The Role of Images in the Production of Curses

Abstract

The mainstay of the paper is formed by an analysis of the RH lateralization of cursing, propositional forms of cursing, the differentiation between cursing and swearing, and learners’ (in)appropriate use of swear words as part of the acquisition of communicative competence. My analysis complements the growing literature on ways in which the self is a curse, the stigmatization of swearing, cursing and swearing as a morally and socially unacceptable form of behavior, and gender differences in cursing.