NYT article on cursing

[Michael McKernan]

In today's NYT, an article on cursing describes similar physiological
responses to cursing and perceived 'bad grammar' or 'irritating' slang:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/science/20curs.html?th&emc=th

20 Sep 2005 NY Times:

>Almost Before We Spoke, We Swore
>
>By NATALIE ANGIER Published: September 20, 2005
...
>Other investigators have examined the physiology of cursing, how our
>senses and reflexes react to the sound or sight of an obscene word. They
>have determined that hearing a curse elicits a literal rise out of people.
>When electrodermal wires are placed on people's arms and fingertips to
>study their skin conductance patterns and the subjects then hear a few
>obscenities spoken clearly and firmly, participants show signs of instant
>arousal.
>
>Their skin conductance patterns spike, the hairs on their arms rise, their
>pulse quickens, and their breathing becomes shallow.
>
>Interestingly, said Kate Burridge, a professor of linguistics at Monash
>University in Melbourne, Australia, a similar reaction occurs among
>university students and others who pride themselves on being educated when
>they listen to bad grammar or slang expressions that they regard as
>irritating, illiterate or déclassé.
>
>"People can feel very passionate about language," she said, "as though it
>were a cherished artifact that must be protected at all cost against the
>depravities of barbarians and lexical aliens."

Michael McKernan