Expletive deleted

Has creative cursing developed because we can't just slug people when they make us angry? Throughout the twentieth century there seems to have been a dramatic escalation in the use and acceptance of offensive language in English, both verbally and in print. Just how have we become such a bunch of cursers and what does it tell us about our language and ourselves? A look at the power of words to shock, offend, insult, amuse, exaggerate, let off steam, establish relationships, and communicate deep-felt emotions, this book seeka to discover how what was once considered unfit-for-company argot has…