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Nine Nasty Words

English in the Gutter - Then, Now, and Forever
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter delves into the worlds of language deemed shocking and taboo, exploring why curse words wield such power and why they captivate us. As a leading linguist, McWhorter reveals how profanity is deeply embedded in human communication, stemming from a primal brain instinct linked to urgency and danger. This book offers a lively investigation into the historical, sociological, political, and linguistic aspects of swearing, demonstrating how language and societal perceptions of profanity evolve over time.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will appeal to readers interested in language, psychology, and cultural studies, especially those curious about the role and impact of taboo language in society.

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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"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Nine Nasty Words is a New York Times bestseller.

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.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780593188798

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 May 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Avery Publishing Group Inc.,U.S.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 186.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

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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