George Pope ---> Malte Schmidt AM 07.08.06
BETREFF: *Re: Tattoo*

Hi George!

MS>> I remember a "Simpsons" episode. Flanders said in the
english version
MS>> something like "I don't drink, I don't lie, I don't
swear!". In the
MS>> german it was translated with ".... I schw”re nicht!"
which is in fact
MS>> correct, but not with the context, because "schw”ren"
is the "swear" as
MS>> in "I swear that I will do you no harm".

GP> Well, in English, they are homonyms because they share the same etymology
[...]

Interesting. Thanks for those explanation to the etymology.

I guess most of those words which at first seem to have two or more  
completely different meanings have some hidden or forgotten same roots.

GP> Cursing as a term for "swearing" derives similarly, in that people
GP> invoked Deity's name to call down harm upon others. . .

GP> I avoid both those terms, because, out of respect for Deity and for those
GP> who have beliefs concerning proper use of Deity's Name(s) I just don't use
GP> them as curse words or swear words --

I think this is no big problem for me. We have only the german version of  
"o my god" and that is about it (and pretty harmless expression it is  
too). And I believe I rarely use that. But I honestly never gave it much  
thought, whether I should refrain from using such expressions.  As long as  
I don't do it intentionally to annoy the people who care I don't think it  
is disrespectful. Those are just words I use to express what I feel.

And anyway: I strongly believe that those who believe in god(s) should not  
bother to much, if there are some nonbelievers. Religion is a target of  
jokes and of insults as is everything else.



GP> I refer to "vulgarities" (ie.
GP> froward talk involving,often, toileting functions, 'private' body parts,
GP> and sexual acts

Just today I found a list of film sorted by the occurrence of the word  
"fuck" in the wikipedia. There really are people, who have nother better  
to do than to count those. X-)


GP> -- I don't even use these too often (trying to quit
GP> altogether, but it's difficult, when you're so used to freely conversing
GP> in the argot of the street and/or of the working class!)

I would like to believe I do not swear very often anyway, but I think  
others should tell me that. :)

Bye,
Malte!
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