Inventing swear words

[The Curious Orange]

There are two sorts of "swear words" - those relating to sex or bodily functions, and those relating to religion and God.

The characters in my novel swear - or at least some of them do, the soldiers, the low-borns and the grunts. So I've no problem with them using the f-word, and, on one occassion, the c-word (using more than once would dull it's impact, IMO). The nobility and Royalty don't swear, of course.

The problem I have is that theirs is an atheistic society. They have no gods, and the idea of gods has never occured to anyone. Which makes the second set of swear words - the little blasphemies - out of the picture.

While I struggle to write dialogue at the best of times, to do so with all of those little tools out of bounds is really hard. Phrases like "Go to hell" or "I'll be damned" are such a part of our language, whether you believe or not. I found it nigh on impossible to write this sort of dialogue without having the characters blaspheme.

So, without gods, I figured that this world must have some sort of secular creation myths. So having written those myths, I now have phrases that don't mean anything that I can use as blasphemies. The only problem is that they all end up sounding like Robert Jordan's "blood and ashes!" but I guess that's not too big a stumbling block.

[The Ace]

Well, in 'Porridge,' in the early 1970s, 'Naff,' was substituted for the f-word and became part of British culture (famously used by Princess Anne to the press when she told them to, 'Naff off,').

In 'Red Dwarf,' 'Smeg,' (smegma) is used in the same context, and who can forget Father Ted's frequent, 'Feck ?'

[thecommabandit]

I think an important thing to note when making swear-words is how they sound. I mean, think of all the swear-words you know. They all use very harsh, sudden and fricative sounds. F's, C's, T's and SH's will all work well for that.

[Wiglaf]

Frac! Making up swear words is hard!
Sorry, made up swear words reminds me of Starbuck before he joined the A-team.

[chopper]

Many swears/sayings will be geographic or loosely (and I mean loosely! Don't start a flagged debate on me here!) -ist in nature - ageist, racist, sexist....because that's how we humans tend to be in general. Hence "Soft southerners", or "that's a bit Irish". You can imagine your own examples from here on in, just don't add them to the thread....

The main point being that swearing and colloquialisms don't just appear from nowhere. They have a solid foundation within a community. Curious Orange is the perfect example here. There has to be a rationale to a character's language. If you are having trouble with creating swear words, leave modern-day equivalents in - remember that words like b**tar*, bu***r and pi** are acceptable in mediaeval English if you're writing fantasy.

[Daniel Hetberg]

Hm. With swearing in novels, it all depends on the context. Swearing is generally a turn-off for me in books, unless it's used _very_ sparingly. "Hearing" people in books talk like you actually talk is a huuuuuge turn-off. Since all the "errrs" and "aaahs" and "wowies" are skipped, and mostly (it has become somewhat fashionable lately) trailing off of speakers rarely happens, although it happens all the time in normal conversations, swearing should also happen rarely, if ever.

Having said that, custom swear words are nice, because they're a) not profane and as such trivial for us, and b) they add flavor IF you pick them well. The danger c) is that your characters sound cute or just outlandish, when you want them to come across as brutish, raw and vulgar.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Well, it's not just a matter of inventing swear words because your characters could be using phrases that include both made-up words and familiar ones -- as, for instance, a reference to an invented god's real-world reproductive organ.

To place things in a broader context, I think that invented swear words, epithets, and invective generally can be used to reveal quite a bit about an imaginary culture: what they hold sacred, what they hold in contempt, what they consider filthy, profane, or forbidden, as well as what their sexual practices might be.

But used to excess, I usually find that profanity (real or imaginary) gets old pretty fast, and that characters who use too much of it come across as idiots with limited vocabularies and very little worth communicating.

As to whether or not nobility and royalty would swear, that would depend on the level of formality expected of upper class society in that particular culture.

[Dragonlady]

I agree, Teresa, my characters don't swear much but when they do they generallly blaspheme using phrases like we use in the real world, with different gods. and I would tend to state that a character was swearing rather than spelling out the words a lot of the time, as it gives the right picture but won't offend like the words might do.

Isn't swearing and nobility/royalty as much about taboo as formality? I would imagine that mediaeval british royalty would have had no problem using words that I don't because the words/topics have only been taboo for a few centures. Did you know that in the 18th century table legs were covered and called 'limbs' because 'leg' wasn't a word suitable for a lady to use?

[Purdy Bear]

I use car number plates for creating words, it really gets the imagination going. Its great for creating strange names as well.

[The Ace]

In the 'Belgariad,' and 'Mallorean,' by David Eddings, the only swearing directly quoted by characters were the god's names, "By Issa, Mara and Nedra !!!!", "Great Nedra!!!" etc.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

Did you know that in the 18th century table legs were covered and called 'limbs' because 'leg' wasn't a word suitable for a lady to use?

Actually, that's the nineteenth century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. But that brings up a very good point. When it comes to swearing (and manners and decorum generally) the upper classes follow the example of the court, and the court follows the example of whoever happens to be ruling at the time. If it's a lusty, full-blooded, hard-drinking monarch who swears like a dock hand, everyone else will be peppering their speech with oaths and profanities. If the King or Queen is formal and dignified, oaths will be mild, and possibly rather affected. If it's Queen Victoria, table "limbs" will be covered, and even euphemisms for common swear words will be avoided in polite company -- or at least while ladies are present. The middle class (hoping to advance itself) is generally the most respectable, and the lower class (having little to lose or gain) speaks as it pleases.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

Actually, that's the nineteenth century, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Actually, I heard someone explain that the legs were covered in this way to protect them from scrapes and other minor damage.

Oh, and it was a fashion (i.e. something beyond rational explanation) among the middle classes. (This may have allowed the owner to hide cheaply-made furniture from visitors.)

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

Actually, I heard someone explain that the legs were covered in this way to protect them from scrapes and other minor damage.

That certainly makes more sense than the generally accepted explanation. Either way, in terms of language, it was an exaggerated sense of propriety that led to them being called "limbs" instead of "legs."

And my point was, just because nineteenth and twentieth century royalty and aristocrats have generally been characterized by an outward show of propriety, it doesn't follow that this was the case in other eras.

[Ursa major]

I wasn't arguing with your post, Teresa - I'm sorry if I gave that impression.

[Teresa Edgerton]

No, no, I didn't think you were. And I wasn't arguing with yours, either. It just occurred to me that mine might need clarification after what you said.