By Jun A. Alindogan
I am uncertain whether my rustic upbringing is directly linked to our manner of speech. My siblings and I never heard our parents use curse words, either in public or private. I do not claim that this attitude stems primarily from their professional roles as a bookkeeper and a grade schoolteacher. Among my neighbours and playmates too, such swear words were virtually unheard of, even though their parents were not professionals. Decent or modest speech was an integral part of our childhood.
I do not recall being explicitly taught about forbidden words at home. In the private Catholic school I attended, the nuns did not provide us with a list of acceptable and unacceptable words. Instead, we internalised these prohibitions through their example and character.
This situation may be construed as a form of censorship; however, it is essential that impressionable young minds learn the value of effective communication within the family and the community. Good speech does not solely involve the use of affirmative words but requires a comprehensive understanding of negative words in context, delivered without harshness, impoliteness, offensiveness, or excessive criticism.
In the major religions of the world, although there is no official list of profane words in their sacred texts, it is generally implied that a person of good character should refrain from using foul language in any form of speech or conversation.
Two recent observations regarding the use of curse words stand out. During a church Easter program and a team-building activity at a resort, my colleague and I overheard a conversation among teens who were laughing and sharing stories about food, school, friends, and hobbies. What struck me was that each individual’s response was peppered with swear words throughout the interaction. This could be interpreted as their form of expression without intent to offend; however, can expressions truly be devoid of meaning? In my view, all expressions carry inherent meanings, and to deny this is to assert that all expressions hold equal value—a misconception.
The same situation occurred at a breakfast porridge and chicken pastil (shredded chicken dish) restaurant where I am a regular customer. A group of girls in their early twenties ordered to-go chicken pastil while standing and engaging in a brief conversation about school requirements. Their interaction was also interspersed with curse words, which may be becoming quite common.
In Hollywood movies, regardless of genre—be it crime, science fiction, comedy, romance, or action—expletives are frequently employed to convey emotions such as rage, disappointment, or frustration. However, the expletives tend to be repetitive, suggesting that writers may be either incapable or unwilling to explore alternative expressions that do not rely solely on traditional cursing.
While cursing may reflect the realities of life in movies, we can shift away from this traditional representation by allowing characters to express a broader range of emotions and decisions without resorting to the same offensive language every time.
In the comic world of my high school, I read serialised fantastical stories of love, revenge, and superheroes. However, I do not recall any profanity used by the characters, except for onomatopoeic expressions such as “blag,” “wham,” “boom,” and “plak,” which relate to fights or punches.
On YouTube, channel owners often assert that their own rules govern their content, regardless of whether curse words are used in disseminating factual or misleading information. While YouTube generally permits the use of such language in videos, it cannot overlook the impact of mass reporting of offensive material.
YouTube does curse words within limits. Depending on how severe the language is, one may not be able to monetise content. If not excessive, the first seven seconds may allow full ad revenue. However, heavy usage may lead to policy violations and limited monetisation. Also, strong language in thumbnails or titles can limit advertising.
Why do some resort to profanity on YouTube to make a compelling argument when one can utilise more precise, accurate, and impactful language without the need for swearing? Is it possible that our native language, or even English, lacks suitable alternatives to curse words, or are we constrained in our ability to articulate content that we turn to vulgar language?
The trend of using profanity may persist in both online and offline contexts. However, this cycle should be interrupted to ensure that present and future generations understand that anger can be expressed through alternative methods, not solely through swearing.
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Manuel A. Alindogan, Jr. or Jun A. Alindogan is the Academic Director of the Expanded Alternative Learning Program of Empowered East, a Rizal-province based NGO in the Philippines and is also the founder of Speechsmart Online that specializes in English test preparation courses. He is a freelance writer and a member of the Freelance Writers’ Guild of the Philippines (FWGP).
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