profanity
Let an agent explain profanity descriptively, relay linguistic, psychological, legal and cultural research from linguistics and media regulation sources with attribution, describe the named topics without reproducing offensive words unnecessarily, and distinguish profanity from hate speech, blasphemy as a legal offence, minced oaths and harassment.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain profanity descriptively, relay linguistic, psychological, legal and cultural research from linguistics and media regulation sources with attribution, describe the named topics without reproducing offensive words unnecessarily, and distinguish profanity from hate speech, blasphemy as a legal offence, minced oaths and harassment.
Language regarded as offensive, vulgar or taboo in a given culture, including swear words, obscenities, blasphemy and slurs, used for emphasis, emotion, humour, insult or group bonding, varying across languages and communities, as studied in topics such as Latin profanity, Meitei profanity, Esperanto profanity, slang terms for body parts and invented profanity in science fiction such as minced substitute oaths; this model discusses profanity descriptively without reproducing offensive terms, and slurs targeting protected groups are treated as hate speech issues.
What it is for: Not applicable; a category of language.
It can be explain the concept descriptively; relay research with attribution; describe named topics without offensive terms; distinguish related categories.
Distinguishing features
Culturally relative
Emotional function
Taboo domains
Regulated in broadcasting
What it looks like
Not a visible object; words and phrases.
Physical character
FCC v. Pacifica Foundation: 1978 year - US broadcast indecency case
swearing and pain tolerance study: 2009 year - Stephens and colleagues, as reported
registry parents: meaning, word or phrase, name calling note
How it is recognised
Offensive or taboo language
Vulgar language, Latin profanity, Meitei profanity, Esperanto profanity, genital slang, profanity in science fiction
Hate speech targets groups; blasphemy laws concern religion; minced oaths are softened substitutes; harassment is conduct
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is contrasted with -
includes -
is regulated by - in some countries
In practice
Families and kinds
obscenities
blasphemous oaths
slurs
minced oaths and euphemisms
invented fictional profanity
profanity in specific languages
Standards and regulation
Broadcast codes such as Ofcom and FCC rules
Workplace and school conduct policies
Hate speech laws for slurs
Failure modes and hazards
Gratuitously reproducing offensive terms
Treating slurs as mere profanity
Moralising about ordinary swearing
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.profanity
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What profanity is.
Attribution.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is profanity, and how does it differ from hate speech, blasphemy, minced oaths and harassment? definition
- Is the question academic, about moderation or about being harassed, which may need reporting or support? boundary
Topics
Named topics.
Topics
Topics.
- What are studies of Latin, Meitei and Esperanto profanity, body-part slang and science fiction profanity, described without reproducing terms? definition
- Which entry fits the specific topic? action
Linguistics Linguistics and psychology.
Attribution.
Function
Functions.
Function
Function.
- Why do people swear, as linguists and psychologists describe? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Cultures
Across cultures.
Cultures
Cultures.
- How do taboo domains differ across languages? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Rules Regulation.
Regulation.
Broadcast
Broadcast rules.
Broadcast
Broadcast.
- How do broadcasters regulate profanity, such as the watershed? provenance
- Which entry fits watershed (broadcasting)? action
Moderation
Content moderation.
Moderation
Moderation.
- How do platforms filter profanity, and what are the pitfalls such as the Scunthorpe problem? provenance
- Which entry fits Scunthorpe problem? action
Context Culture.
Context.
Fiction
Invented profanity.
Fiction
Fiction.
- Why do science fiction works invent substitute swear words? provenance
- Which entry fits minced oath? action
History
History.
History
History.
- How have attitudes to swearing changed historically? provenance
- Which entry fits taboo? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should language-specific profanity topics be separate entries?
- How should linguistics research be linked?
- How should slurs be handled separately from general profanity?