The Language of Insult

What makes us human? What is one thing we all share across linguistic, social and economic boundaries?

In a one-page essay, explain something that all humans share; something that makes us human. In your opening paragraph, state you thesis and briefly list your points of support. Give THREE paragraphs of support, and ONE paragraph to conclude your essay.

Example...

Emotions: Love, hate, jealousy
Need: Food, shelter, love
Fear: The dark, the cold, being alone

Can you think of any writers from the English-speaking world who write about such things?

Profanity is derived from the Latin pro fanus, meaning outside the temple (Berlitz). Some may consider insults and profanity a rather strange topic for discussion. Languages around the world have for eons perfected the art of the insult. What is surprising is the similarity of insult and profanity across linguistic regions. For all the different languages that exist on Earth, humans enjoy the the unusual bond on insults and profanity based on similar words. These cross-language ties (or jibes, depending on your viewpoint) are usually based on animals, religion and members of one's immediate family.

Animals have always played a major, if not definitive, role in insults. French uses chameau (camel) and vache (cow) for unpleasant or stupid individuals while the donkey or mule is used in other languages. Vache (cow) is also used for the police (similar to pigs in English). A joke is sometimes played on tourists in France by recommending the Hotel Morovache with the idea that any police person will know where it is. When the hotel name is pronounced by the innocent tourist, it sounds like mort aux vaches (death to the police) (Berlitz). This is generally considered unflattering to the police.

When donkeys or mules aren't readily available, other animals are used, like punda (zebra) or fisti (hyena) in Swahili (Berlitz). Animals are also used for other professionals. In French, poule (chicken) is used for prostitute and maqueraud (mackerel) is used for a pimp (Berlitz). In Italian, scimmia (monkey) has the same meaning as prostitute. In French, cochon (pig) is a strong word for an offensive person, similar to the English variation for the police. German uses a combination Schweinehund (pig-dog) to insult their neighbors, similar to the Russian sukin sin (son of a female dog) (Berlitz). In Spanish, where machismo still holds strong rein, being referred to a cabron (he-goat) is a violent insult referring to the potency of a male. Even more insulting is being called a cabrona (she-goat) (Berlitz).

In Arabic, ya ibn kalb (son of the dog) has been used as an insult for over 1300 years. This insult refers to a dog that barked, alerting the enemies of Mohammed that he was hiding in a cave. These are fighting words in Arabic (Berlitz). To English speakers, the Chinese too-tze (turtle) seems strange but means sexual deviant (in China, turtles are connected with several types of sexual deviation) (Berlitz). When streamlined cars were introduced in China, producers encountered customer resistance because the cars reminded the Chinese of turtles (Berlitz). Whatever the language, animals are commonly used as insults.

However, animal insults do not always transcend borders. While monkey many not be pleasant in Italian, obyazanaka (monkey) in Russian is endearing (Pei). Wolf, which is generally meant for predatory men in English, is a term of endearment in French, mon loup (my wolf). Kraut, a derogatory term used in World War II for Germans, is complimentary in French, mon petit chou (my little cabbage) (Pei).

Religion, being an almost universal feature of the human race in one form or another, has entered many languages as praise and profanity. Beginning with the English bloody, a derivative of by our lady, the phrase was shortened and became irreverent. English by Jove and by Jiminy are derivatives from ancient gods-Gemini. Goodness, gracious, mercy and even dear me are all variations of references to God. In French, it is acceptable to say mon Dieu (my God) but not bon Dieu (good God). Russians often use slava Bogu (glory to God). This phrase was used even when the Communists were in power. Krushchev himself was often heard using the phrase in speeches and conversations (Berlitz).

Spanish is profuse with references to Jesus and is the normal way to say God bless you after someone sneezes, which seems slightly irreverent to most English speakers. Spanish also uses si dios, similar to the Arabic Inshallah, or if God wills. Perhaps this is due to the Moorish influence on Spain. One of the most extensive uses of religious imagery is the German Herrgotkreuzverdampterdonnerwetternochmal (Lord God the Cross damned thunder weather) (Berlitz). One wonders if the speaker is still angry after finishing such a long word.

The devil and hell is also used in many languages. English alone uses hell as a negative adverb (The hell you are!), super superlative (hotter than hell), general adverb (fight like hell), intensifier (Who the hell is he?), literally used noun (Go to Hell!), synonym for "uproar" (to raise hell) and a combination word (hell's bells, hell and high water) (Pei). Fanden (the Devil) is commonly used in Scandinavian languages, and even intensified to svarte kockte fanden (black boiled devil). In Russia, chort (the Devil) is a powerful swear word (Berlitz).

While many languages contain insults to various family members, the most offensive by far is the insult to one's mother. No language would be complete with the supreme insult to a person by insulting the memory of the person's mother. From the English your mother, to the Chinese tien ni deh ma (your mother), this is one of the strongest insults in any language. Your mother is usually enough to inform the listener that the rest of the sentence, suggesting immoral activities on the mother's part, is unspeakable. In Spanish, the complete form of tu madre (your mother) contains only five syllables and can be whistled or sounded on a car horn (one long, two short, one long, one short). This is such a strong insult that it has sometimes resulted in gunplay and death (Berlitz).

Whatever the insult, be it animal, religious or family member, a language speaker, and most particulary a speaker who is speaking the language as a foreign or second language, must remember that temperance and respect are essential. While humans share the unique bond of insults and profanity based on similar topics, that is by no means an excuse to actively use them. Whatever language you use, be it your first, second or third, there are two things a human will always do in his first language: the first is to count; the second is to use profanity when he hits his finger with a hammer.

Berlitz, Charles. Native Tongues. New York, New York: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, 1982.
Pei, Mario. The Story of Language. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1965.