I’m no theologian, nor am I a linguist. So the following amounts to only my two cents worth – and if the Mint ever gets around to abolishing the penny, it won’t be worth a plug nickel.
My particular take:
I distinguish (in my mind) between
blasphemy and
vulgarity.
Blasphemy is that which is covered by the Second Commandment, altho’ I also extend coverage to the Blessed Virgin. Since we’re dealing with an actually enumerated sin, intent is a factor. I will grant that in many instances, those who utter “OMG” or “JMJ” do so as an invocation or plea in trying circumstances; I will also state that I believe many use these utterances in the same spirit as other vulgar language: not as an invocation, but as an expression of frustration, rage, etc – i.e., in vain.
I will include the word “damn” here, as damning is solely the province of God; to curse someone, even in anger, is a sin against charity, at the mildest, I believe. To do so against an inanimate object, or to make a general curse (“dammit”), I think is a grey area, and circumstances (intent, people hearing it scandalized, etc) will dictate.
As for
vulgarity: much of the vocabulary that is considered vulgar today was not at one time. I believe the first big shift came after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Words which were perfectly acceptable became considered objectionable because they were deemed vulgar – i.e. used by the Anglo-Saxon rabble, as opposed to the more genteel Norman overlords. Note that most vulgar words today come from Anglo-Saxon stock, while their polite, euphemistic counterparts come to us from Latin via Norman French. So we have faeces/defecate instead of s***, urine/urinate instead of p***, etc (censorship mine). Sometimes, the euphemizing can get carried away: although politer, one does not “go urinate”; one rarely even “goes to the washroom” anymore, instead using euphemisms or jocularities such as “powder one’s nose” or “go see a man about a horse” or “go shed a tear for old Ireland”. I believe Miss Manners states that the most polite form is merely to “excuse oneself for a moment”.
I remember hearing a joke about the propriety of a venerable Southern matriarch. I do not remember the circumstance of the story, but at one point she stated:
“Women do not sweat, they perspire.
Ladies do not perspire, they glow.
I do not glow.”
You’ll note, too, that most vulgarity deals with bodily functions; in many cases, the discussion of same is not carried on in “polite company”, not even in good Norman euphemism (and definitely not in hearty Anglo-Saxon monosyllables).
Note that the “s-word” still survives (with more traditional pronunciation intact) in the words **cheapskate **and
blatherskite. The “p-word” appears in early English translations of the Bible.
I think many of these words are used for their emotional impact. The Anglo-Saxonisms are, phonetically speaking, short-sharp-shock. They are monosyllabic, with short vowels, and use unvoiced sibilant, fricative, and plosive consonants. They are cacophonic, rather than euphonic. In other words, they “sound bad”.
Given that they were/are historically rejected from “polite” speech, they have also the “forbidden fruit” appeal; their (perceived) vulgarity gives them extra additional “oomph”, emotionally speaking. In other words, they “mean bad”.
Combined together, there is an emotional release, I think, being the verbal equivalent of punching a hole in the drywall, or in less extreme cases, popping bubble wrap. (hee hee hee bubble wrap!!!)
Now, I think the “F-word” is more problematic. The sexual act (as opposed to other bodily functions that lend themselves to vulgar use) has a sacred character that is demeaned by the use of all its associated vulgarities – the language in this case degrades the act, and becomes truly profane – as in its Latin origins, meaning “outside the Temple” or “desecrated”.
As for the sin involved: refer to Paul’s admonition (can’t remember the exact passage) about, say, eating food left for idols – i.e., it is not in and of itself unclean, but you shouldn’t if doing so leads another to sin. Also, check out Ephesians 5:3-4:
[sup]3[/sup]Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, [sup]4[/sup]no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.
