The emotional force of swearwords and taboo words in the speech of multilinguals

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dc.contributor.authorDewaele, Jean-Marc
dc.date.accessioned2008-08-05T19:16:23Z
dc.date.available2008-08-05T19:16:23Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractThis paper investigates the perception of emotional force of swearwords and taboo words (S-T words) among 1039 multilinguals. It is based on data drawn from a large database collected through a web questionnaire on bilingualism and emotions. t-Tests revealed that the perceived emotional force of S-T words is highest in the L1 and gradually lower in languages learned subsequently. Self-reported L1 attriters were found to judge S-T words in their L1 to be less powerful than those who are still dominant in their L1. Participants who learned their language(s) in a naturalistic–or partly naturalistic–context gave higher ratings on emotional force of S-T words in that language than instructed language learners. Self-rated proficiency in a language and frequency of use of language significantly predicted perception of emotional force of S-T words. Age of onset of learning was found to only predict perception of emotional force of S-T words in the L2.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 25(2/3): 204-222
dc.identifier.issn0143-4632
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/1337
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMultilingual Matters & Channel View Publications
dc.subjectMultilinguals use of Swear Words and Taboo Words
dc.subjectTaboo Words
dc.subjectSwear Words
dc.titleThe emotional force of swearwords and taboo words in the speech of multilinguals
dc.typeArticle

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