Hello colleagues, So-called “bad words” exist in every language on the planet, and there have always been taboo words throughout human history. Have learners asked you about these words? How have you handled talking about the ubiquitous swear words in English that we all hear so often?
John McWhorter, an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, has written a fascinating new book, Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever. In the book, McWhorter presents an in depth historical explanation of specific swear words with an entertaining, humorous twist.
McWhorter’s discussion of how the “N-word” has become taboo is a fascinating aspect of this book.
A recent review in the New York Times by Cecilia Watson notes, “McWhorter deftly models a way for us to think deeply and systematically about language while celebrating its wildness, its slipperiness and its silliness. Those nasty words are really ‘nine nasty ways of being human.’” Watson concludes the review stating that McWhorter's book, “is a deeply intelligent celebration of language that teaches us how to see English in high definition and love it as it really is, right now and in its myriad incarnations to come.”
Those who are interested can listen to McWhorter talk about the book on CSPAN https://www.c-span.org/video/?511507-1/john-mcwhorter-discusses-evolution-profanity
I’m looking forward to hearing how you approach taboo words in your classroom!
Cheers,
Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, English Language Acquisition CoP
McWhorter, J. (2021). Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever. New York: Avery.
Comments
I just want to chime in to encourage folks to look into the widespread criticism McWhorter has received from the linguistics community and progressive thinkers in the past decade or so. He seems to spend a whole lot of his time engaging in centrist, reactionary punditry these days, and frequently gets called for quotes as a prominent linguist and ends up saying things that, well, lots of linguists seriously disagree with. For anyone unfamiliar with McWhorter, I think this is important context.
Hi Rob, Thanks for chiming in. Might you be able to share any links to the criticism related to McWhorter's work in linguistics? I agree it's vital to be aware of all sides.
Your thoughts on the topic of taboo words are welcome, too.
Cheers, Susan
Here are a couple of critiques of McWhorter's work on race:
I don't know much about his scholarly linguistic work, just his columns and other popular work, but there I understand some of his most influential academic work intersects with the critiques presented in those links.
I think it's essential that we address taboo words and topics explicitly with our ESOL students (of course in a sensitive, thoughtful way). Among L1 speakers, we often speak in euphemisms, elliptical language, and indirect language that can leave language learners in the dark about really important, sensitive cultural and linguistic points. It does our students a disservice to avoid such topics in the classroom.
I can only speak for myself as a freshly minted applied linguist re: reactions to McWhorter's work.
He's a creolist and knows about creoles. I found his applying this analysis to the historical development of English in his popular work, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, challenging but worthwhile. I had an exchange with him through an intermediary that was fruitful.
I listen to his Lexicon Valley podcast intermittently and sometimes it's quite good. However, on at least one, he trotted out the old chestnut about kids learning additional languages faster than adults, and that simply isn't so (see Lightbown & Spada on this for starters). So, he doesn't know language acquisition.
Yes, he is problematic.
---Amy West
Yes, I agree that it's important for folks to know about the whole person. I've heard McWhorter espouse views about racism in America that I found offensive. It raises the question about separating a person's politics from their work.