Swearing: A Social History of Foul Language, Oaths and Profanity in English

(Paperback)

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Tracing the history of swearing from ancient Anglo-Saxon traditions and those of the Middle Ages, through Shakespeare, the Enlightenment and the Victorians, to the Lady Chatterley trial and various current trends, Geoffrey Hughes explores a fascinating, little discussed yet irrespressible part of our linguistic heritage. This second edition contains a Postscript updating various contemporary developments, such as the growth of Political Correctness.

Author Bio

Geoffrey Hughes is Professor of History of the English Language at the University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg.