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Why? I’m German and that seems bizarre to me. Swearing is definitely not used independently of context in German.

by ugh 15y ago

alexholehouse 15y ago
I was in Germany a few years ago, and I remember a historian we were working with swearing a lot (in English) just to make points or convey extremities. When I queried him about it he said swearing didn't have particularly negative connotations when used in "normal conversation" in German. I took this at face value at the time, so I apologize if I've misspoken on the matter.
- ugh 15y ago
  That sounds like a lame excuse. Maybe he was just unaware that he was swearing so much. I think it’s generally easier to swear in a second language: There are no parents around to tell you not to use certain words. I certainly don’t feel the same when swearing in English and German. I almost never swear in German – written or spoken – because it feels wrong to me†. I have less problems swearing in English. This goes so far that I tend to say “fuck” to myself when something goes wrong and not the German equivalent (or if I do use a German word it’s the tame „verdammt“ – “damn”). There is this comedy routine from 1998 by a German comedian about exactly this topic, by the way. I found it on YouTube, even with subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxNLENPsbq4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxNLENPsbq4 (I’m not in any way claiming that it’s any good, it just fits so well.) — † I don’t have a problem with others swearing. I’m not offended by it.
  - Kliment 15y ago
    German, as a language, is rather ill-suited to swearing. Other than "shit", there are no strong expletives I encounter. But lots of people say "fuck" (in English). I've often felt the need for a stronger expletive but there don't seem to be any. So I am sometimes reduced to swearing in one of the other languages I know. Finnish is best suited to the task, but pretty much any language seems to do better than German.

Why? I’m German and that seems bizarre to me. Swearing is definitely not used independently of context in German.

by ugh 15y ago

Why? I’m German and that seems bizarre to me. Swearing is definitely not used independently of context in German.

I was in Germany a few years ago, and I remember a historian we were working with swearing a lot (in English) just to make points or convey extremities. When I queried him about it he said swearing didn't have particularly negative connotations when used in "normal conversation" in German. I took this at face value at the time, so I apologize if I've misspoken on the matter.

ugh 15y ago
That sounds like a lame excuse. Maybe he was just unaware that he was swearing so much. I think it’s generally easier to swear in a second language: There are no parents around to tell you not to use certain words. I certainly don’t feel the same when swearing in English and German. I almost never swear in German – written or spoken – because it feels wrong to me†. I have less problems swearing in English. This goes so far that I tend to say “fuck” to myself when something goes wrong and not the German equivalent (or if I do use a German word it’s the tame „verdammt“ – “damn”). There is this comedy routine from 1998 by a German comedian about exactly this topic, by the way. I found it on YouTube, even with subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxNLENPsbq4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxNLENPsbq4 (I’m not in any way claiming that it’s any good, it just fits so well.) — † I don’t have a problem with others swearing. I’m not offended by it.
- Kliment 15y ago
  German, as a language, is rather ill-suited to swearing. Other than "shit", there are no strong expletives I encounter. But lots of people say "fuck" (in English). I've often felt the need for a stronger expletive but there don't seem to be any. So I am sometimes reduced to swearing in one of the other languages I know. Finnish is best suited to the task, but pretty much any language seems to do better than German.