Swearing was long dismissed as a topic of serious research because it was assumed to be simply a sign of aggression and weak language proficiency. We now have quite a lot of evidence that challenges this view, and this has prompted a team of researchers to reconsider the nature and power of swearing. The study shows the use of of taboo words can deeply affect the way we think, act and relate to each other. Kelly Cutrara spoke to one of the paper's authors, here's her conversation with Kristy Beers Fägerstan (fag-ur-stan), a professor of English linguistics in Sweden.....

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