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Product Description
Review
'Every page offers curious facts and ideas and one is left with amazement at the vast profane creativity at work in the unique human project of language. And so, despite what I was so often told at school, I now have to admit that swearing really is big and clever' Ian Irvine, Observer '[A] consistently enjoyable treatise on English swearing. Too intelligent and impassioned to be a Christmas novelty hit, too entertaining to impress purist academics, Filthy English falls into the category of popular history, enlivened by anecdote, digression and the author's appealing appetite for language's cloacal inclinations ... a generous buffet of facts surrounding our linguistic depravities' Herald 'With likeable digressiveness, Silverton chases down etymologies, charts changing standards of taste - The last few chapters (particularly those on swearing in pop music, and on racist epithets) are very good' Steve Poole, Guardian
Product Description
When the Sex Pistols swore live on tea-time telly in 1976, there was outrage across Britain. Headlines screamed. Christians marched. TVs were kicked in. Thirty years on, all those words are media-mainstream - bandied about with impunity on TV and in the papers. This is the story of our bad language and its three-decade journey from the fringes of decency to the working centre of a more linguistically liberal nation. Silverton takes a clear, comprehensive and witty look at swearing and the impact of its new acceptability on our language, our manners, and our society. He considers how we have become more openly emotional, yet more wary about insulting others. And how it's seemingly become alright to say **** and **** but not ****** or ****. This is the story of that cultural revolution, written by one who was there at the start, proudly striking some of the first blows in the long struggle for the right to reclaim filthy English and use it.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a cracking book! It is really erudite in terms of the etymology of all the common (and uncommon) swear words. But, just as important, there is so much insight into the role of taboo language for the individual and society. It also covers the change in our attitude to swearing. Most sexual swear word are no longer the ultimate taboo; that has been overtaken by racist epithets. However, Peter Silverton also looks at the role of swearing in different types of societies and how different languages produce swear words. This was particularly fascinating. On top of that it was extremely funny. Peter Silverton has a wickedly dry sense of humour. I learned so much from it and also enjoyed reading it immensely.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Absolutely fascinating book. Full of very detailed descriptions of how certain words originated and what seemingly inoccuous words they are contected to. There is so much information packed into this book that I'm only reading about four pages a night - it is so enjoyable as well. It's not a light or silly read - more quite a serious look at language with some light hearted digressions. The sections which explain puns from Shakespeare, Marvell and other writers are brilliant! Suitable for those people who are genuinely interested in how language originated rather than for those looking for a cheap thrill. I thoroughly recommend it!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was drawn to this book purely for the cover, I was intrigued to know its contents and, not normally my genre of reading, however I decided to take a chance. I am glad I did this was a really fascinating read I loved (nearly!) every page on it. Certainly not for the faint-hearted!! There is no shying away from the more explicit words or explainations for their origins. But absolutely brilliant I really did enjoy the majority of this book, the last few chapters about censorship etc becomes a bit more anecdotal and wasn't as interesting as the other chapters.
However, I would highly recommend this book to anyone, with or without an interest in language, this is a fabulous read!
However, I would highly recommend this book to anyone, with or without an interest in language, this is a fabulous read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
(Un)hilariously self-important
As someone who is fascinated by language in general, and certainly partial to the odd choice expression, this was a book I approached with great anticipation. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BigMalc
Inaccurate
I'm looking at the book via Google and already I'm seeing inaccuracies. The author thinks that "tw*t" means derriere in the U.S. (p. 70) Wrong! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Aanel Victoria
Proof that swearing can be big and clever.
It's odd that much of the content of this book is unable to be quoted here. Why is swearing censored? Which swears are the worst? Read more
Published 8 months ago by ds
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