Getting around 'offensive' language

In the English there are many expressions which may be considered 'offensive' by both native and non-native speakers because they refer to sexual activity, private parts of the body and human waste, in a very crude and unpleasant manner. They are insulting to fellow human beings, besides b...

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Main Author: Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/1/offensivelanguage.pdf
id iium-8478
recordtype eprints
spelling iium-84782011-12-13T02:21:43Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/ Getting around 'offensive' language Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen P87 Communication. Mass media In the English there are many expressions which may be considered 'offensive' by both native and non-native speakers because they refer to sexual activity, private parts of the body and human waste, in a very crude and unpleasant manner. They are insulting to fellow human beings, besides being distasteful in other ways. Users may therefore find it repugnant to use such expressions in their discourse. The contemporary English language dictionaries which have included them often describe them as offensive, deeply offensive and sometimes even carry a warning not to use them. In order not to give the impression that a speaker is rude, insensitive, vulgar or uncultured, which other alternative words can speakers use? It is especially important for people who live in a society or community which values politeness in language use to be aware of 'bad' language and know how to use words which may be considered free from language unpleasantness. This awareness is not only necessary for non-native speakers of English, but also for those to whom English is their dominant language of communication. 2009-11 Article NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/1/offensivelanguage.pdf Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen (2009) Getting around 'offensive' language. Language in India, 9. pp. 84-106. ISSN 1930-2940 http://www.languageinindia.com
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
language English
topic P87 Communication. Mass media
spellingShingle P87 Communication. Mass media
Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen
Getting around 'offensive' language
description In the English there are many expressions which may be considered 'offensive' by both native and non-native speakers because they refer to sexual activity, private parts of the body and human waste, in a very crude and unpleasant manner. They are insulting to fellow human beings, besides being distasteful in other ways. Users may therefore find it repugnant to use such expressions in their discourse. The contemporary English language dictionaries which have included them often describe them as offensive, deeply offensive and sometimes even carry a warning not to use them. In order not to give the impression that a speaker is rude, insensitive, vulgar or uncultured, which other alternative words can speakers use? It is especially important for people who live in a society or community which values politeness in language use to be aware of 'bad' language and know how to use words which may be considered free from language unpleasantness. This awareness is not only necessary for non-native speakers of English, but also for those to whom English is their dominant language of communication.
format Article
author Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen
author_facet Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen
author_sort Mohamed Ali, Haja Mohideen
title Getting around 'offensive' language
title_short Getting around 'offensive' language
title_full Getting around 'offensive' language
title_fullStr Getting around 'offensive' language
title_full_unstemmed Getting around 'offensive' language
title_sort getting around 'offensive' language
publishDate 2009
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/8478/1/offensivelanguage.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T20:18:12Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T20:18:12Z
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