What about swearing in Novels?

When you write a novel there’s always the question whether to add swear words. I know personally, swear words are not really my thing and on the odd time I’ve included them, they’ve been questioned by the people who assist me during my drafting process.

Interestingly, most of my favourite writers don’t include too many swear words in their novels. I guess they’re my favourite authors because of this simple fact. But that’s just me and I’m the same with movies. I find it off putting when a large amount of the dialogue is peppered with swear-words. I don’t know maybe it’s an age thing! Though an occasional curse and swear I have no problem with but a movie or book full of X-rated adverbs becomes more about the swearing than the story.

So do we judge people who swear or the author who has expletives on every page of his or her novel? Yes I think we do. So how does swearing, or being sworn at, or reading such language  make you feel? According to Dr Steven Pinker,  the people who dismiss swearing as just words are wrong!

Recently I read an article by (psychologist) Dr Pinker, author of The stuff of Thought (amazon.com), and he states. “Hearing taboo words automatically activates areas in the brain associated with negative emotion.” He goes on to say, “Swearing is the use of language as a weapon  –  forcing a listener to think an unpleasant or emotionally charged thought.” He then mentions, “the same primeval cut-through happens even if you read a swear word.”

So verbal or written swear words DO have power – probably more than I realised. While I don’t consider swearing my thing, it’s not possible to get rid of swearing altogether. Psychologists argue one of the main reasons people swear is to release anger and frustration. But if you overuse swearwords whether in writing or in conversation they tend to lose their emotional edge.  Personally, I spend most of my time focusing on the good things in life so I don’t need triggers to evoke the bad. The book The Secret a best-selling 2006 self-help book written by Rhonda Byrne, has a wonderful chart about feelings which I will attach below.

Dr Pinker identifies 5 reasons we swear.
Abusive swearing – which is intended to humiliate or intimidate someone.
Emphatic swearing – when ‘very’ doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Idiomatic swearing – The words themselves are unnecessary and used to attract attention.
Dysphemistic swearing – The opposite to using euphemisms.
Cathartic swearing – Cornered or hurt mammals make a sudden angry noise to frighten off an attacker. Swearing is our human version.

Image from THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne www.thesecret.tv

Beyond Words Publishing      www.beyondword.com