Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing

Format: Paperback Language: English ISBN: 019049168X ISBN13: 9780190491680 Release Date: May 2016 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Length: 352 Pages Weight: 0.90 lbs. Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.2" Almost everyone swears, or worries about not swearing, from the two year-old who has just discovered the power of potty mouth to the grandma who wonders why every other word she hears is obscene. Whether they express anger or exhilaration, are meant to insult or to commend, swear words perform a crucial role in language. But swearing is also a uniquely well-suited lens through which to look at history, offering a fascinating record of what people care about on the deepest levels of a culture--what's divine, what's terrifying, and what's taboo. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. With humor and insight, Melissa Mohr takes readers on a journey to discover how "swearing" has come to inc