Profanity

[civilken]

Here is a reference you may find useful:
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?1865-Period-Swear-Words-by-Craig-Hadley

thank you

 

[bankerpapaw]

"Tarnation" and "Strumpet" need to make a comeback.

How about "Land O Goshen?"

 

[infomanpa]

So, my impression now, is that back then, it was taboo to print the words in any records, as opposed to today, where there is almost no censorship in printed literature.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

For some reason I am glued to this thread. Maybe it's because the title is "Profanity." Maybe it's because I can relate to so many of these personal stories. Maybe it's because I can be "colorful" myself. Or maybe it's all three.

"Never use a big word when a little filthy one will do."
― Johnny Carson

 

[Cavalry Charger]

For some reason I am glued to this thread

Me, too It's going to be the highlight of my weekend I think! Entertainment factor 10

 

[LoriAnn]

How about "Land O Goshen?"

And for underthings (as my Gram called them) = "inexpressibles" and "unmentionables".

All this time, I've been expressing and mentioning them!!

 

[LoriAnn]

For some reason I am glued to this thread.

Me, too

This is why we get along so well.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

This is why we get along so well.

 

[Lazy Bayou]

There are some places in the South where "tarnation" is still in use.

Popular in Mississippi...

 

[Eleanor Rose]

@Cavalry Charger & @LoriAnn, have you ever heard the expression, "cussing up a blue streak?" I grew up hearing that one and for some reason this thread is tempting me to do it! I mean can you imagine how colorful we could make some Civil War conversations if we really tried? Just imagine what dear Sally might have said to George Pickett behind closed doors.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

@Cavalry Charger & @LoriAnn, have you ever heard the expression, "cussing up a blue streak?" I grew up hearing that one and for some reason this thread is tempting me to do it! I mean can you imagine how colorful we could make some Civil War conversations if we really tried? Just imagine what dear Sally might have said to George Pickett behind closed doors.

I haven't heard that one, but there are different terms used for, well, the use of profanities. Some people call it swearing, some call it cursing - which is probably where 'cussing' comes from - some just call it plain old bad language! Depending on the circumstances it can be highly entertaining, but most of all expressive. I never feel I can express a strong emotion quite well enough unless there's an expletive or two thrown in there I'm guessing there was a lot of strong emotion floating around on the battlefield!

 

[Cavalry Charger]

blue

Actually this is another way to describe bad language...I have heard it called 'blue language' in the past as well. I don't know why it gets the colour blue when it probably deserves the colour red

 

[WJC]

He did whatever it took to get his troops to fight - sometimes he'd practically beg them pretty please with sugar up top and other times it was get your Bleep! out there and Bleep! fight or I'll Bleep! well kick your Bleep! Bleep! all the way Bleep! over there!

I'm reminded of that video of Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf urging his men in Iraq forward from his Command Post during Desert Storm....

 

[Cavalry Charger]

"Foul mouth" is another one I've heard, and "I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap" was the old threat that used to hang over your head if you were caught. I think it was tried once in our house when I was young...I wasn't the culprit btw!

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Actually this is another way to describe bad language...I have heard it called 'blue language' in the past as well. I don't know why it gets the colour blue when it probably deserves the colour red

Quite true. I think blue streak is an analogy to the speed and force of a bolt of lightning. I've found over the years that if you drop a "word" at just the right time, it can strike a lot like lightning. It can be rather powerful too.

 

[EJ Zander]

Quote from the movie Christmas Story:

• Now, I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master.

 

[LoriAnn]

have you ever heard the expression, "cussing up a blue streak?"

Yes, I've heard that. "Foul mouth" as well.

I'm always struggling to walk that line between being polite in mixed company and being my more relaxed self (who swears casually and sometimes makes lewd remarks). I do remember a time when I hardly swore. I have no idea what happened to that girl.

 

[AshleyMel]

I would tell my daughter she had a "potty mouth" when ever she would say naughty things!

Swearing was NOT allowed in our house growing up. Hence, the use of "tarnation" and some of the other colorful examples mentioned on this thread! My Nanny would say "sugar" a lot and only rarely I might hear her say
"d**nation!". If there was ever any swearing heard in the house, you had better run because somebody was madder than a wet hornet and it was going to be bad! Somebody was getting the switch!

Today, (because of my past) I have moments when I am extremely sensitive to foul language. Not to say I didn't do my share of cussin'!
And when I met my Navy vet, Husband, oh boy, did I ever have to try to grow a thick skin!
Thank you Lord for forgiveness and grace! Especially when I slip up!

In the book I have, While God Is Marching On, it talks about during revivals, a decline of such behaviors.
Melvin Dwinell of the Eighth Georgia wrote in his diary, "May the good work go on, until not only profanity, but all other immorality shall cease in the Confederate army, and having enlisted under the banner of Christ, every man feel a calm and holy reliance in the Protection of Providence, and be willing to live or die as an all wise and just God shall determine."
There are a few other reference in the book to bad language in some of soldiers letters. They are usually referenced side by side with gambling and lewd women!

 

[nitrofd]

The Miller's Tale in Chaucer's Cantabury Tales is loaded with a lot of profanity as she had a serious gas problem.

 

[infomanpa]

For some reason I am glued to this thread.

Me, too, because it's getting the most responses of any thread that I've ever started.