It’s a commonly held belief that swearing is a sign of low intelligence or poor vocabulary. Turns out it’s probably BS. Studies suggest the opposite. Swearing fluency is not just a lazy habit—it’s a linguistic tool that indicates verbal agility. A growing body of research, including a 2017 study published in Science Direct, challenges the stereotype that swearing signals a lack of expressive ability.
Participants in the study were asked to list as many swear words as possible in one minute (the “swearing fluency task”) & their results were compared with their performance on a general verbal fluency test, where they had to list words beginning with a specific letter. The results? Those who excelled at verbal fluency also scored highly on the swearing task, suggesting that swearing fluency is closely linked to overall language skills.
Equally fascinating, emotions can actually increase swearing fluency. In another study, participants played an aggressive video game, which elevated their emotional arousal. Afterward, they were able to generate more swear words than those who played a calm golf game, confirming a strong emotional-swearing link.
Swearing isn’t merely “bad language”. It’s tied to both verbal fluency & emotional expression. Swearing has its place in communication, proving it’s more than just a verbal slip-up.
Teacher Takeaways?
- Emotion & Expression: Recognize that swearing isn’t just offensive; it’s a valid form of emotional expression. Help learners understand when & how to use emotional language effectively, both inside & outside the classroom.
- Teach Taboo Vocabulary: taboo words exist for a reason & are part of a language’s culture. Consider exploring it with your learners- given the right circumstances!
Do swear words ever come up in your classroom? How do you approach them?
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