[Lingtyp] Swearwords as a negator and/or minimizer: a cross-linguistic perspective

[Pun Ho Lui]

Dear All,

Thank you for the active engagement in this vey cultured conversation regarding shit and sexual organs.

It seems that swearwords in most of the examples are being nominal, functioning similar to ’nothing/anything', with only my Cantonese example (1) being negator-like—preceding a predicate without being part of the argument structure.

If the nominal swearwords are indeed similar to ‘nothing’/ ‘anything’, do they indicate a sentential-level negation? Or should they be an NPI? 

Warmest,
Joe  



> Pun Ho Lui <luiph001 at gmail.com> 於 2023年6月13日 下午8:34 寫道：
> 
> Dear linguists,
> 
> Swearwords/taboo words can function as a negator (1) or minimizer/“squatitive” (2):
> 
> (1) Cantonese 
>      我    撚        知
>      1sg  dick  know
>    ‘I don’t know.’
> 
> (2) I learn fuck all/ shit.
> ‘I learn nothing.’
> 
> Other languages with these pattens include:
> 
> - Russian 
> - German einen Teufel ‘a devil’
> - Swedish så fan Heller
> - French mon cul ‘my ass’ (?)
> - Polish chuj ‘dick’; gówno ’shit’
> - Serbian kurac ‘penis'
> - Croatian kurac ‘penis’
> - Colloquail Finnish “aggressive mood”
> 
> These examples are provided in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lingtyp/permalink/6751622964867235/ <https://www.facebook.com/groups/lingtyp/permalink/6751622964867235/>
> 
> I am wondering if there are other languages performing similar constructions. If so, is the any requirement for using them.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Warmest,
> Pun Ho Lui
> 
> 

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