Swearers "have larger vocabularies"

[Shaker]

One for Bashers when he comes back from his break - though of course he'll try to deny it

Good news, potty mouths: you're smarter than those who don't swear.

People who curse have a better vocabulary, according to a new study that looked at the theory that people swear only because they don't have the words to express themselves otherwise.

Not true, as it turns out, say U.S. psychologists Kristin Jay and Timothy Jay in the Language Sciences journal.

Cursers tend to understand "nuanced distinctions" in their language, which indicates increased vocabulary overall, the study concluded.

The researchers asked participants to cuss a blue streak, using as many different swear words they could think of in 60 seconds. They were also asked to name off as many animals as they could beginning with a specific letter. The stronger the swearers, the more animals they could name.

"The ability to generate taboo language is not an index of overall language poverty," the researchers concluded.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/14/no-s----people-who-swear-have-bigger-vocabularies-study-finds

Much more detail about the study here:

http://www.buzzhearts.com/en/blog/people-who-swear-have-bigger-vocabularies-than-non-swearers-study-finds/266/

[Nearly Sane]

To be fair, it doesn't show that people who do swear are better but those who are better at swearing, that may be people who choose not to.

[Red Giant]

"Using as many different swear words as they could think of in 60 seconds"?  How many are there?

The most prolific swearer I ever knew only used one swear word, but several times per sentence.

[ippy]

"Using as many different swear words as they could think of in 60 seconds"?  How many are there?

The most prolific swearer I ever knew only used one swear word, but several times per sentence.

Scots bloke I worked with once, the only thing he said that I could understand, was the incessant swearing, virtually every other word.

I really couldn't understand him, a Glaswegian.

I like the Scots they take the P out of the English so well it curls me up with laughter; apparently double glazing was invented by a Scotsman, so that the kiddies can't hear the ice cream van through it, so I'm told.

ippy

   

[Hope]

One for Bashers when he comes back from his break - though of course he'll try to deny it

The problem with this is that it ignores the fact the people who use swear words often use a single word in a given situation when those who don't swear can often use a variety of words in that same general situation.  I can certainly vouch for the fact that pupils who didn't swear woud have a far broader and nuanced vocabulary when it came to written work.

[Gonnagle]

Dear ippy,

apparently double glassing was invented by a Scotsman

No doubt old chap, yes I know you mean't glazing.

Gonnagle.

[Shaker]

The problem with this is that it ignores the fact the people who use swear words often use a single word in a given situation when those who don't swear can often use a variety of words in that same general situation.  I can certainly vouch for the fact that pupils who didn't swear woud have a far broader and nuanced vocabulary when it came to written work.

The problem with this is that spoken language is a useless indicator of actual vocabulary, the former being a pale and insubstantial shadow of the latter.

Anecdotal example: I know what terpsichorean, sidereal, corybantic and incarnadine mean but I would be exceptionally unlikely to use them in ordinary everyday speech. In fact would be considered at least rather peculiar and pompous if I did.

People do not write as they speak and vice versa. Everyday spoken language is never an indicator of entire vocabulary.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The problem with this is that spoken language is a useless indicator of actual vocabulary, the former being a pale and insubstantial shadow of the latter.

Anecdotal example: I know what terpsichorean, sidereal, corybantic and incarnadine mean

Apparently you can get tablets for the first two, a French polisher for the third and ointment for the last.

[Hope]

People do not write as they speak and vice versa. Everyday spoken language is never an indicator of entire vocabulary.

Couldn't agree more.  The problem is that those who use a lot of swear words as a matter of course often don't appreciate the fact that there are two different registers used for the two.  Can remember on lad whose creative writng was often couched in swear words of varying quality, and often made fascinating reading because he was catching the true spirit of what he was writing about.  Unfortunately, though he knew that swear words were a no-no in his more formal essays, his lack of vocabulary was made clear by the way in which he would repeat the same adjective or phrase time after time, rather than picking from a range of synonyms or synonymous phrases.

[ippy]

Dear ippy,

No doubt old chap, yes I know you mean't glazing.

Gonnagle.

On my tablet, no spell check, be surprised when I get it right, did you understand, if that's so why bother with the spelling, it's not a legal document, by comparison believing in things that  haven't the slightest bit of good reason or evidence to support them, or being unable to understand secularism, even when it's explained to you many times in the most simple of terms.

I'll settle for my life long inability to be any good at being able to spell, you can have nonsense beliefs or being unable to understand the most simplest of concepts and you're welcome to that.

ippy

Oh keep a watch on the spelling there will be plenty more where that one came from.

[Dicky Underpants]

One for Bashers when he comes back from his break - though of course he'll try to deny it

This of course is obvious to everyone except boneheaded neurotics like BA. Don't you think the board members have already wasted far too much time on trying to convince this not-too-well-educated blowhard that he's completely mistaken*? He doesn't even seem to be that well-informed about his own subject, and furthermore can't tell the difference between an adjective and a noun or a verbal imperative. Enough already.

*I've always admired your persistence, but sometimes 'Let it be' is a good maxim.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Shakes,

Anecdotal example: I know what terpsichorean, sidereal, corybantic and incarnadine mean but I would be exceptionally unlikely to use them in ordinary everyday speech. In fact would be considered at least rather peculiar and pompous if I did.

Easy-peasy:

- terpsichorean: Asian paint thinners

- sidereal: genuine apple-based alcoholic beverage

- corybantic: like witticisms inserted into a long-running soap opera

- incarnadine: Essex girl popular in the back seat of a Subaru

C'mon man, at least try to find to find some tricky ones...

[Dicky Underpants]

Shakes,

Easy-peasy:

- terpsichorean: Asian paint thinners

- sidereal: genuine apple-bases alcoholic beverage

- corybantic: like witticisms inserted into a long-running soap opera

- incarnadine: Essex girl popular in the back seat of a Subaru

C'mon man, at least try to find to find some tricky ones...

 

[Shaker]

Oh dear ...

[OH MY WORLD!]

Mr Dicky pants is sure full of the personal name calling. And being that he is sooo well educated, he would know that his name calling is abuse. Oh, and I wonder how he knows BA's education.


http://bullybeware.com/faq/bullying/147-is-name-calling-really-bullying.html