The basic purpose of education must be (other than acquiring knowledge) to imbibe the qualities of gentility and right etiquette and the use of ‘good’ words to communicate with effectiveness, clarity and the context-appropriateness of the language. We recall that our teachers would severely rebuke errant students using ‘bad words’ and even punish them. Sounds ‘Victorian’ ? Appropriate language is rooted in societal norms and moral values.
How were we taught to differentiate between ‘good’ & ‘bad’ language in linguistic sense ? School teachers would stress on ‘effective’ language that was specific, clear, concise, and familiar to the reader or audience, fostering understanding in a constructive manner. In contrast to these, ‘undesirable’ language that could be vague, ambiguous, destructive or inappropriate for the situation and aimed at creating misunderstanding or harm. Added is ‘improper’ lexicon and a vocabulary that has profanities considered indecent and foul.
Once upon a time (say till the 20th Century), it wasn’t regarded gentlemanlike to swear and teachers in school wouldn’t even permit ‘slang’ words in essays. As for the guys, the class ‘Bullies’ became the best proponents of ‘cuss’ words for other classmates but none of that was allowed at homes. With strict mothers and elder sisters, around aplenty in joint families, senior ladies would frown at the men-folk if they indulged in any ‘galis’ ! The chastity of the spoken vocabulary was in those times kept well preserved.
Post the 1980s, came the era of bold English (and foreign language) films, the literature (known as pulp fiction) and tabloids crossing boundaries with expletives and cuss words that was a part of new found frankness and rebellious aggression – a kind of trademark persona of modernity and liberated culture that couldn’t be shackled down. But till the end of the last century, the Indian films & the lead heroines and even the media was not comfortable with bad language unless depicting negative characters !
In an uninhibited avatar, the Net, Social Media, the OTT platforms & Web-series (with no censorship) and certain movies have suddenly turned on the heat with content often full of profanities and ribald comments spouted by lead players including the heroines, that are not only offensive but can at times border obscenity. The excuse offered by film-makers – it’s what people want to hear & see and ‘adult’ films carry an 18+ certification – so you decide what you want your kids to watch.
There’s now widespread acceptability in liberal use of expletives in day to day parlance. Normal chatter among younger generation can be littered with cuss words. Perception of what’s profane or vulgar is subjective, varying with culture and context. Traditionally though, in our social framework, use of ‘foul’ language reflects on one’s upbringing and is discouraged. When it becomes par for course with even the educated & informed class and is openly used whether in brawls or in public discourses and big political debates, then it’s more a show of strength, aggression and for wielding power over the others.
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