Nine Nasty Words

English in the Gutter - Then, Now, and Forever

By: John McWhorter

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Hardcover | 2 July 2021 | Edition Number 1

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Hardcover
288 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.9 x 13.7 x 18.5

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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.

About the Author

John H. McWhorter teaches linguistics, American studies, and music history at Columbia University. He is a contributing editor at The Atlantic and host of Slate's Lexicon Valley podcast.

McWhorter is the author of twenty books, including The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, Losing the Race- Self-Sabotage in Black America, and Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English.

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