Does Swearing Make Serious Speech Less Articulate?

[Debater Slayer]

Suppose someone is speaking seriously, as on a political podcast or in a YouTube video about a philosophical topic. That person then uses a moderately to strongly vulgar or impolite word (and I realize that the threshold for what is considered such a word varies between countries), such as the S-word or F-bomb, not just once or twice but with a similar frequency to how they might use it in a casual conversation with friends.

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

 

[Soandso]

Eh... If not overused, curse words do convey a person's thoughts on the gravity or seriousness that surrounds an issue. A lot of people think it's unprofessional, but I don't mind the occasional curse here or there - even in a professional setting

 

[MikeF]

I would say that it makes a serious discussion or speech less serious. Swearing is an emotional appeal, not a valid argument in my opinion. Add to that the greater likelihood of affecting the reception of what you are trying to convey, it would seem self-defeating if the objective is to be convincing.

Now, if one is simply preaching to the choir, trying to reinforce the shared beliefs and sentiments of the choir, then swearing, or any appeal to emotion, can be effective in that goal.

 

[Revoltingest]

As with all rhetorical devices, over-use &
inappropriate use detract from the message.
Profanity, when you get it right, is pretty
******* effective.

 

[Estro Felino]

Indignatio facit versum, said Juvenal.

It's indignation and shock that makes one curse...I guess.

I know intellectuals who are very cultured and educated, yet they curse, sometimes, whenever they are shocked by an event.

 

[SalixIncendium]

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

What you are asking here is different than what you asked in your poll. I voted no, because I don't think it makes one's speech less articulate, however, cursing does, in my opinion, degrade the quality of what is being said and comes across as less eloquent, courteous, or professional. It also demonstrates to me that, especially in a format such as RF, a lack of ability to control one's emotions.

 

[Orbit]

Suppose someone is speaking seriously, as on a political podcast or in a YouTube video about a philosophical topic. That person then uses a moderately to strongly vulgar or impolite word (and I realize that the threshold for what is considered such a word varies between countries), such as the S-word or F-bomb, not just once or twice but with a similar frequency to how they might use it in a casual conversation with friends.

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

It's ok in casual speech between friends, but in formal or broadcast speech I find it to be a real turn-off.

 

[Koldo]

Suppose someone is speaking seriously, as on a political podcast or in a YouTube video about a philosophical topic. That person then uses a moderately to strongly vulgar or impolite word (and I realize that the threshold for what is considered such a word varies between countries), such as the S-word or F-bomb, not just once or twice but with a similar frequency to how they might use it in a casual conversation with friends.

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

No. It makes the speech sound less sophisticated.

 

[Debater Slayer]

No. It makes the speech sound less sophisticated.

What do you see as the difference between speech that is less sophisticated and speech that is less articulate?

 

[Revoltingest]

Profanity is particularly useful to express
emotion, especially anger & disgust.

 

[Debater Slayer]

What you are asking here is different than what you asked in your poll.

Yes. I wanted the poll to be broader than the OP, although I'm interested in people's answers to both.

I voted no, because I don't think it makes one's speech less articulate, however, cursing does, in my opinion, degrade the quality of what is being said and comes across as less eloquent, courteous, or professional. It also demonstrates to me that, especially in a format such as RF, a lack of ability to control one's emotions.

I almost completely agree. The "almost" is because I do think that swearing can make speech less articulate since, in almost every single serious context I can think of, any clarity that a swear word could serve would be equally or better served by a regular one.

 

[SalixIncendium]

@Debater Slayer ~ For me, "articulate" means clear and concise expression of one's thoughts into words, i.e. easy to understand. Whether or not a person curses when speaking doesn't impact the clarity of their message or make them more difficult to understand, it only degrades the quality, in my view, of what is being communicated.

Do you mean something different when you say "articulate?"

 

[SalixIncendium]

I almost completely agree. The "almost" is because I do think that swearing can make speech less articulate since, in almost every single serious context I can think of, any clarity that a swear word could serve would be equally or better served by a regular one.

I was typing my previous response when you posted this. I'm not sure we're aligned entirely on the meaning of "articulate," but in principle, I agree.

 

[Eddi]

When deployed with skill and tact by a master wordsmith a vulgar word can be most ****ing eloquent

 

[Debater Slayer]

@Debater Slayer ~ For me, "articulate" means clear and concise expression of one's thoughts into words, i.e. easy to understand. Whether or not a person curses when speaking doesn't impact the clarity of their message or make them more difficult to understand, it only degrades the quality, in my view, of what is being communicated.

Do you mean something different when you say "articulate?"

To me, "articulate" also carries a slight connotation of polished expression, albeit not as much as "eloquent." On a spectrum of polished fluency, I see "clear" as less emphatic than "articulate" as less emphatic than "eloquent."

 

[Nimos]

Suppose someone is speaking seriously, as on a political podcast or in a YouTube video about a philosophical topic. That person then uses a moderately to strongly vulgar or impolite word (and I realize that the threshold for what is considered such a word varies between countries), such as the S-word or F-bomb, not just once or twice but with a similar frequency to how they might use it in a casual conversation with friends.

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

I think it does, but it isn't necessarily bad, curse words used elegantly can be very effective. But if it is just someone using them constantly I think it lowers the quality.

To me, the quality of good speech is defined by those people capable of explaining complicated topics using common words. I would take a person cursing nonstop anytime over someone using unnecessarily complicated words in an attempt to try to sound intelligent. To me, that is simply a failure of communication.

 

[Debater Slayer]

To me, the quality of good speech is defined by those people capable of explaining complicated topics using common words. I would take a person cursing nonstop anytime over someone using unnecessarily complicated words in an attempt to try to sound intelligent. To me, that is simply a failure of communication.

That's a good point. Do you have any public figures in mind who you would consider examples of the latter?

 

[Revoltingest]

To me, "articulate" also carries a slight connotation of polished expression, albeit not as much as "eloquent." On a spectrum of polished fluency, I see "clear" as less emphatic than "articulate" as less emphatic than "eloquent."

To see eloquent profanity, the TV series Deadwood has it.

 

[Nimos]

That's a good point. Do you have any public figures in mind who you would consider examples of the latter?

I would say someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson is a good example of someone capable of communicating complicated topics without having to "promote" his intelligence.

I can't think of someone doing the latter at the top of my head, because I usually skip them pretty fast. But basically, any (for the most part academics) person whose text is filled with complicated words, where you almost get the impression that they intentionally replaced words using a foreign dictionary just to make it sound complicated. (Not sure "foreign dictionary" is the correct word), but a dictionary where you find alternative words for the more common ones.

This shouldn't be misunderstood to mean a person using specific terms, which is often done due to clarification.

But you could take an example, let's say someone has to explain evolution to someone else and decides to go nuts with crazy words, which doesn't help the person trying to understand what the basic idea behind it is, so it serves no other purpose than to make the first person look smart.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Suppose someone is speaking seriously, as on a political podcast or in a YouTube video about a philosophical topic. That person then uses a moderately to strongly vulgar or impolite word (and I realize that the threshold for what is considered such a word varies between countries), such as the S-word or F-bomb, not just once or twice but with a similar frequency to how they might use it in a casual conversation with friends.

In your opinion, does the swearing degrade the quality of their speech or make it less articulate, or are articulation and eloquence unrelated to the usage of profanity or lack thereof?

I can only think of one intelligent and tough person who took swearing and graduated it into a pure art form unparalleled to this day.

GEORGE SMITH PATTON JR.