profanity

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Profanity
Profanity is the use of what is considered “inappropriate words” while in the public domain. Most of them are swear words and have been discouraged for use in public use. The sole reason why profanity is discouraged is that of an offensive meaning to the situation in context regardless of the speaker’s intent. Since time immemorial, humans tend to maintain a certain level of decorum during official and formal conversations (Hughes 63). Although the use of language has changed over time, some words remain inappropriate for use in the public domain. Profanity is offensive because it soils what has been considered culturally, historically and politically appropriate language.
The meaning of some swears words may be apposite for a certain context, but the manner in which the word sounds when used in the public domain may be wanting. The speaker may be tempted to assume that the use of a specific word is appropriate, but this may not be the case especially if it happens at an official function. In the company of close friends, an individual feels at ease to use various swear words without fear of being judged. However, some people can take it too far to the point that they can no longer consider their immediate company. They will, therefore, end up using swear words even in the midst of people who they have never interacted or even in what may be considered an official setting.
Humans only need to engage their reasoning in discerning which needs are not appropriate for use in the public domain.

The immediate environment and background of an individual dictate how they use certain types of words. If a child is brought up in a family where the parents, the siblings and the entire neighborhood uses swear words often, they will be tempted to do the same even in the public domain (Hughes 67). The converse is very accurate because on very minimal occasions will children raised in a strict background use the swear words. In fact, they will shun from using such words when in an informal setting to avoid falling victims of profanity in the public domain.
Language dictates the communication cycle, but the latter is bound by some rules, conditions, and standards. In the quest to maintain a certain level of professionalism, humans must keep a certain degree of decorum while in an official forum. Furthermore, it would be wrong to assume that everyone understands the context in which a speaker uses various phrases or words. During an official forum, the speaker must at all times maintain a formal tone that is understood by each of the party present (Hughes 154). Speakers must, therefore, obey the formality of the function at hand before saying a word or two.
Besides a string of words which are bound by cultural conditioning, there are also profane gestures which carry the same weight as profane words. Unlike profane words, profane gestures are barely used although they also violate the cultural language etiquette. Humans have to take into consideration that language is an intellectual space that ought to be respected all. Some situations require the speaker to exercise their fundamental skills of observation to determine when not to use profane words. Even in the midst of close friends, there are situations when it will sound and look offensive once the swear words are used. A typical example is during prayers and other honorable moments which deserve a certain level of respect.
The audience is always the judge, and the speaker must, therefore, take into account whether what they are about to say will sound appropriate or depict the intended meaning without compromise. In fact, a speaker should place themselves in the shoes of an audience to an unknown guest who has been summoned to give a speech on a formal occasion. The same reciprocate when someone steps on the stage and expects the audience to decipher the meaning and context of certain words which the public considers profane. At times, speakers have to tell the audience what they want to hear and not what they think others should listen to (Hughes 362). The usage standards of profane words differ from one setting or environment to another depending on the level of formality of the function at hand.
Foul language also exits in the context of a religious setting. Believers consider the use of “God’s Name” for no apparent reason as blasphemy (Hughes 31). This falls under the category of religious profanity where the scriptures are very strict on the use of the creator’s name. The most common profane words which are considered culturally inappropriate mention sex or involve bodily functions. Some of these words are even disgusting to the speaker.
Depending on the cultural background of the audience, the level of profanity may differ from one person to another. Some people will treat profanity very harshly while others will just flag them as inappropriate. Over time, words which were previously considered profane may gain popularity although this does not mean that they are appropriate to use in every context or situation (Hughes 442). This form of generalization can only be applied within a given neighborhood where the most dominant form of communication is informal. Regardless of whether there are parties who may condone the use of profane words, speakers must at all times consider individuals who feel offended by the use of foul language.
Work Cited
Hughes, G. (2006). An encyclopedia of swearing: The social history of oaths, profanity, foul language, and ethnic slurs in the English-speaking world. ME Sharpe.