History of Swear Words
Netflix
Presenter: Nicholas Cage
Rated: 6/10
For those who have wanted to know how certain words came to be swear words, History of Swear Words is a miniseries that is right up their alley. Presented by Nicholas Cage, the profanities that he starts off with sets the six-part series that takes us through the journey of words like f**k, d**n, p***y, s**t, d**k and bitch.
Each 20-minute episode takes us on a journey that begins with how the word originated, a bit of folklore around it, for example, f**k — Fornication Under Consent of the King — was considered illegal unless sanctioned by the king. While they may not have originated in Christianised Anglo-Saxon England but it is interesting to know how the word through the centuries has evolved only to be used in the modern world to denote a plethora of emotions — rage, confusion, excitement and not to forget sex.
Or take the word bitch which finds its origins in bicce — a female dog only to be used as a word to degrade women to only find that it represents solidarity and strength in today’s world — depending upon how and who is using this word.
The episode that gives us the history of the word s**t is just as interesting. The etymology of s**t — Ship High In Transit — to how it became a vulgar word to use now, sometimes, being used in a positive manner is informative to say the least.
Besides Cage who gives us a little history of these different words, there is a lexicographer, a few comedians and actors who talk about what these swear words mean to them and how they have been used over the years and their evolution.
Watch it if you use profanities at the drop of a hat and want to know how they came to be used. Makes for an interesting party conversation for sure. If swear words offend you, stay away.
