It is fun to see ‘F—- (insert name of place here)’ spray painted as graffiti in non-English speaking countries.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by thewave46

An attempt at comedy, maybe?

Ass is actually a proper English word, so in the proper context, it is more acceptable.

The f-word is by far the most universally known curse word. It is fun to see ‘F—- (insert name of place here)’ spray painted as graffiti in non-English speaking countries.

Last year the big electronic sign outside this performing arts centre near my place:

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4839...7i16384!8i8192

... had this graphic on rotation for several weeks:

https://tpos.s3.amazonaws.com/events...r-623b30fa.png

Right across the street from our main sports and swimming complex and kitty corner from our biggest ice rink complex.

[jamincan]

Originally Posted by thewave46

An attempt at comedy, maybe?

In the transcript, it definitely reads as a joke, but in the actual audio, it sounds like he stumbles when he says ass as though it's a genuine mistake.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Is profanity profane anymore?

Sure it is, it's just that the words on that list have changed. Many of the slurs that would have been casually tossed around a factory lunchroom 40 years ago would get people into a whole heap of trouble today.

[hipster duck]

Of course profanity exists, we’ve just traded one f word for another.

[kool maudit]

Originally Posted by thewave46

The f-word is by far the most universally known curse word. It is fun to see ‘F—- (insert name of place here)’ spray painted as graffiti in non-English speaking countries.

Small Scandinavian children will sometimes curse colorfully in English, and their parents don't necessarily treat "fuck" as being that out of bounds, despite the fact that an overheard "knulla" would lead to a serious time-out.

I'll always remember the little Danish boy who dropped his ice cream in Tivoli and let loose with a "motherfucker!" while his mom smiled impassively.