Read by: John McWhorter
Language: English
Length: 6 hours and 52 minutes
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Release date: 2021-05-04
Platform | Country | Chart | Last Rank | Last Ranked At |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apple | Top Audiobooks - Languages | 168 | September 19, 2024 | |
Apple | Top Audiobooks - Languages | 84 | September 19, 2024 |
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power - and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech - the urgency with which we say "f--k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.