© 2026 KGOU
News and Music for Oklahoma
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Impoverished State of English Profanity

Taboo words are those reserved for situations where an expression of shock is required. Words describing body parts and bodily functions set the standard for shocking language in english. What the language lacks is a strong grounding in profanity.

Copyright 2006 NPR

John Ciardi
More News
Support nonprofit, public service journalism you trust. Give now.