Understanding them is easy, because when used as swear words instead of during discussions about fucking or shitting, they don't mean anything. 'Motherfucker' just doesn't mean anything.
>We are just not generally as prudish as English-speakers. Perhaps it's more a culture difference than a language barrier.
There are a lot of native English speakers who swear a lot; they're generally[1] aware of the impression that they're making when they do it, though.
Maybe this is what you see as prudish: it's a somewhat unusual thing about English that we have taboo words that are taboo no matter what context (and weren't once untaboo words that started to be seen as euphemisms, therefore avoided), rather than just taboo things that you can say or taboo modes of speech when you're talking to a superior or an elder. The history of 'bloody'[2] should disabuse you of any notion that swearing in English has to do with prudery or sex.
Noticing that non-native speakers sometimes don't completely get the effect of English swearing generally comes from knowing non-native English speakers and knowing the impression that they're trying to make, and watching them misjudge the tone that swearing introduces and failing at what they're trying to do.
Like swearing while meeting someone's parents, or loudly within earshot of a lot of kids.
I'm sure Linus probably started his swearing thing by misjudging tone, even though at this point he realizes exactly what he's doing.
[1] I say 'generally', because there are differences between groups of English speakers as to which words are magical, and the frequency of use tolerated.
In case you never noticed, swearing loudly within earshot of kids almost always makes them laugh uproariously. And what could be more uplifting and pleasant to the ear than the sound of the laughter of children?
I have more of a problem with cheerfully lying through your teeth to children about deceptive frauds like Santa Claus and Jesus and the Tooth Fairy and the Stork who brought your little sister.
What's worse: kids learning that adults occasionally swear, or kids learning that adults systematically lie to them?
Kids learning that adults systematically lie to them is probably beneficial and adaptive (which I suspect is why humans feel compelled to lie to kids).
I'd prefer for adults to adapt to not systematically lying to kids, if it's not so much of a disruptive inconvenience to your lifestyle, thank you.
Speak for yourself, if you believe the benefits of lying to your own kids outweigh the benefits of raising children honesty. You can have an honest discussion with your children about how OTHER people will lie to them, without having to lie to them yourself to prove it. It's not something that's hard so hard to prove that you have to betray their trust by doing it yourself. Because if they don't trust you enough to take what you tell them at face value, they already know you're a liar.
I believe the main reason some humans feel compelled to lie to kids is simply because they're compulsive liars.
Understanding them is easy, because when used as swear words instead of during discussions about fucking or shitting, they don't mean anything. 'Motherfucker' just doesn't mean anything.
>We are just not generally as prudish as English-speakers. Perhaps it's more a culture difference than a language barrier.
There are a lot of native English speakers who swear a lot; they're generally[1] aware of the impression that they're making when they do it, though.
Maybe this is what you see as prudish: it's a somewhat unusual thing about English that we have taboo words that are taboo no matter what context (and weren't once untaboo words that started to be seen as euphemisms, therefore avoided), rather than just taboo things that you can say or taboo modes of speech when you're talking to a superior or an elder. The history of 'bloody'[2] should disabuse you of any notion that swearing in English has to do with prudery or sex.
Noticing that non-native speakers sometimes don't completely get the effect of English swearing generally comes from knowing non-native English speakers and knowing the impression that they're trying to make, and watching them misjudge the tone that swearing introduces and failing at what they're trying to do.
Like swearing while meeting someone's parents, or loudly within earshot of a lot of kids.
I'm sure Linus probably started his swearing thing by misjudging tone, even though at this point he realizes exactly what he's doing.
[1] I say 'generally', because there are differences between groups of English speakers as to which words are magical, and the frequency of use tolerated.
[2] This article starts with a super interesting discussion of 'bloody': http://www.salon.com/2013/05/11/the_modern_history_of_sweari...